Crimping Tube Nightmare

[Blythespirit]

Greetings, its only me again.

Ok, Im having beginners trouble with using crimping tubes. I tried to make my first bracelet today using wire instead of a chain. Unfortunately I am having trouble crimping. I have the crimp tubes I add them to the wire. I have crimping pliers and have followed the instructions of using step 1 to flatten the tube over the wire. When I get to step two and move my pliers the the round bit which is supposed to turn the flat bits of the tube over so its nice and rounded it just reopens my crimp tube again and im back to square one.

Im not sure if this makes sense can anybody think of what I could be doing wrong?

Thanks

[Sparklez]

Hi,

I sometimes have this problem too. My only advice is to make sure you have really pressed hard in step one, so that your crimp has gone a kind of cresent shape, then in step 2, try to make sure the top and bottom of the cresent are in the middle of the hole before pressing it closed.

Hope this helps

Carol

[Blythespirit]

Yeah..I think thats where I might be going wrong, because I dont get the crescent shape you mention, I press on hard as i can but doesnt go into a crescent shape.

[Sparklez]

Hmm, now I'm confused, the shape of the crimp pliers should automatically make a cresent shape. Can you try squishing a crimp without any wire in it and see what shape you get?

What kind of wire are you using?

Carol

[Blythespirit]

I think Ive figured it out, Ive been trying to use crimping tubes on single wire to help create a "floating" design. I think I should be using crimping beads instead, whilst saving the tubes for the loop at the end when I attach the clasp because when i put two wires through the tube and try and crimp it works then.

Me Stoopid!

[Solitaire]

I just squeeze them flat with a pair pliers is this wrong

[BeyondBeads]

Not wrong - just less attractive.

I still use flat pliers to squeeze some of mine but when i'm making a 'floating' necklace or something and the crimps are visible i try to use proper crimping pliers as the effect is much more attractive.

Very easy to use really - just a little practice involved!!

Laura

[icecreamgirl]

I've been a bit confused by this thread.
I haven't done any 'floating' neclklaces but i would like to as i really like them.
I have used crimping beads though, but have never heard of crimping tubes, what are they? And crimping pliers?? what's the difference??
Feeling like a right novice now.....

[zebra]

I've been a bit confused by this thread.
I haven't done any 'floating' neclklaces but i would like to as i really like them.
I have used crimping beads though, but have never heard of crimping tubes, what are they? And crimping pliers?? what's the difference??
Feeling like a right novice now.....

http://www.artbeads.com/howtousecrto.html This may help to explain...a tube rather than a bead.

[BeyondBeads]

These are crimping pliers. They have two shaped holes in them; the first, when you make the first crimp puts a dip in the bead (the crescent shape talked about earlier) you then place your bead in the second hole and crimp again - this makes a nicely shaped bead rather than a squashed flat one!

Hope that kinda make sense - my pliers had an explanation on the back anyway and you should be able to google for instructions!

Laura

[icecreamgirl]

Oh i seeeeee.
Thanx for that, i think my jewellery will look a lot more professional now!!!