WireWrapping tools and pliers ....

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 11:35 AM

Ok I been thinking that my current "trial" stuff is trash ...

So I was wondering what brand is good value for money and where can I get some ...  

Cat_P wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 12:23 PM

 I'm probably not much help so feel free to ignore me and listen to the others when they post.....

Sherri convinced me early this year to get Lindstroms and I LOVE them! They are pricey though compared to others.

On the other hand I got some "mid grade" pliers shortly before the Lindstroms and I think Beadsmith pliers. I'm not sure, they are blue and black handled and I think they cost about $15 a pair, maybe a little more. It's been too long. Anyway, while I love my Lindstroms these others have worked well and still do when I need the extra pair.

Chrystallinya wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 12:56 PM

 For your roundnose/needlenose pliers Lindstrom are the best. However, for your cutters you are doing quite well with the finest sort at the hardwarestore. Since the pliers will get dull overtime and there isn't a possible way to sharpen them again. It does help to keep seperate cutters for the materials you're going to cut. Memory wire is terrible for your cutters, so you might want to have a different pair for them.

I have bought a 3-in-1 pair of pliers for $4.50 and that's the one I use the most, especially when I'm wirewrapping, I can use the pliers for every step, thus without the timeloss of putting it down everytime (and tipping everything on my beadspace over). I bought mine at HiddenHollowbeads.com

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 1:27 PM

 So if I get the round nose and maybe the bent nose from Lindstrom - I can get the rest "cheap" ... ?

LYILHA wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 1:36 PM

 Inca, other than the three pliers you just mentioned I only use one other type and that would be nylon nosed pliers - and I have a super cheap pair and it works great!  Got it at Michaels.

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 2:22 PM

Michaels is allso one of those things we dont have ... and its so hard to go internet shopping when you see a tiny picture or something and you dont really know what it is ...
and its my round nose and bent nose I been useing too and the ones I have seem some what "unsteady" ... And I figured out haveing 2 bent nose seem to be a great idea ...

And I have a nylon one that seem ok ....
and as for "other pliers" I ment the cutters ....

Good for me tho Jani things "good tools is the best way to go" ... so I guess agruing to get some of them as Lindstrom should possible ...

Cat_P wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 3:20 PM

 Inca this is where I purchased my Lindstroms

http://urbanmaille.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=6

They had the best price I could find on them. I got the RX version with the light blue and black handles. I'm not sure if they ship internationally though. I think the next best place for them was riogrande.com.

Cutters- well I do like my Lindstroms but they got dull just as quickly as the cheaper ones so I would just get another pair of inexpensive ones. I think Lita recommends going with cheaper flush cutters too as they all get dull and can't be reconditioned.

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 4:24 PM

I think flush cutters is the one i cant find in the store here

(I'll make pics tomorrow ... and you guys can help me identify)

SEllen 2 wrote

on Oct 22, 2009 7:32 PM

 Inca

 When I decided to start wire wrapping I purchased the Wire Wrapping Kit from Jewelry supply company on line.

 It contains the basic tools needed for wire wrapping. The 11 pieces cost $70.50 US I know that's alot but you wouldn't have to  gather the different pieces from all the different stores.

Here's the site  http://www.jewelrysupply.com/index.php?main_page=product_infor

I think from here you would go to jewelry tools then to the catagory wire wrapping.

sellen

Edited: my site addy didn't take you in far enough but I think from here you can find what I'm talking about.

JSmaz wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 6:34 AM

I was looking at the site SEllen was on, and I'm pretty sure that these are some of the ergonomic pliers I have.  I didn't buy them as a set, just individually but it's a good mid-range price for a decent set.  Mine don't have a brand name printed on them. They aren't Lindstrom, but ergonomic pliers are SO much more comfortable.

Cat_P wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 6:56 AM

 Jeni I think those are the ones I have too. Not sure. I bought mine at the bead store and was thinking they were Beadsmith but mine don't have a name printed on them either so I guess they are not beadsmith pliers.

Those have been good for me too. The RX Lindstroms are long though and I really like that since I have bigger hands. If I remember correctly last time I measured them they are about six inches long so the handles are slightly longer than most pliers I have found.

Anyhoo I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have Lindstroms, there are plenty others out there that work well and are a good mid range price.

Some others that I heard are supposed to be good are, Wubbers, Tronex, and Swanstroms. These are probably more costly as well though.

I know the very first set I bought came with a mini tool box from Michaels. They were black and yellow and while they got me through the first year I'm so glad to be rid of them! The chain nose pliers actually had the ridges on them like regular pliers. Glad I bought them though so I didn't spend a fortune on something I wasn't sure I would keep up with.

SandyA@16 wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 12:45 PM

Hi, May I suggest that you go to gesswein.com for your tools.  They have been selling jewerly making tools for years to jewerly makers and die makers.  I have purshased tools from them for the factory that I used to work for and privetly for myself.  They carry Lindstrom and other brand name as well as thier own.  The first ones that I bought  for myself was thier econemy set of plyers.  That was 10 years ago and I still use them, of course they are pretty beat up but still useful for some things.  I think that it will be worth your time to check them out.  I know that you are going to be amazed at the amount of jewerly making tools that they carry. 

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 1:03 PM

Ok .... I looked at ... gesswein.com .... and Im even more lost ....

Im semily new at this ... and that site was loke a maze ....
with weird names ...

SandyA@16 wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 1:24 PM

 Hi, on the jewerly making side select bench tools and then in the subcatorgory select nippers and pliers. That will bring you to those kind of  tools.  Like I said they have all kinds including Linstrom.  I don't know if you can get a better price else where or not, but I do know that they have been a family business since 1914 and highly respected.  Yes thier site can be a little confusing if you are not sure of what catorgory to look under.  You can get a gataloge from them. I don't know if there is a charge for it or not.  They used to send me one at the factory , but I purchased a lot of items from them at that time.  Hope this helps

Zerenity by Inca wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 1:34 PM

Thank you I have a 2nd look ...
And I bet they charge for catalogs ... My problem is Im in Norway ... and when it comes to internet shopping that could as well been Antarctica or something ....

But I still have time to shop around for the "good place" - when it comes to price and product ... so at least I have time ...