Tool Talk is a new Journal series where Michelle Pajak-Reynolds shares her favorite jewelry making tools collected over 3 decades of creative practice. The following information is shared to help educate readers on the jewelry making process and to help fellow jewelers at all skill levels, especially students, find quality tools. Michelle Pajak-Reynolds and Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Studios LLC are not affiliated with or compensated by any of the brands or vendors mentioned in these articles.

An artist’s tools, no matter the materials they work in, are an extension of their body and their soul. Lindstrom’s RX Pliers and Cutter set from Rio Grande (item 111057) are some of my favorite jewelry making tools.

I invested in this set of ergonomic handle pliers after suffering carpal tunnel pain in my right thumb and wrist 18 years ago while working on my Petals Collection. By switching to pliers and cutters with large ergonomic grips and replaceable BioSprings, the pressure needed to operate the tool is evenly distributed and reduces hand fatigue and stress on finger joints and wrists. I use these pliers hundreds of times a day for a variety of tasks. They’re my favorite and most comfortable plier set for wire-wrapping and pin-setting the 11,532+ gemstones featured in my collections and custom orders since 2014.

I LOVE these Lindstrom RX Pliers and Cutters because I’ve been able to work pain-free fo almost 2 decades and they pack easily allowing me to set-up a creative space anywhere. (Yes, I’ve even taken them on vacation because a vacation that doesn’t include some art-making in no vacation at all. LOL )