Xuron Tools Blog

Xuron®’s New Bead Crimping Plier Is Finally Here!

By Abby Robey on April 29, 2013 in Beading, Consumer Products

Introducing the newest addition to the Xuron® line of tools for jewelers — an innovative and multi-functional plier that can crimp & fold 1, 2 and 3 mm crimp tubes and incorporates a chainnose plier for handling small beads, crimps and findings as well as bending and forming wire.

Easy to use:

Position crimp tube in “crimping” station and squeeze – for the most secure result, be sure the two wires are on either side of the tube so that the crimping “tooth” can be set between them.

Xuron® Crimper crimping no 2 size crimp tube
Rotate the crimp 90 degrees and place in the appropriate (1, 2 or 3 mm) “folding” station and lightly squeeze

Xuron® Crimper folding no 2 crimp tube

Chainnose Plier can be used to pick up crimps, finding and small beads — this is my favorite feature!

Chain Nose Plier great for handling small crimps

Complete instructions (with line diagrams) can be found on xuron.com and we will have a demonstration video available soon.

If you’ll be at the Bead & Button Show please come see us in booth # 745 — you’ll be able to try the crimper for yourself!

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Xuron®’s ESD Safe Hand Tools Can Be Part of Your Static Free Program

By Abby Robey on January 30, 2013 in ESD, Industrial Products

Static electricity is not a friend to PCB (printed circuit board) manufacturers. Static can cause component failures and a host of other issues. Products that are “ESD Safe”, meaning they will not generate charge, are a requirement for PCB manufacturers as part of an comprehensive ESD program.

All Xuron® hand tools are optionally available with ESD safe handle grips. They are identified by a black grip imprinted with the ESD safe symbol in yellow. Adding “AS” after any Xuron® model number will designate this option.

The material we use for our ESD Safe grips conforms to ANSI/ESD.S20.20 and DOD-HDBK-263, and has a surface resistivity of 10(6)-10(9) ohms. The material is both REACH and RoHS compliant.

If you’d like more information about Xuron®’s ESD safe hand tools, contact your local Xuron Corp. Sales Representative for a consultation or feel free to contact us directly.

For more information on ESD, go to www.esda.org

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Relax With Your Favorite Hobby or Craft Project

By Abby Robey on December 17, 2012 in Consumer Products, Needlecraft

Not long ago I read an article about the health benefits associated with having a hobby – something that helps take your mind from the everyday stresses of life and allows for relaxation and fun. So, I decided to rekindle one of my childhood obsessions and attempt to re-learn crochet and the art of the granny square. With the help of YouTube and some great blog sites, I was cranking out the squares in no time. The simple rhythm of the stitches is hypnotic and it truly does bring a sense of calm and relaxation (unless the cat decides to grab the skein of yarn and run around the house).

Soon into my new hobby I had need for a scissor and pulled out my Xuron® Model 440 Scissor and must say, it really is a perfect scissor for yarn. It snips the yarn cleanly and, since the blades are very thin and pointed, I could cut close to my work. But, the thing I really appreciate about this scissor is the lack of finger loops and the handy return spring! This scissor is perfect for yarn, thread, and embroidery floss. If you do any type of needlework, you will get good use out of this scissor.

I made eight of these squares, sewed them together creating a cowl scarf. The idea came from a blog site I found while researching “tutorials”. Check it out — her use of color is simply amazing and she gives easy step by step instructions.

If you have a special hobby that you enjoy, please feel free to share it here with us.

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The Mystery of the Micro-Shear® Flush Cutter

By Abby Robey on November 17, 2012 in Industrial Products, Micro-Shear® Flush Cutters

“The cutting edges don’t line up, is this tool defective” ? This is the single most frequently asked question (with regard to our Cutters). The answer is, No, this tool is just as it should be and the benefit is in the results.

When you see that the cutting edges don’t align perfectly, what you are noticing is Xuron Corp.’s Micro-Shear® blade bypass cutting method. Rather than two sharp edges meeting perfectly, our cutting edges are designed so that one slightly bypasses the other for a shearing type of cut. This graphic that is printed on our packaging sleeve illustrates how it works:

The term, Micro-Shear® is a registered trademark belonging to Xuron Corporation and is used to describe this bypass cutting method. Only cutters manufactured by Xuron Corporation can be called Micro-Shear®.

The benefit of Micro-Shear® cutting is in the results — your finished work will be smooth and flat and free of the “spike” found when using compression cutters.

I hope this helps clear up some of the mystery of the Micro-Shear® Flush Cutter!

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Show Review – iHobby Expo 2012

By Abby Robey on October 23, 2012 in Consumer Products

Xuron® Model 9180ET Pro. Photo Etch Scissors

The new venue (Cleveland’s I-X Center) gets a big thumbs up. There was plenty of space for exhibitors as well as the local IPMS club’s model contest, multiple demonstration areas, the make and take area, and ample seating near the food concessions.

The first two days were open to retailers and distributors only. I found the traffic these days to be very light, however I did hear many exhibitors say that they were meeting dealers that they didn’t normally see in Rosemont (previous show location). As always, it’s enjoyable to talk with the dealers and get to know more about their stores.

The second two days were open to the public and I wasn’t sure what to expect since this was the first year in a new location. Big sigh of relief when, on Saturday, the aisles were filled (all day) with enthusiastic consumers. Sunday was a bit less busy, but not disappointingly so.

Maybe being in the new venue made me more observant but I clearly noticed more teenagers this year than in Rosemont – I take this as a good sign. Also, I found that people were very engaged and enthusiastic about the show and looking forward to coming again in 2013.

Some other random observations from the show floor:

There were a good number of retailers set up to sell on Saturday and Sunday and they were always busy – people were buying.
More empty booth (exhibitor) spaces than I had anticipated. Not sure if this was due to last minute cancelations or spaces that were allocated but never purchased.
Fewer exhibitors than I had expected. Some high profile manufacturers were noticeably absent and this may have been disappointing to retailers and/ or consumers who were hoping to see these companies.

So, was this a good show? For us, yes it was. The move to Cleveland offered a reduction in expenses and the opportunity to introduce Xuron® brand products to a new audience.

If you were at the show, what did you think?

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Xuron Corp. Manufacturer’s Representatives – Offering Solutions and Value

By Abby Robey on October 18, 2012 in Industrial Products

Let’s say you are a Contract Manufacturer and you’ve just been awarded a new contract but find you need to convert a production line to 100% ESD safe products. You’re not sure if you can purchase Xuron® tools in this configuration and you may even need some technical assistance. You place a call to your local Xuron Corp. Manufacturer’s Representative and are quickly referred to the appropriate model numbers and specifications and an appointment has been set for him/her to visit your facility to follow-up and provide any needed training.

Yes, this is a very basic scenario but it illustrates one of the many ways your local Xuron Corp. Manufacturer’s Representative can assist and provide solutions.

What else can your local Rep provide?

Demonstration samples and technical support
A liaison between Xuron Corp and your distributor
Problem solving capabilities
On site trainings

This is a difficult economy and many of you are now doing more with less (more work, less help). It is a perfect time to rely on the expertise that others can provide and your local Xuron Corp. Manufacturers Representative is ready,willing and able to offer that support.

So, what are you waiting for? Make the call!

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How To Use Bent Nose Pliers For Jewelry Construction

By Ashley Bunting on September 28, 2012 in Beading, Consumer Products

Bent nose pliers (Xuron 450BN) are the perfect tool for making closed wrapped loops and opening jump rings. This video demos those techniques and highlights the usefulness of the bent nose plier.

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Xuron® Tool Care and Maintenance

By Abby Robey on September 21, 2012 in Industrial Products

Xuron® Models 9100, 2175ET, 2275 & 170-II

Not to say that any of you, our wonderful customers don’t treat your Xuron® tools like gold and take the very best care of them, but sometimes it’s nice to share a few tips for care and maintenance:

This sounds very elementary but the best way to extend the life of your Xuron® tools is be sure to use them for their recommended purpose. For instance, our popular model 2175 Maxi-Shear™ Flush Cutter will cut soft wire up to 12 AWG (2mm) but if you try to cut a piece of hard wire with it, the sharp cutting edges will dent (FYI – we have a hard wire cutter for that type of work, Model 2193 or Model 2193F).
Storage. Always try to store them where they will be free from moisture. If you work in a humid environment you can apply some light rust preventative oil (here, we use a product called, Rustlick™) to the tool providing it won’t contaminate your work.
Keep the moving parts lightly oiled. Occasionally apply a small dab of WD-40® to the rivet joint – this will keep it moving freely.

Got another great tip to share? We’d love to hear your comments.

-Abby

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iHobby Expo 2012 – it’s that time of year again!

By Abby Robey on September 10, 2012 in Consumer Products, Model Railroading, Radio Control, Scale Modeling

Xuron Corp Booth, iHobby Expo

It’s hard to wrap my brain around the fact that in 4 weeks I’ll be heading to Cleveland, Ohio for the iHobby Expo.

We’ve been exhibiting at this show since it’s inception (as iHobby) and previous to that when it was run by RCHTA. If memory serves, this will be Xuron‘s 22nd year exhibiting (yes, I’ve been going that long). This show has seen it’s share of changes, like all trade shows — fewer attendees and fewer exhibitors. Companies have cut travel budgets and the birth of the internet brought instant access to new products. Every year around budget time I ask myself, “do we still need to exhibit at this show?” and I keep coming up with a Yes.

iHobby Expo provides us with a cost effective way to meet one-on-one with most of our Distributors as well as variety of Retailers from the all over the US and many other countries. There is the added benefit of being able to interact with thousands of consumers and get instant product feedback as well as ideas for new products. For us, there really is value in being at this trade show.

I hope to see you in Cleveland — we always have lots of active demonstrations at our booth!

DATE: October 11-14, 2012

XURON BOOTH : #217

LOCATION: I-X Center, Cleveland, OH (USA)

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Classic Xuron®: The Orange Handled Snips

By Abby Robey on August 21, 2012 in Beading, Consumer Products, Wire Art

In the beading world Xuron® tools are known for their orange handles. There are two tools in particular, the 410 micro-shear flush cutter® and the 2175 maxi-shear™ flush cutter. These two have been in the jewelers tool box for sometime now and are highly regarded.

The 410 and the 2175 are really quite different.

The 410 is petite and can cut up to an 18ga soft wire and will cut beading cables like SoftFlex with ease. This is the perfect tool for a jeweler who loves bead stringing.

The 2175 is a hefty fella’ and is fabulous for cutting larger gauges up to a 12 ga. This is a great “go-to” snip. The 2175 is perfect for the jeweler who works with a wide range of materials. This is also a great tool for metalsmiths!