Basic jewelry making supplies..
Making jewelry at home all by yourself is a practical and inexpensive ways to indulge your creative side.In addition to making jewelry for yourself , you can create special gifts for your friends and family.If you select appropriate tools and supplies at the beginning then you can save yourself time and money.
Nothing is as rewarding or satisfying as the act of making jewelry all by yourself and wear it with pride or make it the most personal of gifts. From selecting your own design, your own tools and materials to arriving at the final clean up and suddenly holding that beautiful piece in your own hands..:)
So here are the basic jewelry supplies to get started ( am not going onto advanced tools and materials).
Nothing is as rewarding or satisfying as the act of making jewelry all by yourself and wear it with pride or make it the most personal of gifts. From selecting your own design, your own tools and materials to arriving at the final clean up and suddenly holding that beautiful piece in your own hands..:)
So here are the basic jewelry supplies to get started ( am not going onto advanced tools and materials).
Round-nose pliers
Round nose pliers , as you can see,are rounded and perfect for making simple loops and create curls on the wires.The tips of pliers are smooth cone shaped. Using them you can make your own eye pin and jump rings.These long round nose pliers are necessary for making finer beads jewelry.
Chain nose pliers
Chain nose pliers are similar to round nose pliers except that the inside of the jaws are flat. They are better for gripping wire with their flat surface.Always make sure they are smooth inside of the nose so that they won't scratch your wire.
Chain nose pliers are used for opening and closing jump rings or for gripping wire.Like round nose pliers , they tapper towards the tip , which makes them useful for getting into small pieces.
Chain nose pliers are used for opening and closing jump rings or for gripping wire.Like round nose pliers , they tapper towards the tip , which makes them useful for getting into small pieces.
Flat nose pliers
Flat nose pliers are similar to chain nose pliers but the jaw donot tapper towards the tip.This wider surface makes it easier to grip jewelry wire.
Flat nose pliers may not be essential to basic jewelry suppliers... but you will need it like i do , as a second pairs of flat nose pliers for holding wire while you shape it.
Flat nose pliers may not be essential to basic jewelry suppliers... but you will need it like i do , as a second pairs of flat nose pliers for holding wire while you shape it.
Wire cutter
Obviously ,wire cutter are for cutting wires.It allows you to cut head pins, eyepins,and jewelry stringing wire. Always put the flat side of the cutters closest to the work for a closer cut.
Don't cut memory wire with your wire cutters though as it will put dents to your cutting edges making the wire cutter useless.Purchase separately a memory wire cutter for cutting memory wire.
Don't cut memory wire with your wire cutters though as it will put dents to your cutting edges making the wire cutter useless.Purchase separately a memory wire cutter for cutting memory wire.
Crimping pliers
Also called crimpers this tool used with crimp beads or crimp tube to secure a clasp on the end of beading wire or to keep beads in position on projects where the wire shows between beaded segments like an illusion necklace.
The crimp tool has two notches in the jaws. use the first notch nearest the handles to slightly flatten and round your crimp beads onto wire.this turn into a 'C' shape. Then use the notch near the end of the pliers to shape this 'C' shaped bead into a round.
The crimp tool has two notches in the jaws. use the first notch nearest the handles to slightly flatten and round your crimp beads onto wire.this turn into a 'C' shape. Then use the notch near the end of the pliers to shape this 'C' shaped bead into a round.
Crimp beads
Crimp beads are most often used when stringing a beaded piece (like a bracelet or necklace) which has been strung on a beading wire .The crimp beads finish the end of the beaded piece of jewelry and create a loop for the clasp to be attached to. They can be used in the place of bead tip or in addition to one in order to keep the knot inside the bead tip..
There are two kinds of beads: tube shaped and round shaped. Here i am showing you how to attach and close your crimp bead (round shaped ) to your beading thread.
There are two kinds of beads: tube shaped and round shaped. Here i am showing you how to attach and close your crimp bead (round shaped ) to your beading thread.
How to crimp a bead onto the beading wire.
1. Take your crimp ,and slip onto the end of the beading thread leaving a small amount of extra thread as a tale , to further attached the clasp to it.
2. Position the crimp bead and thread in the second oval of the pliers , and close the pliers around the bead. you will see the curl.
3.Then, turn the crimp beads to its side , position it in the first oval , and close the pliers around the crimp bead again so that you are compressing the curled bead into a round shape.
2. Position the crimp bead and thread in the second oval of the pliers , and close the pliers around the bead. you will see the curl.
3.Then, turn the crimp beads to its side , position it in the first oval , and close the pliers around the crimp bead again so that you are compressing the curled bead into a round shape.
Beads stringing wire
These are beads stringing wires of different diameter sizes. Size .012 being the smallest. popular brands are Beadalon and Accu-Flex. these wires also comes in different color.
Beads
Beads are the necessary items to add to your jewelry making supplies.There are many types of jewelry making beads. Most popular beads are Pearl beads, Glass beads,Pandora beads, Swarovski crystal beads, Wooden beads, Clay beads, Metal beads and Gemstone.
Head pin
Head pins are must have in your jewelry making supplies. They are straight wires with heads or flat pieces on one end. Those heads are to keep the beads or stones in place. you can use these for earrings as well as making up drops for necklace and bracelets.
Clasps
Clasps are for connecting the two ends of a piece of jewelry ; like bracelet or necklace. There are different kinds of clasp with a wide range of designs. When buying clasps , test the clasps to see that they are easy to close and open.
With these jewelry making supplies , you are ready to embark on making your very first piece of handcrafted jewelry. In coming tutorials i will show you how to use all these supplies in your jewelry making..
With these jewelry making supplies , you are ready to embark on making your very first piece of handcrafted jewelry. In coming tutorials i will show you how to use all these supplies in your jewelry making..