Tools of the Trade - Flush Cutters

By far the most important tool you need is a good pair of flush cutters. These three go from bad (far left) to OK (far right). If your going to be going chain maille or fusing you need a good pair of flush cutters. These are important because they will cut the wire perfectly flush so the ends meet up perfectly on your jump rings. When fusing if your rings don't meet right you ether wont get fusion or it will be a really weak bond. That's why spending forty plus dollars on your flush cutters is perfectly OK. When looking for flush cutters one side should be ground down so the cutting edge on each side is perfectly flush to the other, If they are not flush you will get a bad cut. Also if you do spend less than twenty dollars on a pair and they look perfectly flush when you buy be aware that they wont stay flush for long which is the problem with all three pairs that I have.