How to Use a Crimp Tube When Making Beaded Jewelry

If you're artsy-craftsy and have ever looked at an overpriced necklace in a boutique and thought, "I could've made that," then jewelry design might be a great hobby for you. To get started, it's important to learn a few basic techniques, including the use of a crimp tube. A crimp tube allows you to secure a clasp, stone or other finding to your string, wire or elastic.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• crimp tube
• beading wire, string or elastic
• crimping pliers

1. Decide what kind of beading project you want to try. Measure out an appropriate length of wire, string or elastic. For the purpose of this how-to, we'll assume you're making a clasped bracelet with wire.

2. Thread your crimp tube and clasp onto the wire so that about an inch of wire is visible on the other side of the clasp.

3. Take the short end of the wire and thread it back through the crimp tube.

4. Hold the wires and push the crimp tube up toward the clasp.

5. Pick up your crimping pliers. Notice that there are two grooves, one closest to the handles and the other closest to the nose-tip of the pliers. Put the crimp tube in the rear groove and press down.

6. Move the crimp tube to the other, front groove and press down. Cut off any excess wire on the short end. You now should have a clean-looking, secure fastening for your clasp.

Tips & Warnings

• The crimp tube should have two chambers, so make sure to put one wire in each channel.