Whether you are making jewelry, making crafts, or simply stringing beads there are some basic tools that you are going to need for your projects. The more advanced you get with bead crafting the more tools that you are going to need. But if you are just starting out you can pick and choose which tools will be right for your bead crafts and simply buy more as you need them. One of the best things about buying bead crafting tools is that you can find them in craft stores or on the internet.
Here are some of the basic tools that you are going to need for bead crafting.
Jewelry tweezers – these tweezers design allows precision selection of small beads and findings
Tweezers set – by having a set of at least four tweezers that come in a variety of sizes and shapes you will be able to easily handle any kind of small bead, findings and get help for those really intricate projects
Bent nose pliers – these are great for gripping, creating angles and getting a secure hold in really hard to reach places. They do this because the nose of the pliers is bent rather than straight.
Long nose pliers – these sometimes come with a side cutter and are a great all purpose tool. With these pliers you can do any type of bending, twisting or cutting of wire.
Chain nose pliers with smooth jaws – these pliers have a precision tip and a smooth jaw (which is the inside of the pliers that are used for gripping). The smooth jaw allows for bending and shaping wire without crimping it. You can close bead tips without damage and because of how long the tips are you can work in tight places.
Tweezers with magnifier – these tweezers will be used the same way as other tweezers but provide the benefit of the magnifier which allows you a closer look at small beads and wire, which lets you do some precision crafting with beads.
End nippers – these can be used to cut wire or sheet metal and provide a flush wire cut, meaning you have a nice even cut
Bead crimp pliers – this is an essential tool for any type of bead work because it gives your crafts a professional look. The dual crimp creates a smooth and rounded finish to crimp beads or tubes.
Mini pliers tool set – these are the same type of pliers that are used for larger beads but because of their miniature size they are perfect for working with your smaller beads
Memory shear – this tool cuts hard wire with a clean straight edge
Bead reamer – if you are using drilled beads this tool is important because it is designed to enlarge, de-burr and round out the bead holes that were previously drilled.
Chain nose pliers – these were designed to help with your hands getting tired and to allow you to have precision handling. They are used to handle tiny beads, findings and craft pieces.
Plastic jaw pliers – these pliers protect the surface finish of wire and other materials while it is being handled. This tool is also great for sculpting wire.
Round nose pliers – used to create smooth loops and curves in wires. Are very important for creating wrapped loop jewelry
Jump ring tool – you basically wear this tool like a ring for when you are beading. It is used to open jump rings (key chains holders), it is also designed to hold them open so that you can continuously work on the jump rings
As you can tell your main tools for bead crafting are pliers and wire cutters because you are going to need to be able to cut the wire and string the beads onto the wire. Pliers make stringing the beads easier and wire cutters give you that nice clean cut so your work looks professional.