Pliers are essential Tools in jewellery making and having a quality set of the most frequently used pliers and cutters will ensure great results in your jewellery projects for years to come. It can be really confusing when you're just starting out to choose which pliers and cutters to buy as there are such a wide varietyon the market today. Using the right kind of pliers for the right job will help cut down on time and improve your jewellery making too.Pliers and cutters that are usually considered essential include: Round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers, bent nose pliers, crimping pliers and side cutters.

Below are some examples of the most frequently used pliers in jewellery making:

End Cutters

End cutters are suitable for cutting soft to medium jewellery wires and allow you to get a very close cut as the jaws are set at right angles.

Memory Wire Shears

Memory wire is a very thick coil of tempered (toughened) steel wire and would ruin regular wire cutters in a very short space of time. Therefore they require specialist cutters such as memory wire shears to create a clean cut with minimal effort. These are great for cutting other tough jewellery wires too.

Round Nosed Pliers

Round nose pliers are an essential part of a jewellery makers tool kit. They are used to create different sized loops, smooth bends, create spirals and more. It's worth noting if you want to make consistent sized loops, that it's a good idea to mark the pliers with a small amount of masking tape at the appropriate point. Round nose pliers are smooth with no crimps or jagged edges on their jaws so are great for creating smooth curves with no marks to your wire.

Chain Nosed Pliers

Chain nose pliers are a necessity in jewellery making. They are used to grip components, bend wire, and are particularly handy for reaching into tight places and difficult angles. Chain nose pliers are available in short nose and long nose varieties. Short nose offer more control whereas long nose are better for reaching.

Flat Nosed Pliers

Flat nose pliers are great for gripping wire and are very similar to chain nose pliers, the only difference being they do not taper towards the end giving them a greater surface area for holding wire securely. They can also be used to straighten any unwanted kinks or bends out of your wire.

Bent Nose Pliers

 Bent nose pliers are really useful for wire wrapping and tucking the ends of wire into beads. They are very similar to chain nose pliers in that they are brilliant for reaching into small spaces as well as gripping at difficult angles.

Crimping Pliers

Crimping pliers are an invaluable tool to have if creating a neat, professional finish is one of your priorities. They are used to secure Crimp Beads onto wire, round them and also to clamp on crimp covers. When closed, the jaws on the crimping pliers have two notches. The first notch (nearest the end) creates an 'o' Shape, the second a 'u' shape. The 'u' shape is used to close the crimp, and the 'o' to round it afterwards giving it a neat and tidy finish. One step further is to secure a crimp cover over the top which will take your jewellery to a more professional level.

4 in 1 Pliers

These multi purpose pliers can flatten, close Jump Rings, loop wire and also cut. These are really handy if you have a large amount of jewellery to make or you have a big project on the go as you won't be swapping jewellery pliers as often, saving you time.

Box Joint Versus Lap Joint Pliers

Box jointed pliers are stronger and more hardwearing than lap jointed pliers. Lap jointed pliers are constructed like a pair of scissors. The two arms cross over each other. With box jointed pliers, one arm passes through the other, resulting in a stronger joint with less 'play' than lap joints. If your budget allows, it is worth investing in box jointed pliers as they will last longer and save you money in the long run.

Handles

There are a range of handles available ranging from PVC and foam grip to ergonomically designed handles. PVC handles are generally more durable than foam grip but are not as comfortable over long periods of time. If you are working on a large project or are doing repetitive work, it is well worth investing in ergonomically designed handles as they are far more comfortable, less fatiguing and will reduce the strain on your hands.