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Round Nose Pliers These pliers have tapering cylindrical ends. They are perfect for making loops in wire or on head pins and eye pins. They can be used to hold small findings and are also useful for closing the loops on bead tips. Chain Nose Pliers The Chain Nose Pliers have tapered half round ends. These tools are used for gripping, crimping, wire wrapping, opening and closing jump rings and squeezing bead tips closed. Flat Nose Pliers The flat nose pliers have flat, straight ends that do not taper. The inside surface is smooth (to avoid making marks on the wire or findings). They are primarily used to bend wire at angles, to open and close jump rings and to squeeze bead tips closed. Bent Chain Nose Pliers These pliers are very similar to chain nose pliers, except that the ends are curved at about a thirty degree angle. They make reaching hard to get at spots easier. Crimping Pliers Crimping Pliers have one basic use. They are used to crimp beads. Each set of pliers has two indentions on their inside surfaces. The one closet to the handle is the crimper and makes a dimple in a crimp bead. The indention closest to the tip of the pliers is called the rounder and finishes off the crimp by squeezing the crimp bead into a round shape. Split Ring Pliers These pliers have thin, tapering ends. The tip of one of the ends is bent inward at a sharp angle. They are used to open split rings of all sizes. Loop Closing Pliers These pliers are useful for closing jump rings or chain links without marking the surface of the metal. The inside surfaces of the pliers are smooth and have slots for holding the lings or the jump rings. Wire Looping Pliers They are also known as Coil Pliers. They have one smooth flat end and one similar to the round nose pliers, only with three different tiers along its length. This is used for making wire coils or wire loops that are consistent in size. Rosary Pliers Rosary pliers are a combination of round nose pliers and side wire cutter. Wirecutters Side Cutter The side cutter has blades o the inside surfaces of the jaws and is good for cutting wire or tiger tail. Flush Cutter The flush cutter has the blades on the tips of the jaws and is good for cutting things flush, so no wire tail remains. Scissors Generally, scissors are used in beading to cut beading thread. Embroidery scissors are especially popular for beading because their slender, sharp ends make cutting the thread close to the bead easier. Knotting Tweezers These are tweezers with sharp precision tips and slender jaws. Knotting tweezers are handy for making knots and for picking up or holding small beads or findings. Misc. Bead Reamer Many beads have been drilled from both ends, resulting in holes that don't line up. The reaming points will straighten these holes by sanding the bead hole to match. Tri Cord Knotting Tool A very handy tool designed to make knot tying with pearls and beads a snap. The tool holds the knot, allows the beader to slide the knot close to the bead and then tighten the knot without gaps in the thread. Needles Beading Needles Beading needles have sharp ends and are shaped like sewing needles. They are, however, much tiny and have smaller eyes. Beading Needles don't taper at the end. The eyes are small enough to fit through tiny bead holes. They come in several sizes based on their length and thickness. They are approximately 1-1/4", 2", and 3". The most popular thickness of beading needles are from #10s (thick) to #15s (very thin). Big Eye Needles These needles have one large eye that runs the length of the needle. Only the two ends of the needle are attached. They have sharp points and are used for easy threading no matter how thin or thick the thread. Twisted Wire Beading Needles These needles are used for larger thread or cord that won't fit through the eye of a beading needle. They come in four sizes: light, light-medium, medium-heavy and heavy. They are made of a length of wire twisted back on its self, so that they do not have a sharp point. The eye is a large loop that collapses as it goes through the bead. A continuous filament, waxed polyester cord that comes in brown and natural colors. It is very durable and works well for heavy glass and ceramic beads. Used in "natural" projects, i.e. Native American projects. Kevlar A seed bead thread that is very strong. The name may sound familiar because it is the material used to manufacture bullet proof vests. It comes in black or a yellowish off white color. Leather Leather or imitation leather cord works best with large holed beads. It comes in sizes from .5mm to 3mm.  Nylon Beading Thread Also known as Nymo (nylon monofilament). It looks like dental floss and is used mostly with seed beads and for making bead strands. It comes in a wide variety of colors. It is gauged in size from size 0 or A, size B (medium), D (medium-thick), and sizes E, F, FF, and FFF (thickest respectively). Satin Cord Satin cord comes in many colors and three main thicknesses: 1mm, 1.5mm and 2mm. Satin cord is perfect for knotting or stringing a few large beads. Cording is also made in cotton or hemp and is useful in stringing large beads. Silamide Silamide is a type of twisted nylon thread. It comes in sizes A or O. It is not as stiff as Nymo and is excellent for stringing seed beads or bead strands. Silk or Nylon Thread This type of thread is used for knotting. Although you can purchase it on spools, it is most often found on cards. The sizes on the cards are numbered from 0 (thinnest) to 16 (thickest). Some brands use the alphabet to gauge size from 00 (thinnest, C and D (medium) and FFF (thickest). Stretchy Cord Elastic cord. It is used most often for bracelets and other jewelry. Pick the size that fits through your beads the best. It comes in several colors (clear is the most popular). Polyester Cord Will not shrink from moisture and is less likely to fray than silk.
A micrometer or dial caliper is used to measure bead size. Some beads are measured in millimeters and some with size numbers. To size a bead, measure across the widest point on the outside of the bead. Beads are sold by weight, the strand, or the piece. Most strands are 16" long. Beads per inch on a strand Seed Beads
Round Beads
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