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Post by susand24224 on Oct 4, 2022 4:00:45 GMT -5
I recently bought a pair of parallel pliers, which rapidly achieved the "indispensable" label in my mind. If you look at the pliers above, all of them open to a "v" shape. When they are closed whatever is held at the tip is not gripped as tightly as what is further back in the plier jaws. Usually this is not a problem, but if you are trying to hold multiple wires and close the pliers tightly enough to secure the wire at the tip, you may damage the wire nearer the back. Parallel pliers (photo below) close evenly all along the gripping surface. I'm now able to remove kinks and flaws in silver that previously would have caused the wire to hit the scrap pile, and I don't have to worry about kinks when weaving, because they are so easy to remove. I tried Ace, Lowe's and Home Depot, none of which had them, and ended up purchasing them from Rio Grande.  |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 4, 2022 4:06:50 GMT -5
Last night when I posted this it didn't show on the website, so I figured I screwed something up and posted it again. Today there were duplicates, so this is my explanation for my excessiveness.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 4, 2022 5:56:42 GMT -5
Less than a year ago I purchased a pair of parallel pliers, and at this point am not sure how I accomplished anything without them. If you look at the pliers above, they open to a "v" shape, which means that when they close, what is at the end tip of the jaws is not held as tightly as what is further back in the jaws, and pressure is not exerted evenly. Parallel pliers close with all parts of the jaws meeting simultaneously, which makes them quite valuable for straightening out three or four wires that are bound for wrapping, and perfect for removing kinks or bends in silver (and copper). I have had very little silver hit the scrap pile since purchasing them. In theory, they should be available at hardware stores, but I tried Ace, Lowe's and Home Depot then ended up purchasing them at Rio Grande. If I lost them, I would replace them immediately!  I have a pair, too. But, I rarely use them. I think of them as specialty pliers. I would probably use them more, but every pair I have seen has really short, uncomfortable handles. Glad to hear you get so much use from them. Maybe I should revisit mine. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 4, 2022 8:00:16 GMT -5
I don't believe there has been a wrap I've done where I HAVEN'T used my pair of parallel pliers (the exact one susand24224 has pictured)...I'm constantly using them... |
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Post by Rockoonz on Oct 4, 2022 9:05:41 GMT -5
I love parallel pliers, have a regular collection, including some odd ones I found and bought just because. I very seldom wire wrap anymore, use them pretty exclusively for silversmithing. Of course I need to get the silver bench located and operational still...
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Post by liveoak on Oct 4, 2022 9:53:38 GMT -5
So my question is if I was going to buy one, would you suggest a nylon jaw one or a plain one, amazon has both.
I've read about how handy they are, but having never used one I've never been convinced I needed one.
Patty
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 4, 2022 10:34:19 GMT -5
I have been contemplating buying some and haven't pulled the trigger yet. Maybe it's time. susand24224 are the ones you bought the chain nose or flat nose? |
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 388
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Post by brotherbill on Oct 4, 2022 12:38:41 GMT -5
I find that parallel jaw pliers are indispensable for preparing small jump rings for soldering. Regular needle nose pliers have a way of turning jump rings into projectiles that are never to be seen again.
Pictured in the last picture of the original post is the lowly ring clamp. It doesn't get a whole lot of love but I could not work without it. I don't know how useful it is for wire wrapping but for smithing it is highly recommended.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 4, 2022 13:37:10 GMT -5
I find that parallel jaw pliers are indispensable for preparing small jump rings for soldering. Regular needle nose pliers have a way of turning jump rings into projectiles that are never to be seen again. Pictured in the last picture of the original post is the lowly ring clamp. It doesn't get a whole lot of love but I could not work without it. I don't know how useful it is for wire wrapping but for smithing it is highly recommended. Agreed! I love my ring clamp.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 4, 2022 13:44:23 GMT -5
I've actually used the ring clamp quite a few times for wrapping and metal smithing.
I bought my parallel pliers for smithing, but I tossed them in my wire wrapping toolkit. I haven't used them much for wrapping.
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 4, 2022 14:40:06 GMT -5
I have been contemplating buying some and haven't pulled the trigger yet. Maybe it's time. susand24224 are the ones you bought the chain nose or flat nose? Technically, I think they are chain nose. But the jaws are 1.25" long, and half of that is is .25" wide--then it begins to taper. I also have a pair of parallel round nose pliers, but they were given to me and I've never used them, and not sure what I would use them for. |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 4, 2022 14:42:33 GMT -5
So my question is if I was going to buy one, would you suggest a nylon jaw one or a plain one, amazon has both.
I've read about how handy they are, but having never used one I've never been convinced I needed one.
Patty
Patty, I've never used the nylon jaw ones, but I haven't marred the metal with the ones I have. they are so "flat" that catching the wire can't happen--I suspect if you really clamped down you could, but I would have to work at it! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 4, 2022 15:43:32 GMT -5
I was doing some wire-wrapping last night while my wife was watching one of her "reality" shows. I made a smart-alek comment about the show and she called ME a tool!
*Just thought I'd throw that out there. LOL
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 4, 2022 16:11:00 GMT -5
I was doing some wire-wrapping last night while my wife was watching one of her "reality" shows. I made a smart-alek comment about the show and she called ME a tool! *Just thought I'd throw that out there. LOL  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Oct 4, 2022 20:08:38 GMT -5
This seems like a good area for this question.... any recommendations on where to buy wire from? I still haven’t bought any because there seems to be so many options when I google it. I saw an older topic that mentioned the types of wire to start with but didn’t see best places to buy. I was originally going to order from Rio Grande but unfortunately I found that they only had one type of wire in the small $8 package which I think is 1/4 pound or something. All the other shapes were much bigger packs and would’ve cost too much to get started not really knowing what I need or will like. So I ended up ordering from a place called CreatingUnkamen instead. They have nice small packs of all shapes and gauges of wire. I got all copper. I’m not interested in silver until I learn how to wrap and see if I like it. Not knowing what sizes to get, I found about 5 YouTube tutorials that I want to try and just wrote down the sizes and shapes they used and got those. I haven’t had time to actually use the wire yet. I will say it was a little slow in coming. Maybe two weeks or so but the quality looks good. |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 5, 2022 1:09:35 GMT -5
This seems like a good area for this question.... any recommendations on where to buy wire from? I still haven’t bought any because there seems to be so many options when I google it. I saw an older topic that mentioned the types of wire to start with but didn’t see best places to buy. I was originally going to order from Rio Grande but unfortunately I found that they only had one type of wire in the small $8 package which I think is 1/4 pound or something. All the other shapes were much bigger packs and would’ve cost too much to get started not really knowing what I need or will like. So I ended up ordering from a place called CreatingUnkamen instead. They have nice small packs of all shapes and gauges of wire. I got all copper. I’m not interested in silver until I learn how to wrap and see if I like it. Not knowing what sizes to get, I found about 5 YouTube tutorials that I want to try and just wrote down the sizes and shapes they used and got those. I haven’t had time to actually use the wire yet. I will say it was a little slow in coming. Maybe two weeks or so but the quality looks good. I have purchased from her as well, but not the wire--she makes great jump rings. You might take a look at Monsterslayer. I always order wire from Rio Grande, but their amounts are a bit large when you are just starting out. The size of your wire will depend upon the size of what you are wrapping as much or more as it depends upon what you like. |
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markb
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2022
Posts: 472 
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Post by markb on Oct 29, 2022 1:58:33 GMT -5
jasoninsdIf you had a “parallel jaw”, then you might be a useful tool from your wife’s perspective. Just sayin’ …
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 8, 2023 15:56:01 GMT -5
Something I don't use a WHOLE lot, but when I need it, nothing else will do. I have 2 rawhide mallets, but I never use them.
This is a link to their store. I'm sure you can find it cheaper. www.tamiyausa.com/shop/tools/micro-hammer/ I use their 10mm tape for wrapping. A little goes a long way and I find 10mm is just about perfect for me.
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