Friday, October 25, 2013

Necessary Tools For Jewelry Making

By Rod Buchanon


If you are interested in jewelry making, there are a few items you must have in your tool kit before beginning. If you have the correct tools, then you will save a lot of time and be super efficient when working on your pieces. Although you could buy all the cool gadgets and clever tools that allow you to do fancy work more easily, you can achieve the same results with a little diligence using the basic set of necessary tools.

First and foremost, every jewelry maker needs a set of pliers. Pliers come in many different shapes and forms, but they are at the top of the list in order to be able to do anything at all. The pliers in question are not the same type of pliers used for household repairs. For accessory making, pliers are small and have smoother surfaces, to ensure that wire work does not get nicked or damaged during handling.

Chain nose or flat nose pliers are undoubtedly the most important kind of pliers to own. They can do a number of things that are very important when it comes to creating pieces with wire and metal. The jaws of a set of chain nose pliers are beak-shaped. They are used to bend wire into angular shapes or even straighten wire. They can also close jump rings, another essential part of creating accessories, and they can be used to hold things in place while working.

Round nose pliers are different in that their jaws are shaped conically. They are wider at the base and narrower at the tip. These pliers have no grooves, to facilitate the gentle handling of metals and wire. They can be used to make loops of varying sizes, and can also open and close small metal rings known as jump rings.

Other pliers include wire looping pliers, crimping pliers and nylon tipped pliers, which are specially created to use with softer materials so that they don't get scratched or damaged during handling. Wire looping pliers make looping quick and easy. Crimping pliers are used to close crimp beads into neat, flat beds.

When dealing with wire, cutters are also very necessary. Decide between the bevel cutter or the flush cutter, the second of which is more expensive. The bevel cutter cuts at an angle, often requiring filing in order to properly finish. However, flush cutters cut through wire to leave a flat surface.

When cutters leave a rough edge or tip, you need to file it down for a good finish. For this, you will need to purchase a file. Luckily, they come in packs containing various sizes to suit your every project need.

Finally in the list of necessary jewelry making tools are a pair of tweezers, needles and thread. Tweezers will help with precision work. Needles and thread will be necessary for beading, although thin wire can also be used instead of thread. It is advisable to get a range of sizes of needle. Glue should also be purchased for a tool kit, as it is an indispensable tool to have for all sorts of work.




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