15 Important Items For Your Jewelry Tool Box

Craft expert Maria Nerius explains the 15 essential tools in your jewelry tool box. If you want to know how to make jewelry, read this helpful jewelry-making article.

Crimping Tool: For the best crimping results it’s best to use this tool designed specifically for crimping those crimping beads and crimping ends. Practice and more practice will help you become an expert at this important jewelry making skill.

Round Needle Nose Pliers: This is the tool for making loops, jump rings, and more. Some round needle nose have a very tiny tip so consider your needs. You may wish to invest in a stand and a fine set.

Flat Needle Nose Pliers: These pliers can’t make loops but do come in handy for holding and straightening jewelry findings.

Wire Cutters: Most jewelry makers prefer wire cutters that cut flush making it easier to make jump rings and bails. Most jewelry wire cutters are for soft wires so invest in commercial grade wire cutters if you cut a lot of stiff wire.

Scissors: You’ll need several. Dedicate a pair of scissors just for fabrics, just for paper, just for metal, and a craft pair for everything else. Metal and paper can dull scissor blades quickly. Never cut wire with a pair of scissors, it will damage the blades beyond repair.

Hand Drill: You’ll want one with fine drilling bits. Standard drill bits will drill through most materials except glass (you need a diamond bit). If you do a lot of drilling, think about an electrical one, but for most jewelry needs a hand drill is sufficient.

Files and Abrasives: Jewelry files are important when working with metals to make sure there are no sharp edges left when the project is complete. Fine sanding paper and emery boards are also used.

Burnisher: This tool can be made of wood or metal and it’s used to smooth, shape, emboss, and polish. Used with a variety of materials from paper to metal to fabric to wood.

Hammer-Mallet: Besides helping you get your aggressions out, a hammer is used to flatten and shape wire and metal, the mallet is used when you need a lighter touch.

Bead Board: This tool helps you lay out your jewelry design. You line up your beads, charms, and spacers getting the benefit of changing your mind if you wish before you start stringing.

Ruler, Measuring Tape: You need to measure your wrists, length of beading wire, and other elements of your jewelry and it’s best to measure rather than guess.

Beading Needles: Very thin so it can slide through beads of all sizes. It also has a small eye so you may need help from needle threader tool or magnifying glasses. When not using seed beads or delicas, you can switch to the easier to thread sewing needles.

And a few extras that are special!

Versa Tool: This tool does so many different techniques. You can cut plastics/stencils with the hot knife tip, you can soldier with the soldier tip, wood burn with all kinds of tips from lettering to words to borders. 

Organizers: Organizers for beads and jewelry making come in all shapes and sizes. Keep your beads, findings, and tools organized is important and saves time. Consider your needs and invest in organizers.

Rubber Stamps: Stamps can be used with many mediums from shrink plastic to polymer clays to metals. Find some images that appeal to you. You can also use images to make a gift card!