Revving Up Your At-Home Studio: Must-Have Wire Wrapping Tools We Can’t Live Without

Every successful jewelry artist knows the secret to exquisite pieces lies not only in the design and technique, but also in the quality and range of tools at their disposal. Equipping your home studio with the right tools is an exciting step towards crafting your unique wire wrapped jewelry pieces.

Basic Jewelry Making Tools:

These are the backbone of any jewelry making endeavor. A good set of pliers - consisting of chain-nose, round-nose, flat-nose, and wire-cutting varieties are indispensable for shaping and securing wire or small metal pieces. Investing in a high quality plier set will raise the bar for any at-home jeweler and will last for decades to come. My favorite pliers come from Tronex and you can get you’re very own set right here!

A bench block provides a solid, flat surface for hammering, while a jeweler’s saw allows for precise cuts in metal. My personal favorite blocks are made of metal. They are sturdy, heavy, and you can create all sorts of different textures depending on the type of hammer you’re using. A jeweler’s saw is wonderful if you’re cutting larger or flatter pieces of metal. I personally tend to stick to just my wire cutters when cutting my lengths of wire for my pieces, but the saw is useful to me when making jump rings.

Files are perfect for smoothing edges, while hammers, particularly the rawhide or rubber types, are useful for shaping without marring the metal. A file and hammer set are the best tools to have on hand for a variety of projects. I use files most when finishing a piece to take away any sharp edges that could later catch on clothes or possibly cut the skin. I use hammers to harden any wire that needs more strength, or to create textures on the metal.

Lastly, a bead mat can keep your beads and findings from rolling off your work area. Bead mats come in various sizes and colors and are a soft, almost velvet material. They are great to use when you are beading, or have a lot of little stones that you don’t want to roll away while you’re working.

Advanced Tools for a Home Jewelry Studio:

Once you’ve got the basics covered, you can consider more specialized tools. A ring and bracelet mandrel are essential for making perfectly sized rings and bracelets, which comes in handy for custom work. For those looking to delve into metalwork, a jewelry torch and soldering iron are crucial for fusing pieces together seamlessly. If you’re thinking of getting into torch work, be sure to have a well-ventilated space and a heat-resistant work surface. Taking classes in metalwork is also a good idea so you can learn the ins and outs of using your torch.

A tumbler can give your pieces a professional-looking finish by polishing and hardening at the same. This is not an essential piece to have when you’re first starting out, but can be very useful later down the road. Hand-polishing with a sunshine cloth is an inexpensive way to get your metal looking shiny and ready to wear, especially if you’re a beginner. They come in a variety of sizes and can be used for just about any kind of precious metal. They even take the dirt and grime off your stones!

Organization and Storage:

Keep your workspace tidy and efficient with smart organization. Consider storage solutions such as drawers, bead containers, and tool racks. Good organization not only makes your workspace safer but also improves productivity by keeping your tools and materials easily accessible.

I have everything from plastic containers with dividers (as shown above in the first picture) for smaller, individual pieces like clasps and findings, to tool boxes with drawers that hold everything from strung beads to miscellaneous tools that I have collected over the years.

Having a well-equipped home jewelry studio can significantly improve your craft, allowing you to work more efficiently and expand your range of possible designs. Remember, quality tools are an investment in your art that can pay dividends in the form of beautiful, unique jewelry pieces. Wire wrapping in particular is an easy way to get into jewelry making and doesn’t require a huge financial investment.

My favorite places to buy jewelry making supplies and materials online are: Rio Grande and Fire Mountain Gems. Rio Grande offers high-quality tools and wire for any budget, but you need to apply for a wholesale account in order to purchase, which requires tax info, business name, etc. Fire Mountain Gems is easily accessible and offers a very large variety of gemstones, chains, findings, and more at excellent prices and they have no minimums to purchase.

I hope you found this article insightful and feel free to drop a comment with any questions you may have!