Cutting can happen quickly, but in jewelry it is one of the steps that are often the most difficult to correct. A piece can be reshaped, rough edge refinished, and a loop readjusted, but a short piece is often a test piece. It is the decision made a moment before cutting that is more important than the cut.
Do a final check before using wire cutters or jeweler’s saw. Think about how the piece will fit in its application. The loop on a pendant, a charm connector, a ring blank, or a short section for a bead will all require different lengths of wire or sheet. You may need to allow additional material for making a loop using a round nose plier. You might also need extra metal to leave when you file, sand, or otherwise finish the cut edge. If you cut to the visible finished size, you might have nothing left to finish.
Instead of cutting one test piece, mark and make three samples. Using a ruler or caliper, and a marking pen, mark the wire or sheet with three clear lines. The first line shows the length you think is needed. The second line shows your original length with a little bit of space for the additional finishing. The third mark leaves just a bit more material. Make the pieces. Evaluate which is best as a piece you can control with little waste.
Check the placement of the marking from another angle before cutting. Wire may roll slightly under the fingers, moving it off from the ideal cutting position. Sheet metal might look straight from one angle but be sitting unevenly on the bench pin. Make sure a line is supported and visible if using a saw blade. Make sure you know which edge of the cutters may have a sharp point if using cutters.
The next step of the review is to think about the subsequent steps that will happen with the piece. Will the cut edge be filed smooth by needle file? Will the wire be shaped into a loop? Will it need to pass through a bead, jump ring, bail, or clasp? Will it be worn against the skin or clothing? A cut edge that will be worn near the body may need more attention for finishing than a test edge that will stay hidden. A piece that will connect to another finding requires enough length to allow for proper placement and alignment, not just enough length to fit into place.
Many early mistakes with sizing and cutting occur because the cut is rushed. Because the marking line seems obvious, the cutter slides into place and you end up with an angled or short cut. Take a slower approach. Hold the item steady. Store small parts well away from the edges of the work tray. After finishing a cut, move that piece to an area away from other raw stock. You will have a better view of the finished pieces to assess against the raw stock if the tray contains fewer items.
Do not decide immediately after cutting if you have done the task correctly. Place the piece next to the bead, chain, cabochon, or finding with which it is used. Assess the proportions. Examine the cut end. Evaluate whether a following bend, seam, or connection has enough space. A good cut requires not only a clean cut but also a sense of how much metal you should be leaving to complete the next jewelry step.