STYLES (TYPES) OF
JEWELLERS PLIERS AND CUTTERS

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Shape: pointed
Names: chain nose, pointed, pointy
Purpose: general work, getting into small spaces, working with very fine links on a chain

Shape: flat
Names: snub nose, blunt, flat
Purpose: general work, holds / twists larger items, but the corners of a good quality snub-nose pier can be as good or better than the tip of a chain-nose plier

Shape: one half is flat, the other half is slightly rounded
Name: half-round
Purpose: for holding or bending ring shanks, for bnding wire or sheet into a gentle curve

Shape: round
Name: round
Purpose: for turning wire, e.g. to make ear wires, model rigging, costume jewellery - with skill you can make any tiny curve or semi-circle out of gold (or silver or copper) wire.

Shape: the cutter is at the end
Name: end cutter
Purpose: for cutting anything bigg-ish that sticks out
e.g. the ends of rivets before filing them smooth, cutting off jump rings.
Also good for dismantling scrap
e.g. pulling open claws to remove stones, cutting off brass pins to brooches, cutting away ring shanks.

Shape: the cutter runs long the side
Name: side cutter
Purpose: cutting into spaces (you can use the tip)
e.g. cutting open small jump rings or individual links of small chains

Shape: the inside of each curve is very slightly hollowed
Name: ring-holding
Purpose: for hoding a ring around the outside of the shank

Shape: each side has a small hollow (you can only see one side in the picture)
Name: jump ring closeing pliers
Purpose: for 'squishing' together jump rings. Jewellers don't actually do it this way, they use two ordinary pliers (chain nose or snub nose, your choice), simply 'squishing' a jump ring is a bit heavy-handed, but it saves you from having to buy two items!

Shape: two chunky flat (and roughened) blocks, the insides measure 35X10mm
Name: grip pliers (more technically correct: small drawplate pliers)
Purpose: the tighter you pull the the rectaangluar bar down the handle, the tighter the ends grip. A solution to holdinig smooth flat metal in pliers, when they keep shooting into the air as you work on them.

Shape: a prong and a hole
Name: hole-punching
Purpose: for making extra holes in watch straps.
Not (as I joke to customers on the stand at the antiques fairs) for piercing ears.

Shape: a 'blade' and a hollow
Name: notch-cutting
Purpose: some watch straps won't fit because the watch case has an extra lug that gets in the way, you have to cut a notch in the strap.

Shape: the tips are round, the 'box' part in the picture is a cutter
Name: rosary pliers
Purpose: used for beeding, to twist the wire then cut it, simply saves having to use two tools

FURTHER ADVICE

Click here to see books on jewellery and gemmology

Click here to see books on jewellery and gemmology