Jewelry Making Tools

About Jewelry Making Tools

Although you don’t need a large assortment of tools to begin making jewelry, purchasing high-quality jewelry making tools is guaranteed to make your crafting experience more enjoyable. Not having the correct tools for the job can make any project a frustrating ordeal!

Pliers

Anyone who is serious about making jewelry will tell you that pliers are a necessity. At the bare minimum, you’ll want to consider purchasing:

• Needle nose pliers: Needle nose pliers look like common household pliers.
• Chain nose pliers: Chain nose pliers look like needle nose pliers, but do not have teeth.
• Round nose pliers: Round nose pliers have a graduated tip.
• Flat nose pliers: Flat nose pliers help you hold or grip wire.
• Crimping pliers: Crimping pliers are specialized jewelry making pliers that help you pinch the center of crimp beads before securing them to nylon-coated wire.

Wire Cutters

Even if you don’t plan on specializing in making wire jewelry, you’ll want to have a good pair of wire cutters in your jewelry making toolbox. Wire cutters are especially useful if you plan to save money by making your own jewelry findings.

If you can afford it, you might want to consider purchasing a pair of heavy duty wire cutters from your local hardware store in addition to your standard jewelry making tools. Cutting heavy gauge wire with your good pair of wire cutters may dull the blades.

Scissors

Small pointed stainless steel scissors are handy for making tiny cuts in tight places. If you work with shrink plastic or laminate on a regular basis, you may even want to have several different pairs of scissors for jewelry making.

Tweezers

Tweezers are very useful for holding beading cord to make tight knots or gluing small rhinestones into place. Look for tweezers that feature finely serrated jaws to help grip delicate objects.

Ruler

An easy-to-read ruler with millimeter measurements is a great tool for anyone interested in jewelry making. Regardless of the type of ruler you purchase, however, you should always get in the habit of double-checking your measurements to avoid careless mistakes.

Lamps and Magnifiers

Lamps and magnifiers are great tools for anyone who is worried about the eyestrain caused by jewelry making, particularly if you are prone to frequent headaches. A lighted magnifier lamp is especially useful for projects that involve fine detail work. However, it’s best to choose bulbs that mimic the features of natural light.

Bead Board

A bead board is a tool that features channels for laying out the components of a necklace design. It’s not an absolute necessity, but a bead board is a wonderful timesaver for anyone interested in making beaded jewelry on a regular basis.

Buying Tools and Supplies for Jewelry Making

Tools and supplies for making jewelry can be purchased from large craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels Crafts. However, if you can’t find the items you need locally, you can also shop online from the following websites:

• Contenti has a variety of jewelry making supplies, including engraving tools, hammers, and safety equipment.
• Jewelry Supply offers one-stop shopping for crafters interested in jewelry making projects. You can buy beading supplies, jewelry findings, and other necessities from this easy-to-use website.
• Jan’s Jewelry Supplies carries jewelry making supplies for both hobbyists and professional jewelry designers. Look for a wide assortment of stones and beads, as wells as pliers, solder, and other tools for making your own jewelry.
• Polymer Clay Express carries tools for people interested in beading or making polymer clay jewelry.

Additional Information

If you’re interested in learning more about what tools are used in jewelry making, check out the following helpful websites:

• Lapidary Journal
• Art Jewelry Magazine
• Bead&Button
• DIY Jewelry Making