Clasps
Clasps are essential for fastening your jewelry designs. Attach them to the ends of your necklaces, bracelets, and anklets for a polished and professional finish.
Lobster Claw
Lobster claws are one of the most commonly used clasps in jewelry design. They are very secure, easy to use, and work well with necklaces and bracelets.
Spring Ring
Spring rings function similarly to a lobster claw, but can be a bit harder to open and close. Use them for dainty pieces where it’s important to have a small clasp.
Tag
A tag can be used in place of a jump ring at the end of a necklace or bracelet for a polished finish.
Toggles are great for bracelets, and can even add a decorative element to your design. They are best used on bracelets, but can also be used on necklaces with chunky beads.
A hook and eye clasp is easy to use, especially for those who struggle to open lobster clasps. Since they do not latch closed, it’s best to use them on heavier necklaces.
S-Hook
An s-hook works just like the hook and eye, except it hooks into jump rings instead of an eye piece. It’s best to use these on heavier necklaces since they do not latch closed.
Barrel Clasp
A barrel clasp features a screw mechanism to open and close the clasp. They are easy to use, but are not as secure as a lobster claw.
Ball and Hitch Clasp
A ball and hitch clasp works just like a snap button. Line up the circles on either side of the clasp and snap them together. They are easy to use, but not as secure as a lobster claw.
Magnetic
Magnetic clasps are incredibly easy to use, and are great for those who struggle to open and close small clasps, but they should only be used on lightweight projects unless using a safety chain.
Slide clasps are great for multi-strand necklaces and bracelets. They feature a spring friction mechanism and simply slide apart to open.
Filigree/Pearl ClaspFiligree clasps are traditionally used on pearl necklaces and bracelets. One side of the clasp has a small hook that fits into the other side of the clasp and latches closed.
Earrings
Using the correct earring finding is important for both the comfort of the earring and the design aesthetic.
Fish Hook/French Earwire
French ear wires are generally the most common earring finding. They come in many different styles, or you can make your own with wire.
A ball post is an earring post with a small metal ball at the front of it. They can be plain or decorative, and usually have a ring to attach chain or wire wrapped dangles.
Glue on PostA glue on post allows you to turn small objects into post earrings. Use them on cabochons, wood, polymer clay, etc. Be sure to use a strong epoxy glue for a secure bond.
Lever back
Lever backs are a comfortable and secure option for a dangle earring. The hinge mechanism keeps the earring from falling out of the earlobe, and the elongated shape offers a petite dangle look.
Kidney ear wires are great for earrings that you want to hang lower on the ear but not add extra weight and bulk. Slide dangles or charms on and off for an interchangeable design.
Slide beads onto the beading hoop and bend the straight end of the wire at a slight angle so it goes through the pre-made loop. Hoop findings can also be used to make wine glass charms.
Use a clip on or screw on earring finding to make earrings for people who do not have an earring piercing. They can also be used to convert existing earrings.
Threader EarringA threader earring features a post with a long, thin chain attached to it that threads through the earlobe. There is usually a loop at the end of a chain to attach dangles.
Ear NutAn ear nut goes on the back of a post earring to hold the post in place. If purchasing the ear nut separately from the post, make sure you have the correct size that will fit snug on your post.
Jump Rings
Jump rings are one of the most basic findings you’ll need in jewelry making. They can be purchased in just about any size and thickness, open or soldered closed. Use them to attach clasps to your designs, hang pendants, earring dangles, connect links, etc.
An open jump ring is a round wire ring with a small open seam. Use two flat nose or chain nose pliers to carefully link together your pieces.
Oval jump rings tend to be more secure than round open jump rings as it’s more difficult for the attached findings to slip out of the opening.
Closed Jump RingsClosed jump rings are identical to open jump rings but the seam has been soldered closed. Use them at the end of your design for hooking s-hooks, lobster claws, and spring rings into.
Most commonly used for key chains, split rings are used when a more secure hold is needed for your jewelry designs. Use a split ring tool to hold part of the coil open while you slide the ring on to the connecting piece.
Crimping/Finishing
A professional finish to your jewelry designs is the key to making a durable and polished piece.
Crimp Beads
A crimp bead is a rounded, pliable piece of metal that is made to be compressed on beading wire to hold beads in place. To flatten the crimp, gently squeeze it with chain nose pliers.
Crimp Tubes
Crimp tubes tend to be more secure than crimp beads because you crimp them twice instead of one time with regular crimp beads. 1mm, 2mm, 3mm are the most common sizes. Use the Beadalon crimping tool to crimp 2mm crimp tubes on most projects.
A crimp cover is a clamshell-like piece of metal that wraps around the crimp tube or bead after it has been crimped. Use flat nose pliers or the tip of your crimping tool to carefully close the cover until it looks like a round ball.
After adding a crimp tube to the end of your design, add a wire guardian to cover the section of beading wire that loops through your clasp, then feed it back down through the crimp tube and crimp. The guardian protects the beading wire from rubbing on the clasp or jump ring and adds a polished look to your piece.
Bead Tips
Bead tips (or knot covers) are great for finishing silk thread or cording projects. String the bead tip onto the end of the thread and make a knot to secure it inside of the cup. Add a drop of glue to the knot and then close the cup with pliers, hiding the knot.
Glue in End Caps
Use an epoxy glue or E6000 to glue your cord ends into the cap. Make sure your cord fits snug inside the tube so there is plenty of surface area to hold the glue securely.
Also called a loop crimp, these findings are a crimp tube/jump ring hybrid. Insert your wire into the end and use your crimping tool to secure.
Memory wire end caps add a more polished look to your memory wire designs. Use sandpaper to rough up the end of the memory wire, and then use a strong epoxy glue to insert the memory wire into the half-drilled hole on the cap.
Fold Over Crimp
Fold over cord ends are great for flat pieces of leather or ribbon. For extra security, add a drop of glue on the flat surface of the crimp and lay your material down on top of the glue. Make sure you choose a fold over crimp that is close to the width of your material. Use flat nose pliers to carefully fold one side of the crimp on top of your material, and then fold the other side on top to make a flat crimp.
Also called a C-Crimp, use these for attaching a clasp to flat ribbon or leather. Make sure you choose a crimp that is the same width as your material. For extra security, add a drop of glue on the inside of the crimp. Insert your material, and close the metal securing your material inside.
Spring cord ends are an economical solution for finishing off round leather or cord pieces. Bend in the bottom wire on the coil to hold in place.
French wire is typically used with silk thread to protect the thread where it would rub on the metal clasp. Add a small section of french wire to the end of your design, add your clasp, then bring your silk thread back through the last bead on your design and form a knot. The metal wire also gives the silk thread a polished look around the clasp.
Pins
Headpin
Headpins have a small flat “head” at one end of the wire to hold a bead in place. Headpins are generally used for creating wire wrapped loops and dangles.
Ball HeadpinBall Headpins function the same as a regular headpin, but they have a decorative ball or ornament at the base of the pin instead of a flat piece of metal.
Eyepin
Eyepins are similar to headpins but they have a loop at one end of the wire instead of a head. They are used for making links on earrings, necklaces, and rosaries.
Bails
Bails are used to hang focal beads or charms on a chain or necklace to make a pendant.
Use a strong epoxy glue to attach a glue on bail to handmade pendants, cabochons, or other items to convert it into a pendant.
A pendant bail allows you to convert a bead into a pendant that can easily slide on and off a chain. Use a heapin to make a wrapped loop and attach it to the bail, or use a jump ring to hang a charm from the bail.
Pinch bails are great to convert donut shaped beads into pendants. Simply close the bail around the center of the donut using flat nose pliers.
Other
Spacer Bars
Spacer bars are used to keep your beads appropriately spaced out in multi-strand bead designs. They can be very simple and blend into your beaded design, or decorative to add a design element to your piece.
Bead ConesBead cones can be used as another way to finish multi-strand pieces. Simply make a wire wrapped loop and crimp your strands to the loop. Then bring the other end of the wire up through the cone, and make another wrapped loop to attach your clasp. They can also be used as a bead cap to add a decorative element to dangle earrings.
Bead CapsBead caps are purely a decorative element that can be used to spice up your designs. They are also handy for covering up imperfections on beads.
Extension chains are usually a couple of inches long and come pre-cut with a small dangle on the end. Use them with a lobster claw or spring ring on a necklace or bracelet to make an adjustable design.