A crimp
bead is a small metal bead or tube. It can be used to either attach a
clasp to a necklace, or bracelet, or to hold beads on beading
stringing wire when making an illusion necklace.
To use a crimp bead to attach a clasp, thread the crimp bead onto the
bead stringing wire and then thread on the clasp. Pass the bead wire back
through the crimp bead.
Squash the crimp bead onto the bead stringing wire using either crimping
pliers or chain nose pliers (see below).
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 Crimping Pliers to 'Crimp' 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.
