Body piercing needles are used for every piercing to create the hole. Piercing needles are made from 316L stainless steel and are hollow. The end of the piercing needle is beveled. The sizes are measured in gauges, and generally range from 20g to 12g. The gauge number is converse to the width of the needle. For example, a 14g needle is wider than a 20g needle.
Forceps are used to stabilize the tissue area and are made from 316L stainless steel. Special piercing forceps have arms with circular ends, which allows the needle to pass though. Forceps are commonly used in tongue and septum piercings to prevent movement. The forceps are clamped over the piercing site and tightly secured before piercing.
Corks are used to receive the end of the needle during a piercing. Corks prevent the needle from accidental puncture and provide pressure support for the piercing site. Corks are commonly used for nasal and oral piercings. Though cork is traditionally used, cork stoppers made from synthetic materials are also available.
Receiving tubes are similar in function to corks. Receiving tubes are hollow, stainless steel tubes placed at the opposite side of the piercing site. The tube is used to receive the end of the needle, stabilizing the piercing area and preventing accidental damage. Piercing tubes are commonly used for surface piercings.
A piercing caliper is a tool that measures the size of body jewelry. Calipers can measure either gauge or millimeter. Calipers are useful for people who do not know the size of their body jewelry. Calipers are also imperative for double-checking piercing jewelry before use.