How to: Use caps when making jewelry

With caps, you can finish jewelry neatly and professionally. Follow these steps:

This is how you start

1. Cut a piece of steel wire of approx. 50–55 cm (short chain = ± 43–45 cm).

2. Slide a cap and then a crimp bead onto the wire, approximately 2 mm from the end.

3. Crimp the crimp bead with smooth flat nose pliers.

4. Bend the short wire over the crimp bead and slide the cap over it. Gently press it closed.

Stringing the beads

5. String the beads onto the wire in the desired order.

6. Finish with another skullcap + crimp bead.

7. Check that all the beads fit together nicely.

8. Cut off the excess wire (leaving approximately 2 mm), bend it back and close the cap.

Finishing

9. Add a jump ring + lock to one side.

10. Close the bending ring neatly with two pliers (move back and forth, not sideways).

11. On the other side, also attach a jump ring or washer for the carabiner.

Tips

• Use glue in the skullcap for extra strength.

• Caps are available in different sizes and materials: Vermeil 4 mm, Sterling silver 3.5 mm, Goldfilled 3.5 mm (heavy model).

• Always combine caps with crimp beads (max. 2.5 mm).