Wire Working Tools - Part 2

In wire working there are some specialty tools that enable a designer to create something unique and unusual. There are the usual tools as was posted previously, but also these special wire working tools to include wire twisters, coiling pliers, nylon jawed pliers (heavy), rosary pliers (heavy), and bail makers. You can find these online or through a vendor that carries special wire working tools.

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Wire Twisters: These unique tools are used to twist short to medium pieces of wire using just one hand. If you are going to be combining more than 2 pieces of wire, or a bunch of wire twists, than an electric hand drill will also perform the same purpose, only much quicker.

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Coiling Pliers: To make jump rings or wire loops, use coiling pliers that have one jaw that is flat and another that is in a 3-tier step making wire loops. This keeps you from marring your wire too much, as conventional convex/concave pliers can easily mar the wire as you turn loops or use as a bail maker.

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Nylon Lined Jaw Pliers: These pliers are used to straighten wire or for bending, forming and shaping your wire. The nylon lined jaws keep the pliers from again, marring your wire. As you work with these pliers, the nylon jaws will need to be replaced over time as they can get cut up by the raw wire. (Tip: If you don’t want to buy a set of these pliers, then using blue painters tape wrapped around the ends of regular pliers will do the same thing. You have to replace the tape after each use.)

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Rosary Pliers: These pliers are for working with every heavy gauge wire such as 14-16gauge. They are heavy pliers that are built not to slip when used in gripping, turning and twisting of the heavy gauge wire.

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Bail Makers: Bail making pliers are usually rounded diameter cylinder pliers and come in different sizes. You can purchase several different sets of bail makers as each one will usually make 3 different size combinations, usually ranging from 1.5mm to 9mm bail or ring sizes.

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These are just a few of the speciality tools used in wire working. Doing research on the internet, reading books and magazines or taking a class you can learn about many other speciality tools used in wire working.

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Thanks to our daughter-in-law at TimelessDesignsStudio for her wire wrapping info.

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Wire Working Tools - Part 1

There are several different types of of tools used in jewelry making. One starts out with the most common of the type, and as you learn each technique and put your own twist of creativity into the design, one moves into other more advanced or new techniques and types of jewelry making and the tools that go with it.

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Before you invest into the tools and wire, it is recommend that you take a class from your local craft, hobby or beading store. This will give you the chance to really get your hands ‘dirty’ before putting out the money in the tools and wire for the projects you desire.

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Wire working tools are some of the same ones that are used in every type of jewelry making; however there are a few specialty tools for working with heavy gauge wire and to make things like jump rings, connectors and findings. Here are some of the more common essential wire working tools. In part 2, we'll look at some specialty wire working tools and techniques.
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Bent Nose Pliers: Use these to shape or straighten wire and to hold it in place while using other tools. Keep a pair of both large and small sizes to fit most projects. Inspect your pliers before purchase and avoid any with notches on the inside as that can scratch wire. Over time, your pliers will start to show wear and tear; to keep them around longer wrap blue painters tape around the jaws to keep from marring the wire.
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Round Nose Pliers: These are perfect for curving wire or making hooks and loops, which can be used as findings or for attachment pieces. Again have several different sizes ranging in size from small, medium and large, depending on the design, stones and project being worked on.
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Chain Nose Pliers: These pliers are square on the outside, flat on the inside, with a tapered nose to reach into small places. These are excellent for making angles in wire.
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Wire Cutters: These are used to cut normal wire such as gold, sterling, and artistic wire. Do not confuse them with the specialty memory wire cutters that are only used to cut the heaver memory wire. The sharper the cutter, the better, as it will last longer. Again several sizes of cutters may be advisable depending on the guage of wire being used.
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Jeweler’s Files: These come in sets with several sizes and shapes which are used to smooth off the metal. Wooden handles make it more comfortable to hold than all metal files; but is not necessary. Whatever your choice, make sure to get a variety of sizes and shapes to fit any project.
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Bench Block: This is one of my favorite wire working tools; it is used to flatten wire and metal. It gives you a nice, sturdy, solid surface to work from.
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Chasing Hammer: This round tipped hammer is used with the bench block to hammer wire flat. You can also use it in more advanced techniques to give a more hammered or textured look to your wire or metals.
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Thing-a-ma-jig Wire Jig: For making just about any kind of loop, curve, link, or design, a wire jig makes it easier. If you can draw or move a string in any shape, then you can do the same thing with wire when using a jig.
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.Thanks to our daughter-in-law at TimelessDesignsStudio for her wire wrapping info.
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