Past Techniques:
We maintain a techniques web page that provides links to
the discussion of techniques in our prior newsletters. You can visit
this web page here.
Follow the links on that page to the
discussion of the technique in that newsletter.
 Jewelry Technique:
This weeks jewelry making technique is a new page of instructions on how to
avoid marking jewelry wire. This is a recurring topic, because it is
one that impacts almost all of us. First, every time you use your
round nose pliers they will mark the wire on both the inside and the
outside of the loop (underlining for emphasis). When making
wrapped loops and eye loops,
 this
often isn't an issue since the component you are connecting with the wrapped
loop will hide the marks on the outside of the loop. By contrast, when
you are making earring, bracelet or necklace components on one of our WigJig
jewelry making tools the marks left by your round nose pliers on the outside
of the loop are definitely an issue. Those marks detract from the
appearance of the finished jewelry piece.
Given the above introduction to frame the problem, the
question is how do you avoid leaving tool marks on wire components made on
one of our WigJig tools. The answer to this question is relatively
simple -- use either Step Jaw Pliers, shown above-right, or round-flat
pliers shown above-left to make your initial loops. Please note that
both of these pliers have one rounded jaw for making loops and one flat jaw.
It is vital that the pliers have the flat jaw, because it is this flat jaw
that spreads the gripping force to eliminate the marks on the outside of the
loop. Please note that some vendors sell pliers with a concave jaw
instead of the flat jaw. We suggest that you avoid those pliers as
they leave marks on the wire at the edge of the concave jaw.
The next suggestion that we can offer is to never use
your round nose pliers for anything but making a loop. Do not use
round nose pliers for gripping your wire. Chain nose or bent chain
nose pliers with flat smooth jaws are what we use to grip and hold wire.
The flat smooth jaws of these pliers spread the gripping force to minimize
tool marks. In addition, when gripping wire in your bent chain nose
pliers, grip the wire firmly so that it doesn't slip. Frequently tool
marks happen when the wire slips while in the
grip of one of your tools.
 Sometimes
tool marks happen when you are trying to close a loop that is slightly open.
This can happen after opening and closing a loop to connect two wire
components. There is a tool that you can use to avoid tool marks when
closing a loop. This tool is called Bent Closing Pliers or Loop
Closing Pliers. These pliers have a groove carved in the jaw and this
groove is used to hold the wire so that it won't slip while you gently
squeeze the gap in a loop closed.
Finally, many beginners start making jewelry with
inexpensive tools. This is a natural choice as one wants to learn what
is important before spending more money. Some of these inexpensive
tools aren't made well and may have sharp edges on the chain nose or bent
chain nose pliers. The solution to this is relatively easy and
inexpensive -- use a file, to smooth the edges of our chain nose and bent
chain nose pliers. The file can be a simple nail file with a fine
grain, or it can be a set of jeweler's files. Both will work well.
This isn't major surgery, it is merely rounding the edges so that they feel
smooth and aren't raised above the rest of the jaw of the pliers.
To view
more instructions on how to reduce the tool marks on your jewelry wire
please select here. To view our Step Jaw Pliers in our Internet
store, please select the picture above top-right. To view our round
flat pliers, please select the picture above-left. To view our bent
closing pliers select the picture above-right.
Nostalgia Corner:
 We
are adding a new feature to our newsletter. We call it Nostalgia
Corner because we are revisiting past designs. This weeks featured
design in our Nostalgia Corner is the design for the square earrings shown
at left. We have added a new design to the Square Earrings. The
new design is called Small Square Earrings and is a square with sides of
about 1/2" each. To view our instructions for making our square
earrings select the picture at left. To view our Small Square Earrings
jewelry making pattern, visit page 6 of the series
or select
here. This is a very simple, easy to make design that seems to be
popular. This is an earring that you can sell for around $10 and still
make money.
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