What pliers do you recommend for different sizes/gauges of jump rings?
Choosing the right tools for any given project relies on many factors including ring size, wire gauge, metal and good ol' personal preference. We asked three of our chainmaille experts to share their favorite Blue Buddha pliers to work with in all the scenarios below. We hope these tables help you decide which pliers might be best for your next project. They should also begin to paint of picture of what each plier is really best for.
Happy Weaving!
Pliers recommended in this table: Euro Tool Ergo, Euro Tool Ultra Ergo Chain Nose, Lindstrom Rx
| 24g/22g/21g | Aimee | Kat | Rebeca |
| SILV | Lindstrom Rx or Ultra Ergo chain nose |
Ergos | Lindstrom Rx |
|
COPP |
Lindstrom Rx or Ultra Ergo chain nose | Ergos | Lindstrom Rx |
| JBRS/BRNZ | Lindstrom Rx or Ultra Ergo chain nose | Ergos | Lindstrom Rx |
|
SSTL |
Lindstrom Rx or Ultra Ergo chain nose | Ergos | Lindstrom Rx |
Pliers recommended in this table: Euro Tool Ergo, Euro Tool Ultra Ergo, Lindstrom Rx
| 20ga | Aimee | Kat | Rebeca |
| SILV | Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo otherwise. | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left |
|
NIOB |
Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left | |
| ALUM/AA | Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo otherwise. | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left |
|
COPP |
Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo otherwise. | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left |
| JBRS/BRNZ | Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo otherwise. | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left |
| SSTL | Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Ergo | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left |
| EC/EC(S) | Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo otherwise. | Usually non-coated Lindstrom RX in right hand; coated Ergo in left |
Pliers recommended in this table: Euro Tool Ergo, Euro Tool Ultra Ergo, Wubbers Medium Flat Nose, Lindstrom Rx, Lindstrom Ex, Tool Magic ("coated")
| 18/19ga | Aimee | Kat | Rebeca |
| SILV | Ultra Ergo or Wubbers Med | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo otherwise. | coated Ergo |
|
NIOB |
Ultra Ergo or Wubbers Med | coated Ergo | |
| ALUM/AA | Ultra Ergo or Wubbers Med | Lindstrom in tight places, Ergo up to L size. After L = Wubbers for better balance | coated Ergos OR for larger rings (inner diameter P and up - 5/16" 7.9mm) coated medium or wide Flat Nose Wubbers |
|
COPP |
Ultra Ergo or Wubbers Med | Ergo up to L size. After L = Wubbers for better balance | coated Ergos OR for larger rings (inner diameter P and up - 5/16" 7.9mm) coated medium or wide Flat Nose Wubbers |
| JBRS/BRNZ | Ultra Ergo or Wubbers Med | Ultra Ergo, Lrg ring with High AR= Wubbers for better balance | coated Ergos OR for larger rings (inner diameter P and up - 5/16" 7.9mm) coated medium or wide Flat Nose Wubbers |
| SSTL | Ultra Ergo, Wubbers Med or Lindstrom EX | Rings up to size L = Ultra Ergo, after L = Wubbers | coated medium or wide Flat Nose Wubbers |
| EC/EC(S) | Ultra Ergo or Lindstrom Rx | Ergo |
coated Ergos |
Pliers recommended in this table: Euro Tool Ergo, Euro Tool Ultra Ergo, Wubbers Medium Flat Nose, Wubbers Wide Flat Nose, Lindstrom Ex, Duckbills
| 16ga | Aimee | Kat | Rebeca |
| SILV | Ultra Ergos for smaller sizes after size J then Wubbers Med or Wide | Ergo or Ultra Ergo up to size L. after L = Wubbers for better balance. | coated Wide Nose Wubbers |
|
NIOB |
coated Wide Nose Wubbers | ||
| ALUM/AA | Ultra Ergos for smaller sizes after size J then Wubbers Med or Wide | Ergo or Ultra Ergo up to size L. after L = Wubbers for better balance. | coated Wide Nose Wubbers or Ultra Ergos |
|
COPP |
Ultra Ergos for smaller sizes after size J then Wubbers Med or Wide | Ergo or Ultra Ergo up to size L. after L = Wubbers for better balance. | coated Wide Nose Wubbers or Ultra Ergos |
| JBRS/BRNZ | Ultra Ergos for smaller sizes after size J then Wubbers Med or Wide | Ultra Ergo up to size L. after L = Wubbers or Duckbills for better balance. | coated Wide Nose Wubbers OR for larger rings (inner diameter T and up - 3/8" 9.5 mm) I might use a coated Duckbill in my left hand and a coated Wide Nose Wubber in my right hand |
| SSTL | Lindstrom EX for smaller sizes after size J then Wubbers Med or Wide or Duckbills | Ultra Ergo up to size L. after L = Wubbers or Duckbills for better balance. | coated Wide Nose Wubbers OR for larger rings (inner diameter T and up - 3/8" 9.5 mm) I might use a coated Duckbill in my left hand and a coated Wide Nose Wubber in my right hand |
Pliers recommended in this table: Euro Tool Ultra Ergo, Wubbers Medium Flat Nose, Wubbers Wide Flat Nose, Duckbills
| 14ga | Aimee | Kat | Rebeca |
| SILV | Wubbers Med or Wide | Ultra Ergo or Wubbers for larger sizes. Have used duckbills for T14 (AWG) | coated Wide Nose Wubbers |
|
NIOB |
coated Wide Nose Wubbers | ||
| ALUM/AA | Wubbers, Duckbills | Wubbers, Duckbills | coated Wide Nose Wubbers |
|
COPP |
Wubbers, Duckbills | Wubbers, Duckbills | coated Wide Nose Wubbers |
| JBRS/BRNZ | Wubbers, Duckbills | Wubbers, Duckbills | coated Wide Nose Wubbers or Duckbills (or combination of both - Duckbill in left h and, and Wubber in right hand) |
Pliers recommended in this table: Duckbills
| 12ga | Aimee | Kat | Rebeca |
| SILV | Duckbills | ||
| ALUM/AA | Duckbills | Duckbills | Duckbills |