Shiney Lounge

Using split ring pliers, wire guardians and crimp covers

Have you ever looked at a pair of split ring pliers and wondered “what on earth do I do with these?”

I have to confess, I was a bit confused when I first saw them. Thankfully someone was on hand to show me the way. First of all, I must sing the praises of the split ring. They might be awkward to open (without split ring pliers), but they act as very secure endings to bracelets and necklaces, especially if you are using heavy beads and need to know your fastenings will stay in place. Unlike a jump ring, the split ring has a double layer, so it won’t just pop open if pulled. We like using them with hard crimps, crimp covers and threading the jewellery wire (we use Beadalon) though a wire guardian for a professional and secure finish. I’ll explain how it works.

Attach the trigger clasp to a split ring using the split ring pliers (see image above). Grip the ring with the pliers to open, hook on the clasp, then use the snip nose to grip as you turn the ring to work the clasp into place.

Thread on a hard crimp onto one end of your jewellery wire, followed by a wire guardian, thread on the split ring attached to the clasp, so it sits in the wire guardian, then thread the wire back through the crimp.

Using your snipe nose pliers, squash the crimp very hard to secure. Grip a crimp cover between your snipe nose pliers and place over the crimp. Carefully close the crimp cover and squeeze to correct the shape, so it closes neatly.

We use this fastening more than calottes these days. It looks really tidy when you use the wire guardian and crimp cover and if the hard crimp is squashed really well, it really does stay in place.

What’s your favourite or most secure finishing?