What tool do you use most?

[Former_Member]

My alll time favorite brand,Swanstrom. I love how the smooth black metal is so gentle on the wire...But I do have a favorite of all,and that is my wonderful pair of Swanstrom Micro Flat-Nose Pliers . Oh, they are perfect. I happen to have small hands,so small pliers are a treat.These babies are only 4.5 inches long and fit in my hand perfect. They are great for making wraps and little decorative "tweeks" on rings and pendants. Another perk,they are only 3mm across on the nose,so they double great as prong pliers.2mm prongs work for most stones,but those big uns' need a nice 3mm prong.I just ordered the Swanstrom Micro Chain-Nose Pliers,can't wait to play with them too!
I use these more than any other tool. I know we artists all have a "magic tool". What is yours?

[gimmethatthing]

I think my most used tools are actually my finger nails. I'm never aware that I'm using them but I'd be lost without them. So useful for tucking in wire, squeezing it, etc. For real tools I'd say a basic pair of flat pliers are the things I use most.

[Former_Member]

Haha,I use my nails alot too. My days of nail polish and manicured nails are long gone! I have actually been playing with the idea of prenatal vitamins to make my nails grow thicker and stronger....hmmmm.Maybe a bit extreme but I sure did have some thick nails when I was preggos,lol

[ArtistiKat]

Heh.
I have an old pair of Home Depot bended pliers (not sure what else to call them) that I seem to use for everything. Smooth so they don't mar the metal and handy for almost everything.

By the way, just joined the team.
Hi!

[Former_Member]

I use round nose pliers and my fingers - but mostly my cutters because I am always messing up! I am pretty new to wire wrapping and hope to get better at it. Thanks for inviting me to the team!

[Former_Member]

I do not own any tools =( I use my hands to manipulate my jewelry. I really do not know anything about wire wrapping, but I really want to learn. The only tool that I do have are scissors and I forget what they are called, but I do have some round nose plyers?? The ones that look like two cones that graduate in size...ugg! Lost the name?

[Former_Member]

I have to have my round nose and bent nose pliers. I've got a dozen pliers or so but I find myself going back to those little guys all the the time.

[Former_Member]

Fingers, definitely fingers. I tore a ligament in my right (dominant hand :-( a while back and its absolutely amazing how much you depend on the ole digits to do such intricate work.

Actually, I find my nails grow faster on the fingers I use most for wire work, increased circulation, stimulation, maybe. I don't know. They still look pretty terrible, but cest la vie'.

Then there's the bent-nose pliers, round nose and flush cutters. I'm lost without those three. They go everywhere with me. No kidding. Oh, and a graphite pencil I used eons ago in art class. That's my super-fancy, but oh so trusty, viking knit mandrel. Available anywhere for less than a buck. Necessity is the mother of invention, right :-)

[HeartFeltRosaries]

The swanstroms sound right up my alley--i have small hands, too. i have lindstrom ergonomic for my chain nose--it's nice and small on diameter for the little loops i use. and my treasured lindstrom flush cutters...but for the bent nose, i have a small chunky one i got super cheap on ebay that fits my grip just right...
on another note, how do i make my msgs private(members only)?
j

[Former_Member]

Hi! Just joined the team :)

I use my round nose and flat nose pliers the most! (along with wire cutters, of course!) I don't know what brand they are, but I've been using the same ones for a few years now and love how the handles are worn smooth so I hardly notice I'm using pliers.

[Former_Member]

Welcome new team members! So happy to see you here! I hope you guys find some useful tips reading through these threads!Fingers and pliers,wire musts! Love my round and bent noses too.Some other handy tools I have to make my triple hoop earrings is a shot glass and an OPI nail polish bottle.The sky is the limit with wire wrapping tools,lol.
As far as cutters go,I would just say be sure you purchase "flush cutters" -other cutters will just make your wire jagged on the ends.
Keep the good tips coming! Loving reading through these :-)

[Former_Member]

Hello all! I'm new to the team and I'm very excited to be geeking out on wire wrapping! Outsiders just dont get it. Its an addiction. I'm always trying to find other stuff to wrap in wire.

Im with philosophyofnature! My round nose and flat nose plyers are my best friends! Nothing special, just a pair that I picked up at the store somewhere. I dont rely on brands, but sometimes there are certain tool you must invest in that are going to last.

[DiansGems]

I am thrilled to join your team. My round nose pliers and the crooked nose pliers are my picks. I love working with wire and have a lot to learn.

[Former_Member]

I couldn't even tell you the brand name of my tools... of which I only have four. lol. A pair of needle nose pliers, flat nose pliers, scissors and wire cutters. That's it. I have a few bead boxes and a small Craftsman toolbox in which I store EVERYTHING. It's like a portable studio. Anyway, of the few tools I have, I would have to say that my favorite tool are my hands. I don't have any nails left thanks to wire, so I can't even say those are my favorite tools anymore. lol.

[Former_Member]

I'm totally with you Joanna, I bought a set of Swanstrom pliers and I love them. I definitely use the flat nose ones the most, such a great size for prongs! I use the needle chain-nose a lot as well. And I just got a pair of mini flush cutters for getting into tight spaces under rings, so much easier than my bigger ones!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for posting everyone,I'm enjoying reading and checking out your cool wire wrapped creations so much!

[dogzillalives]

My hands/fingers/fingernails, and a cheapo pair of pliers. I never liked having long fingernails anyway, I like to dig in the dirt too much hehe.

My question is what do YOU do when your hands cramp up? Take a break, stretch, etc. does anyone have any special tips? (can you tell my hands are feeling a bit cramped? LOL)

[Untwistedsister]

I love tools!! One of my absolute favorites other than the standard wirewrapping tools is my 6 step pliers and my dull pen knife. I love it so much I won't even let my students use it for fear something will happen to it. It's an old WWI or II army knife that wouldn't cut a leaf!

[Former_Member]

dogzillalives (cute name by the way), my hands don't cramp up. Does that make me strange? lol I've got a good system down where I don't apply enough pressure when wrapping to cause my hands to cramp. I seriously have never experienced a day of soreness since I started wrapping four years ago. Ok..... that's not true... my fingers get numb sometimes where the wire constantly rubs, but even that is manageable with a few well-placed band aids. I would hate to think what I would do come the day my hands don't work so well anymore!

[Former_Member]

3 most used tools starting with most used: hands, wire cutters, flat nose pliers. Never have had great fingernails, now I don't really have any! ;)

[dogzillalives]

Lucky no hand cramps!
I should probably use my pliers more lol

[Former_Member]

dogzillalives ,when you get hand cramps you should come visit Wire Geeks;-)

[dotandsmilesart]

I got 6 pairs of Erem cutters off Ebay for $20 :D
They were my first decent ones, and I love them!

[FleurDeLeeDesign]

Just joined the team and it's great to find people with the same addiction.

My hands don't cramp up too often but when they do I just stretch them out and take a break. I also need to get some good tools since I have always just had cheapies, although they do seem to be working for me so maybe I'll wait awhile.

By the way, NicoleHannaJewelry, your style of wire wrapping amazes me! The intricacy is beautiful. Can't figure out how you do it.

[FleurDeLeeDesign]

Does anyone use Wubbers pliers? What do you think of them?