How to Choose Jewelry Pliers for Wire Wrap Jewelry Projects

Whether you’re a beginner jewelry-maker or an experienced artisan, jewelry pliers are essential to your success. If you are interested in making wire wrapped jewelry, you need the right tools to accomplish a professional look. With so many different varieties of pliers available, it’s hard to choose which are the best. Keep reading for steps to help you choose the best jewelry pliers.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine your budget. Whenever you are considering making an investment, always determine how much you can and want to spend.

2. Determine your needs. If your jewelry making is a hobby, or you are a beginner, you can get by with basic, cheaper jewelry pliers. These will work just fine and won’t break the bank! If you’re somewhat experienced, and are planning to sell your jewelry (or already are selling it), you may want to invest in higher quality jewelry pliers, but these of course, come at a higher price.

3. Browse available options. You can buy a cheap set of jewelry pliers (round nose, chain nose, and flat nose) at a craft store like Michaels or Joann Fabrics or at your local bead store. Some pliers are basic, while others are ergonomic. If you have a cheaper set of pliers and find your hands hurting frequently, consider investing in the ergonomic pliers.

4. Buy a pair of round nose, a pair of chain nose, and a pair of flat nose pliers at the very least. These are absolutely necessary for any wire wrap jewelry project.

5. Consider buying more specialized pliers if you have money left over. Rosary pliers, needle nose pliers and split ring pliers are all designed for specific purposes. If it seems any of these would make your work faster or easier, buy them.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you’ve bought your pliers, check them for any rough edges that might mark your wire. If you find rough spots, simply smooth them out with an emery board and fine-grit sandpaper.