Pliers Tips

The main tip: Get the best pliers you can afford. They're easier on your hands, and better for your jewelry work.

Some other things to keep in mind to get the most from your tool budget are:

• Size - It's important to have the correct size pliers in relation to your hands and in relation to the materials you are using. The right size pliers for make it FAR more comfortable to work as long as you want or need to, and much easier to work your materials without strain or damaging the materials or tools.
• Shape - Use the right shape pliers for the job. Flat nose pliers are good for bending wire and other uses where a broader tip is helpful. Chain nose pliers are good for finer bends and for manipulating smaller parts or wire in hard to reach positions. Round nose pliers are good for making circles and curls.
• Ergonomics - If you spend a lot of time with pliers in hand, it's really helpful to invest in ergonomic pliers of some sort. They will save on wear and tear on your hands and enable you to work more efficiently, especially over long periods.

New pliers, however high quality they are, will probably need what's called "breaking" before you first use them. Breaking is smoothing off any sharp edges just a tiny bit so that they don't mark you wire or other metals. You can easily do this with 400+ grit Wet or Dry paper that you get from your local hardware store. Be careful not to round the edges off too much, just a little bit.

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