Crimping Technique

What tools do I need?

Chain nose pliers, and side cutters.

Step 1

Thread a crimp onto your length of flexible wire (this can be tigertail or soft touch) followed by your clasp or earwire. Bend the tigertail over the loop of the clasp or earwire and back throught the crimp.

Step 2

Move the crimp as close as possible to the jewellery part and squash it flat with your chain nose pliers.

Tip: You need to apply a lot of pressure to the crimp to squash securely.

Step 3

Thread your beads onto the wire. When you have threaded beads on at the required length, thread another crimp on and for a necklace attach a tag and thread wire over the tag and through the crimp.

Back thread the wire through a couple of beads.

Tip: To tighten necklace hold tag with flat nose pliers and the wire end with round nose pliers. Slowly pull your hands apart so any slack is pulled out. Squash the crimp at the tag end with chain nose pliers. Any excess wire may be trimmed using your cutters.

For Earrings

To end securely simply thread a crimp on and squash.

Tip:

• Floating or illusion chokers.
• This is a popular technique where wire is exposed along the choker.
• We recommend you use soft touch as this is kink resistant.
• Use an odd amount of beads so work is balanced.
• 4cm spacing between beads.