Having the correct jewelry making supplies means that you are able to make every piece as professional as possible. It also prevents you from having to stop what you are doing and run to the shops to finish your current project!
Here are a list of essential jewelry making supplies that every beader should have.
Pliers
Needle-nose pliers are the perfect all purpose tool that should be bought as soon as possible. They are among the most important jewelry making tool that you will need to begin any project.
They are also called chain-nose pliers, and are used to bend, cut, hold and manipulate all the wire and findings that you will be using. Once you have made a few pieces, you might also prefer to buy some round-nose pliers that make looping the wire a bit easier.
Both these types of pliers should have a cutting edge, otherwise you can also buy cutting pliers to do this job instead.
Beading needles
Beading needles are one of the useful jewelry making supplies that you should buy before you have even decided what projects you will attempt. Wherever there are seed beads needing to be threaded, there will be beading needles that make the task quite easy.
The eye is not much wider than the shaft like regular needles, and they are also flexible. English beading needles are the most flexible. This allows you to get quite creative with different weaving techniques.
The higher the number of the needle size, the finer the beading needle.
Storage containers
While many craft stores offer useful beading containers, you are more likely to find better value storage devices at a hardware store. Fishing tackle boxes and nuts and bolts storage containers are very excellent jewelry making supplies and are well suited to the task.
A good storage container will do three things:
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Separate different types of bead
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Allow easy access to the different types of beads
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Allow you to see all the different types of beads
Many different sizes of containers are available. Make sure you buy one that can be transported if that is something you will be doing.
Beeswax
If you are working with beading thread for a project, beeswax will strengthen, protect and stop the thread from tangling.
Thread conditioners are also good substitutes, you can the thread through either between your fingers.
Beading boards
These boards are not essential jewelry making supplies, but they do make stringing much easier! They have a deep groove that you can use to hold and arrange the beads before you string them. The inbuilt measurements display the length as you design.
They are most helpful when stringing multiple strands for a necklace or bracelet, as you can see the length each strand will before before they are strung.
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