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An Alternative Way to Use Your Pliers By Denise Peck

By on May 16, 2017
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by Judy Ellis, Wirejewelry.com

Wire Jewelry Tip for May 16th, 2017

An Alternative Way to Use Your Pliers

by Denise Peck

     It’s a natural tendency, when holding pliers, to use it as a bending tool. When we use pliers outside of jewelry making, we do use them to increase the strength and torque of our hand. And we turn or twist the pliers to do the job.

But in jewelry making, it’s sometimes better to hold your pliers completely still and use the jaws more as a mandrel. Let your fingers do the manipulating of the wire. It takes a little getting used to, to not turn the pliers themselves. Here are some photos of a perfect demonstration of this while starting a wire wrapped loop. You’ll see that not once do you move the pliers.

1. Bend the wire to 90° over the chain nose pliers

chain nose

2. Hold the 90° bend in the round nose pliers, holding the pliers as you would grass clippers and pull the wire up over the jaw of the pliers.

round nose

3. Swivel the jaw of the pliers so you’re holding them as you would a pair of scissors, and complete the loop.

complete the loop

Happy Wrapping!

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