One Step Crimper

http://www.kljewelrydesign.com/

So I purchased the one step crimping tool after reading about it and seeing it in magazines.  I purchased this not because I find crimping to be a pain but really there was so much talk about how great it is that I had to find out for myself.

First of all there are no instructions with the one step crimping tool except a couple of photos on the package showing how to place the crimp in the top and squeeze the bottom levers. 

The one step crimping tool has three handles; the top one is short and used to hold the crimp in place while the two larger handles are used to squeeze the crimp closed.  Sounds easy right?  That’s what I thought too.

At first when I used this tool I had a heck of a time keeping the crimp in place on my wire so that it was next to my beads and clasp.  Several times I got so frustrated I reached for my usual crimping pliers and finished the piece as usual. 

Sometimes I would get the one step crimper to work but the crimp was loose and my wire came out causing me to waste the crimp and use my standard crimpers again.  Other times I couldn’t even get the large crimping handles to work.

I thought boy was this a waste of time and money; why is everyone just raving about this tool?  So I turned to the internet to find some more instructions on this tool.  What I found was that I was making it very hard on myself and I learned by watching a video on how to use them the correct way to use this tool.  Like my dad always said, “If all else fails read the destructions.”  Another thing he would say to me is “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up” but that’s another story.

So here I will try to write out some instructions to help you use the one step crimper.

1. The small lever on the top is used to hold your crimp in place.  Push down on the small lever with you hand holding the top large lever and the small lever and place your crimp in the groove.  Center the crimp.
2. Let go of the small lever and move down to the two larger levers.  Squeeze these together and allow the one step crimper to do its thing.
3. Once you have done step 2 move back up to the small lever and squeeze it and the top large lever.  This releases your crimp and resets the one step crimper. 

That’s it!  After I watched that video from Rio Grande I really felt stupid for not being able to work the tool.  The first time I got the tool to work after watching the video the crimp was not tight and the wire came undone.  I tried again, this time making sure my crimp was centered under the small handle and the one step crimper worked like a charm.  My crimp was nice and tight, exactly where I wanted it to be and smooth. 

My biggest concern with this tool was what the crimp would look like when I used it.  Did it make my crimp flat like I had used a flat nose pliers to press the crimp in place or was it going to look similar to what my crimps look like when I use my crimping pliers.  Turns out this tool sort of rounds the crimp tube and while it is bigger than my crimps are when I use my crimping pliers, the edges of the crimp tube is smooth to the touch.  So whether you use your standard crimping pliers or the One Step Crimper is up to you but to me it’s worth the price to make crimping one step instead of two or three steps using the standard crimping pliers.  Chances are that I will reach for my standard crimpers out of habit but eventually I am determined to make the switch and put my standard crimpers in my show tool box for good.