Creating the Perfect Crimp
A popular way to finish off jewelry that is strung on beading wire is to use crimp beads. Crimping is easy, but requires some practice to obtain perfection. You can crimp using flat nosed pliers, but my recommendation and instructions below are for use with a Crimping Pliers.
A crimping pliers will help your crimps look professional, and can also be used for creating a nice finish on wrapped loops and other wire techniques. Crimping pliers have two indentations on the inside of the jaws to squish crimp beads — one will flatten and create a crease, and one will round the bead. The cost of a crimping pliers is around $10 (US) and it is well worth the investment.
Instructions: Thread a crimp bead on beading wire. Next string one component of your clasp. When I am finishing off a bracelet or necklace, I usually put the ring end of the toggle or the lobster or spring clasp on first. Just habit, but it ensures that my jewelry is consistent when there is a noticeable start or finish (name bracelets are the best example).
Thread the beading wire around the loop on the clasp and back through the crimp bead again. Leave a short tail, approximately 1" (3cm). Move the crimp bead close to the clasp, leaving enough wire between the crimp and the clasp loop so that the wire moves easily. You want your clasp to move freely, but not have so much of a wire loop that it looks bad.
Grasp the crimp bead with the inside (closest to your hand) indentation, keeping the bead centered on the wire so that it's not off to one side and the top and bottom edges are parallel with the bottom of the clasp. Gently but firmly close the pliers, squishing the bead between the pliers jaws. Take the pliers off the crimp. Your crimp bead will now be slightly rounded on one side, and have a deep crease in the other side.
I test my crimp at this point by gently pulling on the clasp and strand of beading wire in opposite directions. If the crimp is tight, it will hold the wire in place and nothing will move. On occasion, you will run into bad crimp beads or have a crimp that isn't tight enough and the wire will slip...it's easier at this point to clip the wire (or better yet, slide off the bad crimp) and redo your crimp.
Next, turn the crimp bead 90 degrees and grasp it with the outside (furthest from your hand) indentation. Gently close the pliers again, squishing the bead into a nice, round ball. Your bead will appear to have a seam on one side where the two sides of the crimp meet — if you are really good and have a definite "top" to your piece, have this side on the bottom.
Voila! The Perfect Crimp!
