Sometimes in a jeweler’s life, there comes a product that is so different it completely revolutionizes the way that jewelry makes jewelry.  For me, tornado crimp beads are one of those products.  In fact, I might credit tornado crimps with my jewelry business success, because without them, I surely would have perished from sheer frustration before my business ever had a chance to take off.

When you string beads, you need a way to close off the ends to keep them from coming apart.  In traditional jewelry making, it is a crimp bead that must be affixed with special crimp pliers.  If you get it wrong, the whole thing can fall apart, and it can be tricky to get a perfect crimp that holds together and looks good at the same time.

Not so with tornado crimps.  These nifty little crimp beads require no special crimping pliers to work, and they hold the beading wire like a Bulldog holds a bone.  With regular flat nose pliers, you simply flatten the tornado crimp and voila!  These crimps hold up like you wouldn’t believe, and they look great just about every time, too.

Most places offer them in plated or sterling silver, with plated being much cheaper.  Depending on where you get them, you can expect to pay anywhere from $.10-$.25 per sterling silver crimp, and up to about 10 cents per plated silver crimp.  Believe me, the expense is well worth it, and once you start using them, it is difficult to imagine ever going back to regular crimp beads.

So if you are looking for a different way to crimp your jewelry pieces, give tornado crimps a try.  You won’t be disappointed.