Handmade Silver Jewelry by Jo

Equipment: Crimp pliers (I use Eurotools)

Ending a beaded bracelet with a crimp bead or tube can be trying.  If you squeeze it too hard, the crimp just breaks and you have to start again.  If you don’t squeeze it enough, the string just comes out and all the beads fall off. This is an easy “how to” use a crimp tube correctly.

Place a crimp bead (tube) at the end of your beading wire or string and push down about 2 1/2-3 inches…this leaves about 3 inches of string to finish off.  (You can adjust to less as you get more proficient).  Thread the clasp of the through the string to meet the crimp. Fold the string around the clasp and lace through the crimp so now you have both ends of the string or wire through the crimp. (one short one and the long one that has the bracelet or necklace beads on)

With your crimp tool, squeeze the crimp bead, gently but firmly, with the first hole at the nose of the tool.  Then move to the second hole and squeeze again.  The crimp bead should now be bent in the middle.  That’s it! You did it! Repeat on the other side with the other half of the clasp! 

Use a crimp cover bead over the folded crimp tube for a more refined look! A Crimp Cover Bead is a special silver or gold bead that is “open”. Place it over the crimp tube and gently close it around the tube with the first hole toward the nose of the pliers. It takes a little practice but it will close and look exactly like a bead.

You can also use a bead with a hole large enough to fit over the crimp tube to cover up the tube.  Try this a few times and you will come out with a perfect crimp every time!

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