A crimp
bead is just a small metal bead or tube used to either hold two pieces
of beading wire together or to hold a bead in place on a single strand of
wire.
The way to use a crimp bead is to ‘squash’ it onto the beading
wire so that it clamps the wire securely. The squashing can be done with either
crimping pliers or chain nose pliers.
The description below describes crimping a bead using crimping pliers. If
you want to use chain nose pliers instead simply place the bead on your beading
wire, place it between the jaws of the pliers and press the jaws together.
It will work just as well but may not give such a neat finish.
How to use a Crimp Bead
Place the bead on the beading wire and then place
it between the jaws of the crimping pliers in the first notch, the one nearest
the handles.
Try to make sure the two lengths of wire go either side of the small
point in this notch of the pliers (see the cross-section diagram on the right).
Press the jaws of the pliers together to form a small indent in the top
of the crimp bead.
Rotate the crimp bead 90 degrees and move it to the notch near the
end of the pliers to shape it. Press the pliers together again to fold
the ‘U’ shaped bead in half and to give a neater finish.
You can continue to rotate and re-crimp to try and achieve a nice round
crimp bead.
Note: Placing the crimp bead or tube in the outer notch first to turn
it into a slight oval can make it easier to keep it in position when you
place it in the inner notch.
