Essential Jewelry Making Tools
Making jewelry is a fascinating and far-reaching hobby and a wonderfully creative outlet for the many people who actively participate in the craft. When it’s time to get started in your ornamental activities, you will need to purchase a few jewelry making tools and some basic supplies, depending of the types of pieces you plan on making.
When you are just starting out and making your first items of jewelry, it is best to stick to the basic supplies and tools. Later, as you gain more experience, you will begin to refine your ideas, as to what kind of jewelry you prefer to make. At that stage, it makes sense to perhaps invest more time and money in your jewelry making supplies that you want to have on hand, which can also help to reduce the number of trips you have to make to craft supply store.
In every serious jewelry-makers tool kit, the most basic jewelry making tools that you will need are a pair of round nose pliers, a flush cutter, chain nose and bent nose tool. One way to be sure you get the basics is to purchase a jewelry making kit. Most kits contain all of the basic jewelry making supplies and the essential jewelry tool items that you will need for a good start.
Along with the various tools, you will also need some basic supplies. Jewelry wire is a popular material that many beginners and experienced jewelry makers use extensively. It is available in a number of different metals, which vary greatly in cost depending on how precious the particular metal is. Copper, brass, silver, silver-plated, gold, gold-plated and gold-filled wires are the most common types and are normally included in a beginner’s kit. Of course, all of these wires, as well as others, can be purchased separately, as needed for your projects. The common gauge weight of jewelry wire is 16, 18, 20 and 22. The 24 and 26 gauge is also used, but not as often.
Findings are another important part of jewelry making. The findings are the components of a piece of jewelry that are generally considered the finishing touches, such as the clasps that are used on necklaces or bracelets, or the ear wires and posts that are used to fashion earrings. Without the findings and the proper tools to attach them, many jewelry projects would be impossible to complete.
The most important jewelry making tools that are needed for the basics of jewelry making are readily available at your local craft store, in the jewelry making supplies section. You will also be able to locate these tools online at internet sites that have jewelry tool supplies. Other than the tools that have already been listed, you may also want to buy a chasing hammer, a bench block or an anvil and special pliers for loop closing purposes.
By Crafts Editor
Jewelry Crafts Magazine – Dozens of jewelry making project ideas and profiles of successful jewelry artists.
