Round nose pliers are an essential tool for making jewelry, especially hoops and loops.
They are perfect for making earrings, wrapping wire, creating loops, making eye pins, opening and closing clasps, making clasps and jump rings, creating coils and designing perfectly curved bends.
So what are the best round nose pliers for jewelry making? The best round nose pliers for jewelry making should be comfortable enough to grip firmly, easy to maneuver for precise movements, and should be able to grip thin wires in the jaws. Pliers with springs help with opening and closing with less strain. Non-slip materials are also ideal.
Choosing the right pliers for your jewelry making projects is important. That’s why we’re here to help. Read on for more about the best round nose pliers out there!
Round Nose Pliers – The Basics
Round nose pliers typically have a rounded jaw and two covered handles. The two jaws are joined at the center with a pivot that allows the pliers to open and close. Some are equipped with a spring that makes opening and closing easier with less strain on your hand.
You would have a very hard time creating loops at the end of your bracelet or necklace without a round nose pair of pliers.
Any wire bending or manipulating is nearly impossible without the pliers. Your fingers just can’t get a good enough grip. The wire will just slip right through.
By wrapping beading wire around the round nose pliers, you can create fabulous coil patterns to add to your design. The father down the nose you go, the bigger your coil will be and the closer to the tip you wrap the wire, the smaller the coils.
As you can guess, you will need a pair that you can actually grip well. In addition to looking for non-slip handle materials, you will want to consider the shape of the plier and check reviews to be sure it will be easy and comfortable to hold onto for a whole crafting session.
It’s also a good idea to check the tip diameter and how tightly the jaws actually close.
The tip diameter, from top to base, will tell you the range in loops and shape sizes you can make, positioning your wire at different parts of the nose. If you’re hoping to make very fine or very large coils, you will want to opt for a narrower (at the top) or wider (at the base) tip diameter.
Whether or not the jaws actually come to a close and how much space there is between them when closed can be useful when you’re working with thinner wires. Thicker wires won’t be much of an issue, but you want to be sure you can easily grip those fine wires while working with them.
The Best Round Nose Pliers For Jewelry Making
Here are our top picks for round nose pliers for jewelry making:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Beadthoven Round Nose Pliers | Tip diameter 1mm, 5" long |
| 2. | Beadsmith Round-Nose Pliers | Tip diameter 1.7mm (approx.), 6.8" long |
| 3. | Classic Wubbers Round Nose Pliers | Tip diameter 1.5mm, 6.5" long |
| 4. | Bead Buddy Round Nose Pliers | Tip diameter 1 mm, 6.5" long |
| 5. | PandaHall Jewelry Pliers Set | Round nose (tip diameter 1.9mm, 4.9" long); incl. side cutting pliers, wire cutters |
We’re sure one of these bad boys will work well for you, so keep reading to find the best one for your beadbox!
1. Beadthoven Round Nose Pliers
The round nose jewelry pliers by Beadthoven measure about 12.5 cm (5”) with a diameter of about 1 mm at the tip. Key features include carbon hardened steel and an extremely comfortable grip. The quality of this metal is superior to stainless steel. And the handle won’t cause strain on your hand.
You can comfortably work with these pliers for hours without any aches or pains or cramping. Keep in mind, any repetitive work will cause problems for your joints in the long run, so remember to take breaks from your jewelry making and stretch out your fingers and hands once in a while.
The hardened steel is harder than stainless and much more resistant to rust and oxidization. However, it is advisable to put a dab of oil on the surface. Regular cleaning of any tool is vital to its longevity. After every use, just put a bit of oil on the surface and wipe it clean with a cloth.
These pliers are ideal for closing small loops, holding pieces you are working on and closing jump rings. This is also a great tool for wrapping loops with varying diameters.
Pros:
- Extremely comfortable.
- Superior construction.
- Good resistance of the spring.
- Perfect for beginners.
Cons:
- The tips have way too much misalignment on the end.
- Unsightly markings along the sides.
- Too much resistance for some users.
2. Beadsmith Round-Nose Pliers
These heavy duty jewelry pliers are just what you need to create beautiful jewelry. The cone-shaped nose is ideal for bending and shaping different sizes and the comfortable cushioned handles help prevent fatigue and cramping in your hands.
The Beadsmith pliers are specifically designed for expert looping and bending to make your project run smooth and easy. They are the perfect addition to your jewelry making arsenal. No matter what type of wire you are working with, these pliers are up to the challenge.
Jewelry making should be fun. Don’t settle for tools that make the hobby difficult. With these pliers you can bend and shape with ease! The handles of the pliers fit together perfectly because of the notch at the center of the pivot. Other pliers that don’t have this notch tend to deflect and twist the wrong way.
The best part is the long jaws. This feature allows you to make loops with one end and a more gradual taper with the other.
Pros:
- Suitable for a variety of jewelry designs.
- Longer jaws and gradual taper for more even loops and bends.
Cons:
- The small end is a bit too big for more delicate work.
- Not good for beginners.
- Handles are a bit weak.
3. Classic Wubbers Round Nose Pliers
This classic Euro tool by Wubbers is extremely useful for bending and looping wire into any shape you like. These heavy duty pliers can be used on wire up to 28 gauge thick. Inside loop diameters can be as small as about 1.5 mm and as big as 6.0 mm.
The cushioned padding on the handle makes this tool super comfortable to work with and won’t put too much strain on your hand or wrist. Other pliers are nearly destroyed with heavier wire, they get strained with 20 gauge wire and tend to twist with 18 gauge wire. You won’t have those problems with the Wubber Classic.
The jaws are coated with a nice finish that grips tightly and provides superior stability and control. Plus it also helps to keep marring to a minimum. Every craft you make is much easier with this pair of pliers.
These Wubber pliers are backed by a lifetime guarantee. They are the tank in the world of round nose pliers. They will never let you down, especially when working with very precise projects.
Pros:
- Long, 6.5 inch handles with a 0.05 inch wide jaw at the tip.
- Very comfortable to hold. Won’t strain your hand or wrist.
- Long handles provide excellent leverage without feeling bulky.
- Can be used with heavier gauge wire.
- Cushioned handles that fit nicely and naturally in your hand.
- Smooth-action springs that open and close thee jaw with ease.
- Durable and powerful.
Cons:
- Serious jewelry makers will find this tool too weak. They should consider round nose pliers made by precise machining and with exact alignment.
4. Bead Buddy Round Nose Pliers
These round nose pliers from Bead Buddy are a versatile and effective tool for wrapping and bending wire for all sorts of cool creations. The Bead Buddy pliers can be used with a large variety of sizes and objects to help you make the most unique jewelry your mind can imagine.
The pliers taper down to a mere 1 mm diameter at the tips. This allows you to work with super fine wire gauges for smaller sized loops and delicate, intricate curves. This pair of round nose pliers is an essential addition to your jewelry making tool box.
These work perfectly. When your jewelry making requires a lot of fine detail work, you ‘ll be glad these pliers are equipped with a spring. The spring greatly reduces stress and fatigue on your hand. The rounded nose makes fabulous loops and bends like a professional.
The Bead Buddy doesn’t just claim to be round like some other pliers that are actually just a bit rounded on the sides. These are truly rounded all the way around. This ensures your loops are completely and perfectly rounded, without the need for adjustments that could cause you to lose that perfect curl.
Pros:
- Extra strong, superior workmanship. Sturdy and highly recommended.
- Polished steel clamps.
- Comfortable cushioned hand grips.
- Double leaf spring makes them very easy to use.
- Lap-joint construction.
- High quality, professional grade.
- Also ideal for fishing lures. You can easily make super sleek round holes for the line connections.
Cons:
- Only available in yellow. Not much of a con, but if you are super particular about what color the handles of your pliers are, then this could be a deal breaker. Other than that, these are an excellent pair of jewelry making pliers.
5. PandaHall Jewelry Pliers Set
This handy set of three pliers will help you with all of your jewelry making needs. Why buy each one separately when this set has everything you need? The set includes a round nose, a short head with side cutters and a needle nose head with wire cutter.
Each of the tools in this set are made with durable carbon steel and the handles are covered with a comfortable blue grip. The superior cushioning on the handles helps to reduce strain and stress on your hands so you can work on your project longer. They measure about 70 mm (2.75 inches) wide and 110~125 mm (4.33 – 4.92 inches) long,
The needle nose pliers are designed with a sleek smooth surface without any sharp groves or jagged teeth that can scratch or damage your jewelry. Each one of the pliers have a double leaf spring that makes them so much easier and safer to handle. Every piece of jewelry you wok on will be a smooth, convenient process with these handy little jewelry making pliers.
This set of three is very small. The largest one is only about 4.92 inches long, so if you have large hands or long fingers, you might find these pliers a little difficult to work with. You may also experience more cramping and stiffening of your joints because of the way you have to hold them. People with small hands will find these pliers just perfect.
Pros:
- Excellent bargain. Perfect for small hands.
Cons:
- They don’t work too well with larger gauge wire. They quickly wear down.
Up Next: How To Make Twisted Copper Wire Bracelets
