Using Magical Crimping Pliers

by Judy Larson

Crimp tubes are used to secure beading wire ends. Traditionally, we "smile, flatten, and fold" the crimp tube to secure the wire. This flat rectangle of metal is a bit unsightly, so then it is covered with a crimp cover. Crimp covers are hard to close well and the seam always shows. Enter the Magical Crimping Pliers-and they really are MAGIC! The tiny beads created with these pliers add a beautiful professional looking finishing touch to the end of bead strands.

Instructions

Crimping a Bead

There is a half-bead round depression in each jaw of the magical crimping pliers. There is a trough on each side of the impression for the beading wire, first photo. The crimp tube on the wire should be centered in the depression, second photo, NOT at an angle-third photo.

How to Crimp a Tube

There are some basics to remember when using Magical Crimping Pliers. First, 2x2mm crimp tubes are used. Second, only .018", .019", and .024" beading wire can be used with the pliers. And third, there MUST be a wire tail tucked into the beads below the crimp. A traditional crimp tube is flattened, hugging the wire the full 2mm length. The bead created with the Magical Crimping Pliers grabs the beading wire where it enters and exits the tube, not in the center. Without a wire tail, the beading wire could more easily be pulled out of the crimped bead, which happened to some pearls I strung for my young rambunctious granddaughter. I drilled larger holes in three pearls on each end of the strand and remade the necklace. It is still going strong.

To show how to crimp the tube, a silver tube was placed on a piece of 20 gauge copper wire.

First: Crimp the tube with the plier jaws. There will be a little flattened triangle on each corner of the tube.

Judy Larson's Using Magical Crimping Pliers - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Beads, Tools, using magical crimping pliers

Second: Rotate the crimp tube 90 degrees in the plier jaws. Crimp. Again, there will be little flattened triangles on the corners. Notice that the corners from the first crimp are pressed into the tube.

Third: Rotate the crimp tube in the plier jaws about 30 degrees. Crimp. The little triangle corners should now be pressed into the tube and a bead shape will be forming. Continue to crimp around the crimp tube in this manner until a round bead forms.

Slide the crimp tube onto the beading wire. Add a closure or decorative element. Thread the beading wire back through the tube and the first three or so beads. If the beading wire does not fit, the beads need to be switched out or drilled with larger holes. Just as with the "smile, fold, flatten" crimp bead method, do not pull the wire loop so tightly that it will not move freely on the closure or decorative element.

Place the crimp tube in the well of the jaw of the Magical Crimping Pliers. Crimp, turn, crimp, turn, crimp, turn....(several seed bead strands will be gathered together and a round toothpick helped make the perfect size loops). Trim the excess beading wire below the third bead.

Materials

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Tools

4-1/2 Inch Magical Crimping Pliers for Bead forming - Pack of 1

G16-36

G16-36
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $19.95
Gold Club Price: $14.96

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Category: Tools
Technique(s): Beading, Tools

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!

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