What to know about forming pliers:

Half-Round pliers are the most commonly found forming pliers, and are available in light, medium and heavy-duty versions for handling a variety of wire or sheet gauges. One curved jaw and one flat jaw allow the jewelry maker to gradually shape curves in wire or sheet.

90° Bending pliers feature a curved top jaw and a wide V-grooved bottom jaw to create round-cornered 90° bends in wire and metal sheet.

Ring-bending pliers feature curved jaws, and the upper jaw is sharply curved, while the lower jaw is more gently curved to create smooth bends.

Dimpling pliers create small hemispherical divots in metal sheet. A steel ball attached to the top jaw inserts into a cup-shaped indentation on the opposite plier jaw. Several different diameters are available.

Concave and convex pliers can be used to bend ring shanks or intricate and sharply-curved shapes for earring wires or for sheet metal fabrication.

Tips

Like all pliers, choose them based on need and appropriateness to your work. Test them if you can, and look out for harsh edges that may mar your metal.

My favorite forming pliers are heavy ring bending pliers. Use them to pre-form heavy gauge half round wire stock into the perfect shape for cleanly soldered ring bands.