Jewelry Tools From the Orthodontist!
by Lisa Yang.
(Lisa Yang Jewelry)
Wire cutters, pliers and other tools from the orthodontist
My children just got braces. I was mesmerized watching them put them on – not because of the braces, but because of the tools they were using!
I could tell right away that the wire they used for the braces was a similar gauge to what I use in my jewelry making.
The wire cutters and pliers the orthodontist was using was like nothing I had seen before – so I had to ask about them. It turned out the orthodontist was very happy to share information about the tools and was a fellow jewelry maker.
When I told him that I make wire wrapped jewelry and was interested in buying tools like his, he offered to let me take whatever I wanted from his box of old tools. I took one of each unique type of tool.
The most interesting tool is called a distal end cutter. It clips the wire, flattens the cut side and holds the cut piece in its jaws. No more flying pieces of wire!
The way the wire end is flattened when it is cut instantly makes a flattened end like a paddle. My first project using this tool was to make a really quick pair of pearl earrings.
Wire cut with the distal end cutter has a paddle end
I used Beadalon silver colored wire and cut two pieces about 2 inches long using the distal end cutters. I put a pearl on each wire. The wire has to fit snugly in the pearl so it doesn’t slide over the flattened paddle end.
Then I bent the wire to hold the pearl in place and rounded the earwire around the barrel of a permanent marker.
Pearl earrings made in 5 minutes with the new wire cutters
I had a terrific pair of earrings finished in about 5 minutes! What’s really nice, is that the flattened cut end is still silver colored and does not show the copper core of the silver colored wire.
That is very difficult to do if you are trying to make the paddle end by hammering it flat.
Another view of the pearl earrings
I highly recommend asking your orthodontist about his tools if you get the opportunity.
I hear the dentist might have some useful ones too, but my next appointment isn’t until June. This will be the first time I’m looking forward to it!
Lisa Yang
Lisa Yang Designs
Lisa Yang Jewelry Blog
