Crimping Tools & Jewelry Making

Jewelry crimping tools are another type of crimping tools which are designed to crimp beads, to help you make jewelry designs that look absolutely professional.

Jewelry crimping tools are another type of crimping tools which are designed to crimp beads, to help you make jewelry designs that look absolutely professional. Jewelry crimping tools are used to secure beading wire to a clasp or a jump ring on a piece of jewelry which is done by flattening a folded crimp bead securely onto your stringing material or wire. The jewelry crimping tool can actually be divided into two sections: the lower section crimps and the upper section crimps. Both of these sections round off your crimped bead for a clean and professional looking jewelry product and it also leaves a smooth, round bead, eliminating sharp edges that can result from using conventional methods. The first section, the lower section, which is farthest from the tip of the pliers has a dimple in the middle and is used to squeeze the crimp into a “figure 8” shape. The second section, the upper section, on the other hand is the one closest to the tip of the pliers and is used to fold the crimp and form it into a nice, tube shape.

First time to use a jewelry crimping tool for your jewelry crafting project? Well, here’s a short how-to guide for using jewelry crimping tools:

First, choose the appropriate jewelry wire for the materials that you are working with. Next step is to measure the stringing material to be crimped by adding 6” to your desired length ending and then clip it. Make sure to use heavy duty cutters with Soft flex for this.

If your jewelry design requires beads and links to be strung before crimping, first tape one end. Then thread the stringing material through crimp bead and finding. Then back through crimp bead – this can be one or two beads if you like.

Afterwards, place the crimp bead inside the jaws of the jewelry crimping tool in the holes closest to the joint, and then squeeze to form the first crimp. To tighten it, gently grasp the stringing material with bent chain nose pliers or you can use your fingers next to the crimp, while tugging on the end.

Place the elongated crimp bead into the hole closest to the tips and ensure that the widest part of the bead is touching the jaws. Squeeze it a second time to “round” the bead then clip the end with heavy duty cutters. You can clip the tail next to the crimp bead if you like.

Make sure to test that your folded crimp is secure by tugging on the wire.

If you’ve ever wondered how jewelry designers were able to design such nice and polished looking jewelry accessories like beaded necklaces, anklets, watches, earrings, rings and bracelets well, now the cat is out of the bag. Their secret is not magic. Its tools like the jewelry crimping tools which are very important and quite a basic necessity for jewelry making, that and of course the patience, talent and passion for crafting jewelry as well.