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Attach clasps quickly and securely with a crimping tool
Crimp beads are tiny cylindrical beads of silver, gold or base metal which can be crushed flat so that they grip onto strands of beading wire. You can use flat-nosed pliers to flatten them but a specialist tool, called crimping pliers, gives a more secure grip and a better shape. If you want to create nice finish to your jewelry, use crimp bead covers to disguise them
Tools Needed
- Tube crimp beads
- Crimping pliers
- Wire cutters
Step 1
Pass the beading wire through the ring of one half of the clasp back through the crimp.
Step 2
Grip the crimp bead between the back part of the jaws of the crimping pliers so that the little ridge is positioned in the center of the bead.
Step 3
Make sure that the wire is tight around the clasp ring and that the crimp is firmly against it. Squeeze the pliers so that the crimp is crushed down the middle with a part of the beading wire on either side
Step 4
Position the crimp in the forward part of the jaws so that the wide part of the crimp is going to be crushed when the jaws close.
Step 5
Squeeze the crimp so that it folds in on itself, securely gripping both parts of the beading wire.
Step 6
Your crimped wire should look like this
Step 7
Add the first bead to the wire and slip it over the tail until it is tight against the crimp bead. If any of the tail is still exposed, cut it away.
Step 8
Continue adding your beads.