If you are interested in jewelry making, you need a helpful set of tools to assist you in molding wire, attaching findings, and getting in hard to reach places. These tools will help you make beautiful pieces of jewelry.
The most important tools you will use are your pliers, and you can purchase these tools by themselves or in kits that include several different tools.
Oftentimes, the tool sets are an easier way to get the job done, but you’ll want to keep your eye out for quality. After all, you don’t want a tool that gives up right when you are in the middle of making a pair of earrings.
What are the best jewelry making pliers? The best jewelry making pliers will vary by project and material type, but in general they should be easy and comfortable to grip and constructed well, with a box joint. You will likely want to invest in multiple pliers of different shapes and types to perform different tasks.
In this article, we’ll go into more detail about how to choose the right pliers for your uses and go through some of our favorite choices out there.
We looked at a variety of different jewelry pliers and narrowed down our top picks based on certain features. For instance, if you are working with soft metals, you’ll want to stick with a choice like the nylon-jawed Beadalon Round Nose Pliers.
What Kind of Jewelry Making Pliers Do I Need?
Often when you are just starting out with a jewelry making venture, getting a kit that contains several jewelry making pliers is the best (and most economical) option.
As you start to develop your skills and may even be working with soft metals that damage easily, you’ll start to want more specialized jewelry pliers and tools. But what do you use these tools for?
- Chain Nose Pliers or Snipe Nose Pliers: You may see these tools by either of these names, and they are an integral part of your jewelry making supplies. They have jaws that are smooth and flat, unlike household pliers that typically have teeth. You can use them to hold a variety of different findings, open and close jump rings, and even flatten crimps. They will provide a handy grip when you are making your jewelry pieces.
- Bent Chain Nose Pliers: Bent chain nose pliers or simply bent nose pliers are useful for handling jewelry making supplies without the handles getting in the way. They let you grip in hard to reach areas, making them an important part of your tool box. You can use them to open and close jump rings and even shape wire. You can use them in conjunction with your regular chain nose pliers or even flat nose pliers.
- Flat Nose Pliers: Flat nose pliers have a wider surface on their jaws than other pliers, which makes them especially useful for hold large, flat surfaces. They can be used for bending and shaping even sharp, defined angles in metal sheets or wire. You can also use flat nose pliers for opening and closing jump rings. Consider using them in conjunction with your chain nose pliers.
- Round Nose Pliers: Round nose pliers have limited uses in jewelry making, but they can’t be readily replaced by other pairs of pliers. Use them for creating loops on headpins or eyepins or for making loops in your pieces of jewelry.
- Crimping Pliers: These tools are designed to work with crimp tubes, often used for finishing jewelry off. When used appropriately, the crimp the tube into a smooth and rounded crimp.
- Punch Pliers: Punch pliers contain punch pins that allow the tool to make perfectly rounded holes in jewelry pieces or blanks.
- Looping or Coiling Pliers: Also called bail making pliers, these tools are designed to wrap wire into different shapes with ease. They can also be used to make jump rings and eyepins.
- Cutters: You will often find cutters sold with pliers, and you will need a good pair or two when jewelry making, for a variety of things, including cutting off old findings if you are repurposing old jewelry or trimming wire to the appropriate shape. You can also trim headpins to an appropriate length for your project with these. The underside of the cutters is flatter than the top side, and it allows you to get closer to your project than using the top side.
- Flush Cutters: Flush cutters are basically an upgraded version of normal cutters. They allow you to get a nicer finish when trimming wire, and you’re less likely to need to file down sharp edges.
There are many more unique pliers and cutting tools available on the market that you may need to acquire as you embrace your jewelry making abilities, such as the rosary pliers and bow opening pliers.
Picking the Right Jewelry Pliers for You
When you are making jewelry, the tools you will lean on the heaviest are pliers and cutters, so you will want to have a good set of tools. Picking the tools you will use may depend on several factors, namely cost and how they feel in your hand.
You could spend $30 on pair of pliers, but if they hurt your hand, they aren’t going to be worthwhile to use. That’s why starting out with a set of economical tools is often best, allowing you to get a feel for different tools and their sizes as you learn to use them in your new craft-making adventure.
Another factor to keep in mind is the actual construction of the tools. Pliers are generally made with either a box joint or a lap joint.
Lap joints are typically a characteristic of lesser quality pliers, often becoming loose over time, sometimes quite quickly. Box joint pliers tend to retain their alignment and don’t develop looseness as they are used, allowing them to outlast and outperform lap joint pliers.
Our Favorite Jewelry Pliers
When picking out what jewelry pliers you are going to purchase, you really should get the best pair you can afford. We have listed pliers at affordable price points, including some sets and some individual pliers that should really be part of your toolkit:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | WORKPRO Jeweler's Pliers Set | 7 pliers, carrying case |
| 2. | eoocvt Mini Jewelery Tool Kit | 4 pliers, 1 cutter |
| 3. | CRAFTSMAN Pliers Mini Set | 6 pliers, carrying case |
| 4. | Supla Jewelry Making Supplies | 3 pliers, tweezers, jump rings |
| 5. | Anezus Jewelry Repair Kit | 3 pliers, tweezers, string, beads |
| 6. | Sea Striker P6 Needlenose Pliers | Pliers only (1) |
| 7. | Vouiu Bail Making Pliers | Pliers only (1) |
| 8. | Darice Jewelry Pliers Set | 5 pliers, comfort grip |
| 9. | Beadalon Nylon Jaw Round Nose Pliers | Pliers only (1) |
Check them out in more detail below! By the way, we’ve tried to make everything simpler by separating the pliers that come with kits from those that come individually.
1. WORKPRO Jeweler’s Pliers Set
This set features several tools, including nylon jaw pliers, which help protect your precious metal findings and stones, as well as round nose pliers and bent nose pliers. Wire looping pliers and a brass ring, as well as other tools, help round out this handy kit.
Everything is included in an easy to carry pouch, so you never have to go without your jewelry making tools.
These tools are small sized, which fit comfortably into many people’s hands. That said, if you have larger hands, it may be harder to wield them. The tools are constructed out of carbon steel and are plated with a nickel coating for rust resistance.
If you’re sensitive to nickel, you’ll want to be careful handling these, however. The tools also feature round spring and double spring designs, and the grip handles are ergonomic and comfortable for most people to use for long periods of time.
Overall, these tools are designed to last you awhile when you’re working with them.
2. eoocvt Mini Bead Jewellery Tool Kit
If you are looking for a one-stop shop when preparing to make jewelry, the eoocvt jewelry making set features several tools to make your life easier when working with jewelry. You will find tools such as the diagonal side cutter, bent nose pliers, and round nose pliers.
When you spend a lot of time making jewelry, comfortable handles are a must. The eoocvt set features soft grip rubber handles that are comfortable to use for long periods of time.
The tools themselves are made of tempered carbon steel with a chrome plated finish. The tools also feature double leaf springs, which make them easier to use.
3. CRAFTSMAN Pliers Mini Set
This five piece jewelry making pliers set is made by a name you can trust, Craftsman. This tool kit has all of the major tools you will find yourself reaching for when jewelry making, such as the round nose pliers. Keep all of your tools safe with the handy carrying case and never lose your tools again.
Craftsman makes several sets of jewelry making pliers, but this set is their top-of-the-line model. These tools feature comfortable grips that have multiple zones, allowing you to move your grip and have more control as they are more ergonomic.
They are also made from drop forged steel, providing strength and durability. The biggest downside to these tools is that they are often confused with lesser quality Craftsman tools; don’t be fooled, if you’re looking at Craftsman, these are the tools you want.
4. Supla Jewelry Making Supplies
This set has a variety of tools to use for beading and jewelry making, including round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, and side-cutting pliers. In addition, it includes open jump rings in a variety of sizes and lobster claw clasps. You’ll also find curved tip tweezers and a brass ring.
The great thing about this kit is that it includes many of the items you’ll need to make jewelry.
Most of the kits available don’t include tweezers, and they can be very helpful in picking up small beads or gemstones. That said, they are easy to get individually, and some people never find themselves needing them.
These tools have a less comfortable handle than many others. When purchasing this, you’re generally paying for the fact that you get all of your supplies at one time.
5. Anezus Jewelry Repair Kit
While the quality may not be quite as high as those of the other tool kits on our list, you won’t be disappointed with this jewelry making set, particularly if you are new to jewelry making or have young ones who want to learn the craft.
The tools included with this set of jewelry making pliers include all of the tools young jewelry makers might need.
The Anezus jewelry making kit includes a box of findings, so you have all of the attachments you need to make your jewelry. It also includes waxed cord and elastic string cord. A brass ring opener and tweezers round out the mix.
Buying pieces individually, you can certainly get higher quality, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a deal this good on all of the items if you priced them separately.
6. Beadalon Nylon Jaw Round Nose Pliers
The Beadalon nylon jaw pliers are round nose pliers that feature a replaceable pair of nylon jaw tips, which are great for protecting delicate pieces of jewelry that might otherwise be scratched or damaged by your pliers.
Always remember to keep a spare pair of nylon jaw tips around because you never know when you might need them. This tool features a construction out of stainless steel, with double spring leaf box joint construction.
The nylon jaws are the prime feature of the Beadalon nylon jaw round nose pliers. They allow for wire shaping and manipulation, such as of German style wire and artistic wire.
You won’t have to worry about these nylon jaws hurting your delicate jewelry pieces, so they are worth every penny, especially as you work with softer metals and wires that can damage easily.
7. Sea Striker P6 Needlenose Pliers
A simple but handy pair of pliers, the Sea Striker P6 Needlenose Pliers are useful for a range of jewelry making products.
Many of the kits on this list lack a good pair of needle nose pliers, which is something you’ll probably want to add to your jewelry toolbox. This pair in particular is excellent for its tight closure and shape and would make a great addition to your toolset.
Unfortunately, these are prone to rusting if not handled and cleaned properly. You can, however, find them in a variety of sizes, such as 6 inches and 8 inches, giving you more flexibility with what you work with.
Needle nose pliers such as these have a variety of craft uses. You can easily reach around tight configurations, such as of wire, to place an object or bend metal. They can be used for setting small stones, as well as adding findings onto a project.
8. Vouiu Bail Making Pliers
If you need to make rings or bails when you are making jewelry, the Vouiu Bail Making Pliers are going to be a great tool for you to reach for.
These allow you to make loops in a range of different sizes, as the nose features different sized tips that measure 3.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 4.0 mm, 7.0 mm, and 10.0 mm.
These tools are made of high carbon steel, so they’ll last you many years with the proper care. They also have anti-slip grip handles that are coated and provide a great deal of comfort when you are using them.
9. Darice Jewelry Pliers Set
This set has comfortable handles and the major tools that you need to use when making jewelry. In addition to jewelry pliers, such as a serrated tip long-nose pliers and straight nose internal pliers, this set even includes wire cutters, which are great for finishing off your jewelry pieces.
While these aren’t the greatest quality jewelry making pliers, they are an economical option and great for those just starting out. (They’re also handy to keep around for other small DIY projects.)
These pliers and wire cutters feature a soft grip that helps you stay comfortable when you’re twisting wire or attaching findings, although the grip doesn’t offer quite the same flexibility as the Craftsman pliers set.
As an added bonus, the package explains to users how to use each type of pliers when using them to make jewelry.
10. Beadalon Nylon Jaw Round Nose Pliers
The Beadalon nylon jaw pliers are round nose pliers that feature a replaceable pair of nylon jaw tips, which are great for protecting delicate pieces of jewelry that might otherwise be scratched or damaged by your pliers.
Always remember to keep a spare pair of nylon jaw tips around because you never know when you might need them. This tool features a construction out of stainless steel, with double spring leaf box joint construction.
The nylon jaws are the prime feature of the Beadalon nylon jaw round nose pliers. They allow for wire shaping and manipulation, such as of German style wire and artistic wire.
You won’t have to worry about these nylon jaws hurting your delicate jewelry pieces, so they are worth every penny, especially as you work with softer metals and wires that can damage easily.
In Summary
There are a variety of tools you can use when jewelry making, and you need quality tools to ensure that your project is beautifully put together. Using poor quality tools can damage your final product, even scratching up your metal findings.
When you’re starting out, you can find a range of kits that are all inclusive, providing you with just about everything you need to make your necklace or earrings, save the beads or gemstones you’re planning to use.
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