Essential Jewellery Making Tools

Whether you’ve started making jewellery as a hobby or you’re a jewellery-making pro, it can be a good idea to create your own beading tool kit so you always have everything you need to hand!

Here are just a few of the tools we use on a regular basis to make our own jewellery:

Pliers

Pliers are a must for any beading project. However, it’s easy to get confused by the various types available. Flat nose pliers, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers and wire cutters are some of the most common options to choose from and each one has different uses.

Flat nose pliers have flat tips to grip thin wires easily and make angular bends. You’ll also be able to hold small beads or gems without damaging them.

Round nose pliers are ideal for creating ground loops or soft wire bends in wire jewellery. However, they’re not recommended for gripping wire as the tip may create unwelcome dents.

Chain nose pliers are used for tucking wires into beads, opening or closing jump rings, and accessing those touch-to-reach places.

As the name suggests, wire cutters are used to cut wires and chains.

Having numerous pliers in your toolbox can of course take up lots of space, so you may find it easier to buy 4 in 1 All Purpose pliers instead. These excellent value for money tools will allow you to loop, cut, flatten and grip without having to buy numerous different types of pliers.

Tweezers

Beading can be extremely fiddly work, especially if you’re making jewellery with the tiniest of beads such as Seed Beads. For this reason, tweezers can be an invaluable addition to your toolkit. Use them to squeeze the fiddliest elements of your project and carefully put them in place. Tweezers can also be ideal when adding clasps onto the jewellery or tying knots.

Storage boxes

There’s nothing more frustrating than having to rummage through a huge bag of beads in an attempt to find the ones you need. Make life easier for yourself by keeping your beads and tools in storage boxes specially designed for jewellery equipment. By separating everything into different compartments you’ll be able to easily spot everything you need, when you need it.

Magnifying glass

When working with tiny beads or jewellery findings, you may find yourself needing a magnifying glass to see everything properly. Using pliers to create wire loops and adding tiny fasteners and clasps to bracelets will be so much easier when you no longer have to squint and can see exactly what you’re doing.