The Essential Tools For Beading

Pack of Pliers and Side Cutters

What is it?

This is a handy pack of useful pliers with comfortable handles in a zip-up case. The pack contains all the pliers that you are likely to need for jewellery making and bead stringing. It includes snipe nose (also known as chain nose), flat nose, round nose and bent nose pliers as well as a pair of side cutters, making it an excellent buy for jewellers and beading enthusiasts alike.

Why do I need it?

Pliers are one of the most useful tools you will need when making any type of jewellery, the different nose options available in this pack will come in really handy for different projects, there's nothing worse than getting halfway through a project and not having the right tools to complete it.

Buying this pack is much cheaper than buying the pliers individually and you get a handy case to keep them all in.

How to use

You will find that the different pliers will have different uses, the snipe nose are great for opening and closing jump rings, the round nose for making connections and wire wrapping and the cutters you can use to cut wires threads nice and close to keep your work looking nice and tidy. Read our advice page on pliers and their uses.

Thread Snips

What is it?

Thread snips are ideal for cutting beading thread, thin wires, textiles, yarn, gimp or french wire and much more. 

Why do I need it?

Thread snips are sprung so they can be used with ease, even in hard to reach places. The strong blades are sharp enough to leave a nice neat end after cutting.

At approximately 11cm long they are small enough to be held in the hand while your fingers manage fiddly jobs such as knotting. 

Unlike scissors, they can easily be manipulated and operated with only one hand which can prove invaluable when you cannot let your thread go for risk of losing all your beads!

How to use

Use as you would scissors. 

Bead Mat

What is it?

This handy bead mat is made from a special fleecy fabric with fibres which prevent your beads from rolling away.

At 35cm x 28cm, our bead mat is plenty big enough for most beading projects and can be easily rolled up or folded for easy storage.

Why do I need it?

Small things have a tendency to roll away and disappear. This mat will stop this from happening, if you drop a small bead on to the mat it will just stay put - saving you lots of time and hassle crawling around looking for that bead that got away!

How to use

Simply put the mat down wherever your hands are going to be working, for example on your workbench, your kitchen table or lap tray so you can make whilst watching the TV.

Bead Stringing Needles

What is It?

These bead stringing needles are fine, flexible twisted wire needles with a collapsible eye for stringing beads with small holes.

Available in fine and medium in packs of 5 needles with Kernowcraft.

Why do I need it?

These make threading multiple beads with a small hole on a fine thread a whole lot easier! They are a real time saver.

How to use

Simply thread your fine beading thread through the small loop hole at the end of the needle and then place the beads down the needle and push over the loop onto the thread. 

Bead Board

What is it?

The bead board is a must have for beaders and is developed for the beader on the go. Use it to lay out your jewellery designs and make any changes easily before you string them.

Why do I need It?

The bead board will come in handy on so many occasions, from getting colour combinations right, using the measurement guides for accuracy, creating multiple thread designs, to keeping organised.

How to use it

Simply place your chosen beads onto the board and select the findings you need to plan your design carefully. It also has a removable lid, so you can take it on the go, keeping all your beads findings and design in place so you can come back to it easily.

Micro Crimping Pliers

What is it?

These micro crimping pliers by Beadsmith are used to create perfect crimps every time.

Why do I need it?

You can simply flatten crimps using snipe nose pliers or flat nose pliers but this can sometimes cause the edges to be sharp and untidy. These pliers have cleverly shaped jaws so they have a 2 step process which creates small, neat crimps every time for a professional finish.

How to use

Squeeze the pliers over the crimp so it forms into a neat, smooth crimp.

Meant for use with crimps with a diameter of up to 2mm and forms a finished crimp with a diameter less than 1.2mm, meaning it can be hidden within a clam shell style bead tip or even slipped inside a large hole bead.