Crimp Beads & Crimp Tubes for Jewelry Making

Finish your handmade bracelets and necklaces with confidence using crimp beads and crimp tubes from Bead3! These small but essential jewelry-making findings help secure braided beading wire to clasps, jump rings, and other jewelry connectors. Whether you're creating a gemstone bracelet, crystal necklace, or custom beaded jewelry, a properly crimped connection is an important part of a secure, professional-looking finish. Shop our selection of crimp beads and tubes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and metal finishes, including silver-plated, gold-plated, antique copper, gunmetal, and more. Find affordable crimping supplies for your next jewelry-making project!

How to Use Crimp Beads and Crimp Tubes

Crimp beads and tubes are especially useful when working with flexible braided jewelry-making wire. They allow you to attach a clasp or ring without tying knots.

Thread the crimp: Slide a crimp bead or tube onto the end of your braided beading wire.

Attach your clasp: Pass the wire through the loop on your clasp, jump ring, or jewelry connector.

Make a loop: Bring the wire back through the same crimp bead or tube, forming a small loop around the clasp or ring.

Adjust the loop: Gently pull the wire until the loop is the desired size, leaving enough room for the clasp to move freely.

Secure the connection: Use special jewelry crimping pliers to compress and fold the crimp according to the pliers' instructions, securing both sections of wire.

Finish your jewelry: Check that the connection is secure, then trim or tuck the excess wire as appropriate.

For the best results, choose a crimp size that accommodates two passes of your beading wire and use crimping pliers designed for that crimp size. Avoid squeezing so hard that you damage the wire.

Crimp Beads vs. Crimp Tubes: What's the Difference?

Crimp beads are typically small, rounded metal findings that flatten when compressed. They are useful for securing jewelry wire in a compact space. Crimp tubes are short, cylindrical metal tubes. Many jewelry makers prefer crimp tubes because they work especially well with crimping pliers designed to create a folded, secure connection. Both styles are popular for finishing beaded bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry made with flexible braided beading wire.

Choosing the Right Crimp Supplies

Crimp beads: Compact findings for securing wire ends and attaching jewelry clasps.

Crimp tubes: Cylindrical crimps available in different sizes for various beading wire diameters.

Metal finishes: Coordinate your crimps with silver, gold, copper, bronze, or gunmetal jewelry findings.

Crimping pliers: Specialized tools that help compress and fold compatible crimps for a secure connection.

Wire compatibility: Select crimps based on your braided wire diameter and the manufacturer's recommended crimp size.

Complete Your Jewelry-Making Project

Crimp beads and tubes work together with other essential jewelry-making supplies. Explore our Crimp Supplies, Jewelry Clasps, and Wire Protectors to complete your handmade jewelry designs. At Bead3, we believe quality jewelry-making supplies should be affordable. With more than 20 years of online bead-selling experience, we offer a wide selection of beads, findings, tools, and supplies at competitive prices to help you create beautiful handmade jewelry.