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If you've been working with wire for awhile there's a good chance that you got your first tools as part of a kit or perhaps when you bought a starter set. So now you have the bug. You want to have more control over what you create, so you've decided to upgrade your tools. You may have scanned what seems like never ending pages of pliers on the internet trying to decide what to buy. It can seem mighty overwhelming. If that's the case, then this article can make things easier for you. There are five basic things to consider when purchasing better quality pliers: how they feel, the type of metal they're made out of, the length of their jaws, the size of their tips, and the tension of their springs. This article will take a look at all five of these components in order to help you to narrow down your choices. How Do Your Pliers Feel? In order for you to have complete control of your pliers they have to feel good in your hand. You might have the most expensive plier in the world, but if it doesn't feel good you'll not only be unhappy with them, you will also risk injuring yourself every time you use them. What Metal Is Your Plier Made Of? Pliers are made of either stainless steel or hardened tool steel. Stainless steel pliers offer good value and will last a reasonable amount of time. Although they resist rust their jaws can nick relatively easily, so they might require maintenance. Hardened tool steel pliers are designed to last. They're the strongest and hardest pliers on the market and, with normal use, their jaws are hard to nick. However, if you live in a humid climate you will have to regularly coat your hardened tool steel pliers with either WD-40 or Cosmoline to prevent them from rusting. How Long Are the Jaws? Pliers with longer tips and handles offer better balance and more leverage than short jaw pliers. You can make longer bends with them because of their greater reach. However, long jaw pliers are more easily damaged. On the other hand, pliers with short jaws are stronger and can bend heavier metals. Although they're usually thicker, they're designed for fine work. What Size Are Your Plier Tips? The type of work you do will determine the size of the tip you should use. If you work with heavier wire use a plier with a heavier jaw. If you're working with fine wire, you'll find that a fine tipped, slimmer plier is more apropos for delicate work. Avoid using a fine tipped plier with heavier wire because you can easily damage the tips. What's the Spring Tension? Tension springs can cut down on your fatigue. If your hands tire easily or if you work with pliers often you should buy a plier with springs rather than one that you have to open and close manually. You can get either a single spring or double leaf spring plier. See which type feels more comfortable and go with that choice.
Article Source: http://www.articlesforfun.com
To find out more about the right plier for your handcrafted jewelry go to www.CrystalBeadShop.com Wendy Moyer is a professional writer.
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