Comments on: Which Tools Brands Should I Buy to Start Making Jewelry?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 11:14:27 +0000

In reply to Rups.

Rups
No !! put your all into it.
Buy reasonably good tools not the best, not the worst, but if you get bad tools, it will put you off. Bad tools will make hard work, and rubbish results.
This info maybe too late, but it might help others.

By: Wakeeta

Wakeeta — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 18:41:11 +0000

In reply to Drake. Thank you so much. I have been making jewelry since 2005 and now I want to upgrade my tools. I will look at Wubbers as I’m not ready to invest in Lindstrom besides I keep reading reviews on the springs popping off.

By: Shauna

Shauna — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 21:54:36 +0000

In reply to Natasha Burger.

COMPLETELY AGREE!
But midgrade if you’re just starting out IMO.
That cheap junk is a waste of time and ALWAYS scratches your metals.

By: Joan

Joan — Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:33:44 +0000

I also buy good quality tools. Working with cheap tools can ruin what would be lovely pieces of jewelry and can be hard to work with. I often buy Swanstrom cutting tools and pliers and Fretz (not sure if the spelling is correct) hammers, all of which I purchase from Rio Grande. Hope this helps.

By: Judith

Judith — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 23:28:30 +0000

I have an assortment of (inexpensive) pliers from places as Michaels and Joann’s. This year I started working with wire. The pliers I owned were very uncomfortable/inadequate for wire work. I was tempted to try Lindstrom but did not. When I saw a really good price on Swanstrom, I ordered a flat nose. I cannot get over how good it fits in my hand, well balanced and easy to use. So, I ordered Swanstrom chain nose. It is a fine tool and I love both those pliers. Wubbers looping pliers are okay but heavier to handle. I like the S brand so well that I don’t think I will ever try Lindstrom. Mine are worth the extra money.

By: breck

breck — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 15:26:45 +0000

I’m a nurse and do jewelry design and I use hemastats for holding. Chain jump rings and its great because they lock

By: Janis

Janis — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:26:34 +0000

I started out with a cheap set. That lasted about 2 months. I knew immediately jewelry making was for me so for my birthday (which just so happened to be 2-1/2 months into my jewelry making career), my husband gave me a very expensive set of tools. Unfortunately, I don’t recall the name right now, but he purchased them from Fire Mountain and they were imported from Germany or Sweden (??). What a difference good tools can make!!!!!!! It was like night and day. Once you know this is for you, please invest in the good stuff.

By: Natasha Burger

Natasha Burger — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:48:26 +0000

Do not buy cheap junk!
you get what you pay for and it is very frustrating to use tools that do not work properly. If you are just starting out, you will blame problems with technique on yourself when it might be the tools. Get the best you can afford of the basic tools – pliers, cutters, crimpers – and have a wish list/gift registry for the fancy/specialty tools. Make good tools a priority over anything else, beads, display, marketing etc. It is worth it.

By: Rups

Rups — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:59:11 +0000

Natasha Burger: Got your point. It is noted!
Thanks for your precious advise.

Rups

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:37:07 +0000

I agree about not spending a lot on tools when starting out but you still must be careful about what you buy. If you buy tools that are too large…I’m talking about the jaws of the various pliers…to work comfortably with small spaces, findings, etc., you will not get the results you hoped for and that alone could make you feel that making jewelry is not for you. Bead Smith makes a Slim Line model of most of their tools. They are reasonable in price and usually finished fairly well. Just remember to check the edges of the chain and flat nose pliers for sharpness. If they are really sharp take a fine file (an emery board will work) and smooth off the sharpness without rounding the edges. Make sure the handles fit comfortably in your hands. We all come in different sizes and so do tools. While I am sure there are exceptions, the packaged sets of “jewelry” tools you find are usually poorly finished and are over-sized.

By: Rups

Rups — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:48:30 +0000

Thanks Evelyn for your advise. I purchases some beadsmith tools. I have bought a kit of all tools and none of them were good, I had to return it.

Thanks again.

By: Rups

Rups — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:05:49 +0000

Thank you Drake for your such a good advise.
Rups

By: Drake

Drake — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:19:44 +0000

I second Christine’s advice. don’t spent much money on your first tools. Some good places to look are stores like Harbor Freight or local craft shops like Pat Catan’s, Hobby Lobby, or Michaels. Also, you might want to look at Rio Grande’s Economy models, as well as Euro tool. Pepe Tools is another decent cheap brand to look into.

When you are sure you are going to enjoy doing jewelry, and are going to keep working on it long-term, THEN is the time to invest in quality. I am a chainmaille artist primarily, so I use pliers A LOT. I’ve done cheapo Harbor Freight pliers, Craftsman pliers (too small of handles, and the knobs hurt my hands), these longer-handled ones from jo-ann fabrics (comfortable in the hands, but the jaws were poor quality and marred my rings sometimes). and Finally upgraded to Wubbers. I love my wubbers and I’ll never look back. Lindstrom is supposed to be the cadillac of Pliers, but I am not ready to spend $40 on a single pair of pliers. Certainly not without borrowing someone else’s to try them out first.

By: Rups

Rups — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:12:36 +0000

Hi Christine:
Thank you for your advise. I’ll buy some tools without investing lot of money at this moment.
Thanks again.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:05:33 +0000

Rups,

I’ll give you the same advice my first jewelry instructor gave me: start cheap. If you decide you really don’t like making jewelry you will not have invested a lot of money in things you now don’t use. My first tools were the no-name-brand stuff available anywhere (on line or in a craft store): small wire cutters, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, and a crimper. That was it. The people in my class who decided jewelry making wasn’t for them were grateful they hadn’t invested a lot in name-brand tools.

Christine
Two Sisters Jewelry