Stepped pliers for loops:

Also known as flat/3-step round jaw pliers.

Better than round-nose pliers for making perfect wire loops!

These are my go-to pliers for making connection loops with wire or thin widths of sheet.  Yields consistent size loops and the opposing flat side helps reduce the likelihood of leaving tool marks.

These are the best jewelry pliers for forming perfect wire loops!

Here’s 3 reasons why these pliers help you form better loops:

1) Sturdy hold with less tool marks  …

It’s simple physics – let me explain.  If you squeeze wire with round-nose pliers, all the force converges on that one point where the two cones meet.  That pressure ends up squeezing your wire and often “pinches” little dimples in the surface which are often referred to as tool marks.  They can be avoided with just the right amount of torque and pressure as you form your wire, but with stepped pliers it doesn’t happen as easily.  Because when you squeeze the round side against the flat side of the pliers, the pressure dissipates on the flat side.  So, you can squeeze your material with a lot more force before you scar the surface.

2) Easily make loops with consistent size …

No need to draw lines (or other creative tricks) in order to form your loops the same size over and over again.  Unlike round-nose pliers that have a conical shape, these pliers feature 3 distinct steps or levels to wrap around.  The length of each step has the same circumference, therefore if you wrap your wire around the same step, your loops will automatically be of similar size.

3) Evenly form loops from wider material …

It’s easy to form even loops from wider material (up to the width of each step) because the surface you are forming around is even.   When you form material wider than standard wire around the cone shape of round-nose pliers, you end up with one side of the loop wider than the other.  This is great for adding loops to components, forming hooks, or even small bails.

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My choice: Beadsmith #PL48

Beadsmith is the only tool company I know that makes stepped pliers where the opposing side is both flat and tapered at the tip.

Others have an inverted curve on the side opposite the steps.  This can be great for holding curve, but will surely mar the surface if you grasp a flat length of material and squeeze.  Others offer a flat side, but without the tapered tip, it can be hard to maneuver in small spaces to form wire loops.