For those of us who are loop challenged....

[jana]

I bought a pair of Peter's Tweezers to help me make loops on my pendants. However, I got them too close to the flame a time or two and they are warped and unusable now.

I went looking for an alternative and discovered Mr. Smiley made his own with long needle nose pliers. I got a pair, but found that it was more of a task to bend those darn things than I thought it would be.

I was looking through Harbor Freight and found these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37909

I decided I didn't want all three sizes, so looked on ebay and found these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PLIERS-HOSE-AND-CABLE-GRIP-3-4-INCH-11-INCH-LONG-NEW_W0QQitemZ4471684545QQihZ001QQcategoryZ20767QQc mdZViewItem

I ordered them and got them in a few days. I just went down to the torch and tried them out.....they are even better than the Peter's Tweezers that I paid a lot more for!

Buy these pliers, you will love them!

[PaulaD]

Thanks Jana. What a great tip!

Paula

[Mr. Smiley]

I'm glad they worked out for you. Thanks for the update. ;)

[jana]

Brent,
I just really appreciate you putting up with all my questions and PM's!

Great big thanks to you!

[bead crazy]

So do you just put a hole in the piece with these or do you use them somehow to make a loop?

[Ekkie]

Please do tell. How do you use these pliers?

Thanks
Jenn

[jana]

I make my pendant, then when it comes time to make the loop, just melt a dot on the end. Get the dot hot again, them pinch the pliers in the middle, holding them closed, move them up and down while the glass cools a little ( I am using them on boro, so be careful with soft glass that you do not get it too cool it cracks)....you will hear a grinding sound when the glass gives way in the middle and you have a hole. Set the pliers aside and narrow your flame down and polish your hole. You can stretch it with a pick a little if you need to.


Arrow Springs explains it better than I can:
http://www.arrowsprings.com/html/rake___poke_tools.html

Here is a picture of the pliers and my warped Peter's Tweezers:
57907

Here is a close-up of the tip on the hose grip pliers:
57908

Hope this helps!

[FourTailsLampwork]

OOOH! I have some of my sister's haemostats that have a grip like that! *goes off to rummage....*

[MaryBeth]

Thanks for the tip, Jana!

I like the fact that the pliers look really heavy duty. I bet they would be useful for holding other bits of hot glass also!

[jana]

They are really heavy duty....this size is too big to hold rods of glass, but the set from Harbor Freight has 2 smaller sizes....they are serrated, but once the hole is made, I flame polish the loop and it looks great!

[Ro]

i have the harbor freight set and never thought to use them for loops, i use a brass rod to wrap around, ill have to try them, thanks for the tip!
ro