BASIC TOOLS & FINDINGS FOR JEWELRY MAKERS

If your following my blog, in my first post, I talked about basic tools for jewelry makers. Those are chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers, round nose pliers, end cutters, and side cutters. These five tools can be purchased in economy sets and can cost from $7.00 up to $20.00. Other tools that are necessary are crimp pliers used to end your necklaces or bracelets by closing the crimp bead over the beading wire. A pair of these can cost from $8.00 to $15.00. A bead reamer is another basic. This tool will smooth the inside of a gemstone or glass bead. All beads are not precisely drilled. It cleans out any debre left inside by the drilling and can smooth the inside and rim of the beading holes. This tool is extremely necessary if you are working with real pearls and some gemstones. The bead reamer will cost between $2.00 to $6.00. Two other tools are a bead board which allows you to lay out, measure, and change your design before beading and "Tool Magic" this is a rubber coating which you apply to your pliers only (not cutters) that prevents the wire from getting scared while your bending and manipulating the wires. For the beading board I will suggest buying the larger size which usually measures 21 inches by 10 1/2 inches. The larger size allows the designer to create not only the short but also the longer length necklaces. The price of this size beading board cost between $3.00 up to $6.00. The price of the "Tool Magic" is $4.00 to $7.00.