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I've seen a few video tutorials where the demonstrator was using tweezers for picking glue dots and rhinestones off the carrying sheets and for other techniques as well. I haven't used any type of tweezer except the basic straight kind for eyebrows years ago (waxing the brows is so much easier and much less torture - but I digress). The pair in the video seemed to be curved on the end.
Anyone have any recommendations for a good pair of craft tweezers that they like?
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
The interesting thing about these tweezers is that they work exactly the opposite of traditional eyebrow/splinter picking tweezers. You squeeze to let go of an object and and you release the pressure on the tweezer to grasp the object.
I bought it to pick up small pieces on from my Sillouette cutting mat. Unfortunately, the grip was too strong and I usually ended up damaging the paper. If I remember where I put it, I might give it another try, this time for harder objects, such as rhinestones.
The interesting thing about these tweezers is that they work exactly the opposite of traditional eyebrow/splinter picking tweezers. You squeeze to let go of an object and and you release the pressure on the tweezer to grasp the object.
I bought it to pick up small pieces on from my Sillouette cutting mat. Unfortunately, the grip was too strong and I usually ended up damaging the paper. If I remember where I put it, I might give it another try, this time for harder objects, such as rhinestones.
As a leftie who often has to program her brain to think like a rightie, this would totally confuse me LOL! I'll take a peek at them, they sound interesting. Thanks for the suggestion!
__________________ Leslie Harnish
Sambro, Nova Scotia
Canada
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my TweezerBees!! They have a very fine tip(it's sharp too so keep it covered if it's in your toolbox/bag so you don't poke yourself(experience talking there! hehe)!
A second vote for Tweezer Bees. It took a while to get used to [reverse action] but I love them and use them constantly. I keep it covered with a tip normally used on knitting needles.
I have a pair of the making memories ones and I do use them occasionally. But my most used pair of tweezers? A $5 pair of regular old eyebrow tweezers I picked up specifically for crafting and which live in my rhinestone & pearls basket. Use them almost every time I stamp.
__________________ "You may not have lost all your marbles, but there's definitely a hole in the bag." Grumpy Cat
I have a pair of tweezers from Mrs. Grossman's. I bought them many, many years ago when I worked alot with stickers before I discovered the joy of stamping. My tweezers and bone folder are always handy on my work table, can't work without them.
I bought some basic First Aid type tweezers- very pointed, and cheaper than 'craft' tweezers. The type the OP was describing are reverse tweezers-I gave up on them as my brain was too used to the 'squeeze to hold' type, lol.
I've seen a few video tutorials where the demonstrator was using tweezers for picking glue dots and rhinestones off the carrying sheets and for other techniques as well. I haven't used any type of tweezer except the basic straight kind for eyebrows years ago (waxing the brows is so much easier and much less torture - but I digress). The pair in the video seemed to be curved on the end.
Anyone have any recommendations for a good pair of craft tweezers that they like?
Check out the notions section of a fabric store...stitchers use all types of tweezers, most of which have been re-labeled by paper craft vendors. The tweezers found in fabric stores cost less than those sold by paper craft vendors.
While you're checking out the fabric store...take a look around. You'll be amazed at the many products that are suitable for paper crafting; those same products will probably cost more in a paper crafts section of a crafts store.
Another source for inexpensive tweezers is in the beadding/jewerly making secion of crafts store. Again, the price is usually far less than those sold in the paper craft secion of that store.
Also, something to think about is getting the tweezers that are teflon coated and things won't get too sticky then or if you have extra $$ you can get a pair for non sticky and one for sticky items. check out the hardware stores for some cool tools as well. And to protect the ends of your tweezers from yourself , you can also have a hard ball of styrofoam or a soft type of kids toy ball....oh the airless type of course!
Oh, you may wanna hide them in case your hubby is into flyfish tying.
we have a rule at our house.... I'll share my tools if you share yours.......:rolleyes: lol!
I have several. I have a pair of beading tweezers (they are bent at the end and have teeth on the inside) for rhinestones and such dimensional items.
I have a sharp pair of reverse tweezers from the sewing section for stickers and other fine placement situations. The reverse action works like a vise, so I can "hold" the item without fatigue (I have health issues) and concentrate on exact placement. Also, I find these help with pulling ribbon thru holes.
The second I learned to use by sewing gussets in dress gloves with an 1/8 seam allowance (white knit). And still use them for some costume sewing (I make Rennaissance faire garb).
I agree, venture outside the papercrafts aisle and you never know what wonders you'll discover. I love to wander in the hardware and paint section of the hardware store. I have two great tools from Lowe's - a mini box cutter and a mini "leatherman". These were both under $5 and are great to pack in your scrap kit for going to crops, etc.
Another vote for Mrs. Grossman's; I've had these for years and use them on almost every card I make. And for ribbon or anywhere you need a third hand, you can't beat a pair of hemostats! A couple of nurses "adopted" me when my husband was in the hospital, and saved several of these for me.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
Tweezer Bees, Mrs. Grossman & Making Memories are all Reverse Action Tweezers. You can find these in the sewing, jewelry departments at your craft stores. You can also order them from Ebay.
Yes, the Harbor Freight set of Tweezers are very nice. You get a nice variety of tweezers for a great price.
I have the Tweezer Bees. I love them and got them very cheap. They are non stick which is important to me because most of the time I am using them to pick up something I just glued. They are very sharp so don't lose the cap and keep them away from little fingers who might find them curious. They do stab and hurt. I have heard many a crop stories of injuries. The Making Memories ones do not look as sharp.
My Mrs. Grossman's tweezers are not reverse action, which is why I love them so much. I'm not sure these are available now, because I googled them and couldn't come up with a hit for the type I have.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
Ooops! I am embarrassed. Your right the Mrs Grossman tweezers are not reverse action tweezers. Typing before thinking moment. Also migraine before thinking moment too. I have the worst luck over here doing that with my migraines.
I know the Mrs. Grossman tweezers do have an official name but I can't remember it. I am having a weekend like this. I couldn't remember Pearl Ex you need a binder to do some of the techniques. I told my DH you need that gluey thingy that holds stuff together. I gave the librarian my credit card today to check out my books.
Sorry to anyone who went to buy Mrs. Grossman tweezers thinking they were Reverse Action. I hope I didn't mess anybody up.
I was a surgical nurse working in the Operating Room as a Scrub Nurse, the nurse that assists the surgeon passing the instruments during the procedure. My third pair of hands was always a pair of "forceps", in layman terms "tweezers". I love, love my forceps and cannot make a card without them, I use them like an extra pair of hands that have wonderful tiny grasping tips. I happened to be disabled at present and very unhappily no longer working at my chosen career, but I still have a few pair of forceps that for one reason or another were being retired. I have used other "tweezers" when working somewhere else, I forgot my pair, and they cannot compare to a surgical pair. Trust me when I say that is what you need. I could not do my cards without them. When you are used to using them for 8 or more hours at work, they do become a part of your life.
I just went to Amazon.com and put into the search bar, "surgical forceps" and there they were, forceps in surgery also refer to hemostats, Kellys and anything else that is used for grasping an object, whether it is tissue or a "surgical sponge". They are fairly inexpensive, most do not have the curved tip, or the reverese action, both of which I do not like. I like a straight tip with a non crushing serrated tip, it helps to hold the object better then a smooth tip.
Sorry, I will shut up now, I am just very passionate about my forceps, ask my students, they tease me about not being able to function without them.
This is just another option out there for those who do not know about the surgical forcep for Tweezer, opens up another whole area to research.
I have/use a pair I found in the quilting tools section of JoAnn. They are white with a heart shape on either side just a perfect 'grip'. They are a nice weight. I also use ones from the makeup section that I keep in my workshop bag. Both of these tweezers are pointed on the ends. I use them for plucking sticky rhinestones off the clear sheet, anything that needs placement in a specific place. My finger tips sometimes just can't place these tiny things exactly where I want. I also use tweezers to place mats. Actually, tweezers are one of my 'must have' tools when I craft.
I just can't 'get' the reverse action tweezers. I am always squeezing at the wrong time so end up dropping the item.
Last edited by Crafter 4 Life; 11-06-2011 at 08:10 AM..
Reason: correct wording
Tweezer bees are the best! They are sharp and pointy so careful when littles are around. Thanks Diane for the tip, I just went and got a knitting tip, perfect. I love SCS
Kathy T
Tweezer Bee- you convinced me to buy a pair yesterday. Looked at the ones in the jewelry and fabric departments, but liked that the Tweezer Bees have a non-stick coating. Thanks for suggesting them. Now, off to use them....
I had surgery a couple weeks ago. Pain meds made me so ill I had to stop taking them. Next time I have surgery (which I hope is never) I'll tell them to keep the drugs and send me home with the hemostats!
Looking for Craft Tweezer Recommendations
