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Jewelry Making Supplies for the Beginner
Jewelry making supplies for the beginner are very basic. There is no need to run to your local hobby store and buy many packets of wires, beads, rhinestones, clasps and tools. Sticking to the basics is the best scenario when beginning to make jewelry.
The basic jewelry making supplies are simply jewelry wire, beads and findings. Findings are a jewelry world term for jewelry making components. In other words, findings are the pieces which make the wire and bead a piece of jewelry. The basic jewelry making tools are a flush cutter, round nose pliers, chain nose and bent nose tools. There are thousands of jewelry making kits you can choose from which will contain all of these necessary jewelry making supplies.
Wires
Jewelry wire comes in different metals. Brass, copper, silver, gold, silver-plated, gold-plated and gold-filled wires are generally the types which are a part of the beginner’s jewelry making supplies. This jewelry wire is sold in several different sizes, or gauges. The most common gauges for making jewelry are 16, 18, 20 and 22. The 24 and 26 gauges are used, but very infrequently.
Beads
Beads are the decorative pieces made from many different materials. Beads can be made from plastic, glass, wood, stone, metal, bone, precious or semi-precious materials. There are thousands of websites and retail outlets where the beginning jeweler can purchase beads.
Findings
Findings are the jewelry components and jewelry making supplies must contain findings in order to create their jewelry. These findings consist of clasps, head pins, ear wires, jump rings and other manufactured or hand made components. The beginning jeweler must purchase head pins, clasps, ear wires or posts and ear clutches. These three findings categories are really all that is necessary to begin any jewelry making project.
Tools
The basic jewelry making tools can be found under jewelry making supplies on the internet or in your local hobby store. The tools which are required are the flush cutter, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers and bent chair nose pliers. You will not be successful in making jewelry without these four tools. The recommended jewelry making hand tools are nylon jaw pliers, ruler, step jaw pliers, chasing hammer, anvil or bench block, cup bur and loop closing or bent closing pliers. The required tools will be contained in any prepackaged beginner’s kit. The recommended tools will have to be purchased separately.
When researching jewelry making supplies for beginners, be sure and look at beginner’s prepackaged kits. Make sure they contain all of the above jewelry making tools. There will (or should) be instruction sheets with each one. Continue researching until you find a fun and beautiful jewelry project. Set up a jewelry making area, and your experience will be a pleasant and easy one. Enjoy!
