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Jewelry Making Tips
Just getting started or looking to brush up on your jewelry making skills? Check out our jewelry making tips for some great instructions and advice:
How to Crimp a Tube
1. Pass flexible beading wire through the crimp tube, the loop of the clasp, and back through the crimp tube. Slide the tube toward the clasp so that there is around 3mm of space between the crimp tube and the clasp.
2. Use the outer oval-shaped indentation of the crimp pliers to make the crimp tube oval shaped. Holding the tails of the wires so that they do not cross, use the inner indentation of the crimp pliers to flatten the tube. There will be a dent in one side of it that separates the two wires as they pass through the crimp tube.
3. Turn the crimp tube 90˚, and place it in the outer indentation of the crimp pliers. Use the crimp pliers to fold the tube on itself. Trim any necessary excess wire.
Tip: You might like the look of a flattened crimp tube with your designs. To achieve this look, simply flatten the crimp with chain-nose pliers..
Using Needle Nose Pliers to Flatten a Crimp
1. Slide a crimp bead or crimp tube onto a piece of tiger tail. Next, string on the clasp of your choice.
2. Thread the tiger tail back through the crimp bead / tube. Be sure to leave a some extra tail (2 inches) that can be threaded back through the first few beads of your design.
3. Flatten the crimp bead with your needle nose pliers. Tug on the clasp to ensure that the crimp has gripped your wire / cording.
4. String your beads in desired pattern. Cut excess wire / cording with your wire cutters. Position the blade as close to the bead as possible to make a clean flush cut.
5. Repeat the above steps to attach the second side of your clasp set.
Using Memory Wire
1. Trim one or more loops of wire from the coil of memory wire.
2. Make a 90˚ bend in the wire against the natural curve of the wire.
3. Make a simple loop. This will hold the beads on the wire. If you like, embellish it with a wrapped drop.
4. String beads to 1/2″ from end of wire, repeat steps 2 & 3..
Tip: Always use memory wire cutters to trim memory wire; it will ruin wire and flush cutters.
Tip: Memory wire tips can be glued to the end of memory wire as an alternative finishing technique.
Making a Wrapped Loop
1. Slide your chosen bead or beads onto the headpin. Use round-nose pliers to make a 90˚ bend in the wire.
2. Use round-nose pliers to make a loop.
3. Holding the loop between a pair of chain-nose pliers, use a second set of chain-nose pliers to wrap the neck of the headpin. Trim excess wire.
Tip: Use the outer oval-shaped indentation of crimp pliers to tighten the end of the trimmed wire into the neck of the wrapped loop.
Making a Simple Loop
1. Slide the chosen bead or beads onto a headpin or eyepin. Make a 90˚ bend in the wire using round-nose pliers.
2. Trim the wire so that it is 1/3″ long. Use round-nose pliers to create a loop.
Tip: Cut the wire longer if you want a larger loop and shorter if you want a smaller loop.
Making Eye Pin or Head Pin Loops
1. Slide beads onto the headpin in the pattern you desire. Leave a 3/8” portion of the pin uncovered. If necessary, use your wire cutter to remove any excess wire.
2. Use round nose pliers to bend the wire of the head pin until it forms a right angle to the rest of the head pin.
3. Grasp the tip of the head pin with the end of your round nose pliers. Roll the head pin toward you keeping the wire in contact with the pliers to form a round loop.
4. Use wire cutters to trim any excess wire.
5. Use the tip of your round nose pliers to center the loop above the rest of the wire.
6. To connect the head pin to the other materials, gently open and close the loop with your needle nose pliers.
Wrapping a Briolette Bead
1. Pass an eyepin through the hole of the bead and bend the eye portion of the eyepin to follow the contour of the bead. Use chain-nose pliers to bend the neck of the eyepin so that it is vertical, along the center line of the bead.
2. Bend the tail of the wire so that it follows the contour of the other side of the bead and cross it over the neck of the eyepin.
3. Wrap the long tail of the eyepin around the neck and trim excess wire.
Tip: This technique also works wonderfully with marquis-shaped beads, and is a nice way to turn a sidedrilled bead into a pendant.
How to Open a Jumpring
1. To open a jumpring, use two chain-nose pliers, grasping each side with a pair of pliers.
2. Instead of pulling the sides apart, twist the ring in opposite directions to prevent distorting the shape of the ring.
3. Close in the same manner, twisting the ring so the ends meet.
Tip: Use one set of chain-nose pliers and your fingers to open large jumprings.
How to Make a Stretch Bracelet with Sliders
1. Cut two 10-inch pieces of stretch cord, the largest diameter that will fit through your beads and sliders. Use tape or a bead stopper to hold one end of the two strands.
2. Separate the strands. String one bead and the top loops of one slider on one strand. String 1 bead and the bottom loops of the slider. Repeat this step to get the length of bracelet you need.
3. Remove the bead stopper or tape. Holding the ends of the top strand as one, make an overhand knot. Repeat with bottom strand and place a drop of beading cement onto the knot. Let cure overnight before wearing the bracelet.
Tip: Keep your design tidy by tying the knots behind one of the sliders instead of before or after a bead.
Using Clamshell Bead Tips
1. Cut your desired length of cord. Leave at least 6” of extra cord on each end of your design to accommodate a simple overhand knot.
2. Tie your first overhand knot.
3. Thread the first clamshell bead tip onto the cording by passing the cord into the center of the clamshell. The knot should be inside the clamshell.
4. Apply a small dab of glue onto the knot and let the glue dry.
5. Use a pair of scissors to trim any excess cord as closely as possible to the knot.
6. Simply close the clamshell over the knot to hide it completely.
7. The metal loop holds the clasp of your choice. Close tightly. Use your needle nose pliers to close the end around your clasp. Press firmly to secure.
8. Repeat on the other end of the jewelry design, with the other side of your chosen clasp set.
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