Types Of Beading Tools


Beading Awls are usually used when securing the knot to the bead, but since they have a strong tip, they are also great for untieing stubborn knots.

A Bead Board is very useful when laying out and designing necklaces and bracelets. They can come in hard wood finish, velvet or molded plastic and will have curved grooves and bead storage compartments. Many also come with rulers which you can use to measure your necklaces and bracelets.

Bead Cord Cutters are used for cutting close and completely flush with a nice smooth end. They can be used on bead cord and very soft wire.

A Bead Cord Knotter is a useful tool for those who get frustrated by the knotting process. It actually mimics the process and can save you a lot of time and frustration.

Bent Chain Nose Pliers are mostly used for gripping cord or wire. They are built like the chain-nose pliers, but are bent at the tip. The bend in the jaws of these pliers allows you to get into difficult to reach areas with precision, so that you can add pendants, build jumpring chains and chain mail, and grasp wire between beads. They are also used to tighten loop coils, tuck and flatten wire ends for finishing, and to tighten and close prongs. They are great for both wire-wrappers and beaders.

Chain Nose Pliers are great for wire wrapping, flat crimping, opening and closing jump rings, prong closing, closing bead tips, holding components, and making angled bends. The jaws are flat and taper to a point, so they can get into small places and make clean wire bends and tight wrapped loops. They are a must for all beaders.

Coil Pliers are used make consistent loops and coils without leaving nicks in the wire. You should hold the wire with the flat jaw, while rotating the round jaw to form a loop. They are great to use for wire wrapped loops.

Crimping Pliers are designed especially for crimp beads! The jaws have two notches,  that when they are shut one notch forms and  shape, and the other makes a shape. When crimping, you squeeze the notch to set it in place and then squeeze the notch to further secure and shape it. They will cinch a smooth crimp without leaving any sharp edges.

The Diamond Bead Reamer has several diamond points and is used to enlarge and clean bead holes. It is recommended that you use the bead reamer on both sides of your bead hole to smooth away any sharp edges.

Flat-nose Pliers are used for wider and broader bends, straightening and flattening out metal, making angled bends in wire and for gripping components. The jaws are squared with a tapered tip and flat inside.

Flush Wire Cutters are great for cutting 20-26 gauge wire. They will cut a smooth and flush end that should not snag or scratch. They are used to trim head pins, eye pins, and beading wire. One side makes a V shape and the other is flat, which makes for a perfectly flush cut. Just remember to always keep the waste end of the wire towards the concave side of the cutters.

Forming Pliers are used to hold, bend, shape and straighten wire without denting the metal.

Knotting Tweezers have extra sharp points and slender shanks which are necessary when securing the knot to the bead.

Long English Beading Needles are predominantly used for threading seed beads.

Nylon Jaw Pliers are made especially for metal wire work. They will prevent nicks and chips on the color of the wire.

Pearl Needles are solid steel needles that are similar to the needles used for sewing. They are usually used for small seed pearls, since they are very fine and not very flexible. Due to their stiffness, they are not recommended for other bead work.

A Pin Vise is used to twist wire and augment the appearance of wire wrapped stones. They can also be used to hold drills when enlarging bead holes.

Round Nose Pliers are used for making loops, eye pins, French wires, clasps, jump rings, and filigree. They have rounded jaws that come to a point, which makes them great for bending wire into circles and curves. Be careful you don’t use them for gripping, because it is easy to dent soft wire.

Split Ring Pliers are designed so that you can easily open split rings and add attachments. They save lots of time and make your work easier. They work with any size splitring.

Thread Cutters need to be well tempered and have very sharp edges. If the edges are dull they will may cause the thread to fray and unravel.

Twisted Wire Needles are a fine, flexible steel wire that can be found in fine, medium and heavy gauges. Their large, collapsible eyes will close when pulled through the first bead.

Wide Eye Needleseye runs the entire length of the needle, making threading quite easy. The needle is welded shut on both ends and is made of split steel which springs back straight once the thread is inserted. The wide eye needle is a very versatile needle.

Wire Side Cutters are inexpensive. They will cut wire but not flush and will leave a pointy, rough edge that will need to be filed down.

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