Ask the Experts Tools Q&A

When I use my split ring pliers to open the ring and put a charm on, I seem to "ruin" the ring. It doesn't close back up properly, but remains separated from the center. Am I opening them incorrectly?

- Suzanne

Split ring pliers are designed to open the split rings just enough to slide them onto the end of your finding and then have them close right back up.

To use split ring pliers correctly, the long flat jaw of the plier goes on the interior curve of the split ring and the bent jaw that points inward goes between the two layers on the outside of the split ring to pry it apart about two millimeters. After threading your finding into the split ring, the pliers are removed and the ring should re-close snugly.

If your finding is more than two millimeters thick, you may need to open the split ring slightly more than the two millimeters that the pliers naturally allow. However, opening any split ring too far can prevent it from springing back to its original tightness, leaving it misshapen. If that occurs, the best suggestion is to move to a larger split ring, with heavier gauge wire, that will respond better to opening wider.

Here's a video on "Using Split Ring Pliers."