Wire Tools for Beginners
My first experiences with making wire jewelry were almost 20 years ago when I bought a complete kit at one of my favorite bookstores. The kit came with 3 spools of wire in various metals and gauges, a wonderful book about wire jewelry making, and a set of jewelry making pliers: your standard round nose, chain nose, and flat nose pliers. Two friends and I sat together one rainy Sunday afternoon and taught ourselves how to make spiral links, Egyption spiral bracelets, and all sorts of other fun wire shapes.
Fast forward to today, and now I have a huge collection of wire jewelry tools including bracelet mandrels, ring mandrels, jigs, and fancy mandrel pliers for making shapes out of wire. But if you're serious about getting started with making wire jewelry, there are a few good tools you should think about purchasing. Having a complete tool box handy opens up all sorts of opportunities for learning how to make wire jewelry! Check out my list:
Fast forward to today, and now I have a huge collection of wire jewelry tools including bracelet mandrels, ring mandrels, jigs, and fancy mandrel pliers for making shapes out of wire. But if you're serious about getting started with making wire jewelry, there are a few good tools you should think about purchasing. Having a complete tool box handy opens up all sorts of opportunities for learning how to make wire jewelry! Check out my list:
Instructions
I don't know why it took me so long to get my first pair of combination pliers, but now I use them all the time.
They don't replace your standard round nose and chain nose pliers, but they save a lot of time when making wrapped or simple loops.
Combination pliers have one jaw like round nose pliers and one like chain nose pliers.
My pair even has three notches on the chain nose jaw to create perfectly sized loops every time.
They're a real game-changer for loop work.
They don't replace your standard round nose and chain nose pliers, but they save a lot of time when making wrapped or simple loops.
Combination pliers have one jaw like round nose pliers and one like chain nose pliers.
My pair even has three notches on the chain nose jaw to create perfectly sized loops every time.
They're a real game-changer for loop work.
Nylon jaw wire straighteners are great for saving wire, time, and money.
Use them to straighten curvy wire right off the spool or fix kinks made while working.
I wear out the jaws on my straighteners fairly quickly.
Luckily, some places sell replacement jaws, so you don't have to buy a whole new pair every time.
These pliers are a must-have for keeping wire smooth and manageable.
Use them to straighten curvy wire right off the spool or fix kinks made while working.
I wear out the jaws on my straighteners fairly quickly.
Luckily, some places sell replacement jaws, so you don't have to buy a whole new pair every time.
These pliers are a must-have for keeping wire smooth and manageable.
When making earrings, cuff bracelets, or punching holes in flattened wire, sharp wire ends are common and need smoothing.
You can use sandpaper depending on the wire type, but I recommend investing in an inexpensive set of metal files.
They're worth every penny for smoothing and finishing your pieces.
Having a way to file sharp ends is especially important if you plan to sell your jewelry.
Smooth edges make your work safer and more professional.
You can use sandpaper depending on the wire type, but I recommend investing in an inexpensive set of metal files.
They're worth every penny for smoothing and finishing your pieces.
Having a way to file sharp ends is especially important if you plan to sell your jewelry.
Smooth edges make your work safer and more professional.
I bought my first heavy-duty flush cutters about 10 years ago, and they've held up incredibly well.
I use them to cut everything from fine gauge wire for wire weaving to thick 10-gauge copper for cuffs and components.
Check your cutters regularly for nicks on the cutting edges.
Nicks mean it's time to replace them to keep your cuts clean and easy.
I use them to cut everything from fine gauge wire for wire weaving to thick 10-gauge copper for cuffs and components.
Check your cutters regularly for nicks on the cutting edges.
Nicks mean it's time to replace them to keep your cuts clean and easy.
Steel bench block. I love the look of hammered wire, so I spent a little bit of money on a good steel bench block.
There's something so satisfying about being able to hammer out a piece of beautiful copper, sterling silver, or brass wire into an organic flat shape.
They make great jewelry making components!
There's something so satisfying about being able to hammer out a piece of beautiful copper, sterling silver, or brass wire into an organic flat shape.
They make great jewelry making components!
Ball peen hammer. And on that note...if you're going to start hammering wire into all kinds of fun flat shapes, you're going to need a good jewelry hammer.
You can start with an inexpensive ball peen hammer that has a flat side and a round side on the head.
The flat side can be used for flattening wire, and the round side can be used for adding that "hammered" texture to your wire jewelry projects.
You can start with an inexpensive ball peen hammer that has a flat side and a round side on the head.
The flat side can be used for flattening wire, and the round side can be used for adding that "hammered" texture to your wire jewelry projects.
Rubber mallet. Once I started making lots of wire rings, I found that I could adjust the size easily by using my rubber mallet to gently pound the ring band on my ring mandrel.
Another good use for a rubber mallet is for strengthening any wire jewelry findings you make out of dead soft wire - just place them on your bench block and give them a pounding with the rubber mallet to harden the wire and help your jewelry findings keep their shape.
Another good use for a rubber mallet is for strengthening any wire jewelry findings you make out of dead soft wire - just place them on your bench block and give them a pounding with the rubber mallet to harden the wire and help your jewelry findings keep their shape.
Bent nose pliers or jump ring opener.
I didn't even think about learning chain maille techniques until I had a jump ring opener.
You can either get a pair of curved nose pliers (very handy for getting into tight angles) or a simple ring-type jump ring opener.
I love the ring type jump ring opener for when I'm doing chain maille or assembling a complex piece of wire jewelry because I can just keep it on my finger and open and close the jump rings with just a flick of my wrist!
I didn't even think about learning chain maille techniques until I had a jump ring opener.
You can either get a pair of curved nose pliers (very handy for getting into tight angles) or a simple ring-type jump ring opener.
I love the ring type jump ring opener for when I'm doing chain maille or assembling a complex piece of wire jewelry because I can just keep it on my finger and open and close the jump rings with just a flick of my wrist!
Hole punch pliers.
Once you get started hammering away at your wire, you'll find that there are many delightful possibilities that open up when you can punch little holes in your wire! To that end, I can highly recommend getting a pair of sturdy hole punching pliers.
I've had my pair for nearly a decade, and they are still holding up well.
What do you think? Are there any tools that you absolutely needed when you were getting started with wire jewelry?
Once you get started hammering away at your wire, you'll find that there are many delightful possibilities that open up when you can punch little holes in your wire! To that end, I can highly recommend getting a pair of sturdy hole punching pliers.
I've had my pair for nearly a decade, and they are still holding up well.
What do you think? Are there any tools that you absolutely needed when you were getting started with wire jewelry?
Materials
Ultimate Sheet Metal Bundle
Ultimate_Sheet_Metal_Bundle
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $129.77
- Gold Club Price: $97.33
Wire
Tools
WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
- G15-20
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $170.72
- Gold Club Price: $128.04
Steel and Rubber Bench Block 4x4 Inches
G17-44
- G17-44
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $29.95
- Gold Club Price: $22.46
C.H.P Milano Angled Flush Cutter, 5-1/4 Inches
PLR-489.00
- PLR-489.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $21.95
- Gold Club Price: $16.46
C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
- PLR-487.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $16.97
- Gold Club Price: $12.73
C.H.P Milano Small Sprue Cutter, 6-1/4 Inches, Flush Cut
PLR-488.00
- PLR-488.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $24.95
- Gold Club Price: $18.71
Power Max Cutter, Full Flush, 6-1/2 Inches
PLR-791.00
- PLR-791.00
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $40.97
- Gold Club Price: $30.73
Euro Punch Plier 1.50mm
PLR-133.70
- PLR-133.70
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $14.97
- Gold Club Price: $11.23
2 Ounce Rubber Head Hammer
G3-19
- G3-19
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $2.97
- Gold Club Price: $2.23
10 Piece Diamond Needle Files - 140mm X 3mm
G14-8
- G14-8
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $13.57
- Gold Club Price: $10.18
5 1/2 Inch Nylon Flat Jaw Pliers with Replacement Jaws
G2-1
- G2-1
- Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
- Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
- Price: $9.97
- Gold Club Price: $7.48
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- Category: Tools
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Jennifer VanBenschoten
Other Tips by Jennifer VanBenschoten
Quick and Easy
Why My Combination Pliers are My Favorite Pliers Ever
Making Jump Rings
Make a Knotted Headpin
How to Use Wire Straightening Pliers
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