Unfortunately, the death grip stage is just part of learning to make chain. It's partially caused by awkwardness with new tools and unfamiliar motions and it's partially caused by the hands not yet being strong enough to be gentle. Making chain strengthens your hands and the stronger your hands are, the easier it is to hold the rings with only as much pressure as you really need to keep them from slipping. You will outgrow the death grip and the more rings you close, the sooner you'll outgrow it.

In the meantime, you can use tool magic or mole skin or you can put cut bits of drinking straws over the tips of your pliers or you can get some of that electrical shrink tubing and shrink it over the tips of your pliers. All those things will cut down the marking. All those things will also make the tips of your pliers fat and extend the time that you're awkward with them.

If you know you're going to be making a lot of chain then I think it's better to make sure your pliers are smooth and then just make a lot of chain with them, keeping your focus on holding the rings gently and closing them perfectly. Don't try to be fast or efficient, just focus on form and try to close the rings perfectly. You'll learn faster that way than you ever could while using something that blunts the feel of your tools.

If you don't have a tumbler, give some serious thought to getting one as soon as you can. You'll love it so much you won't even believe it... and it'll smooth out small scratches. It won't take out gouges, so you have to just scrap any rings that you gouge, but it'll dramatically improve the appearance of the finished product, both now and when you're weaving expertly. I wouldn't give up mine for anything. *s* Read all about them on our Tumble Polishing page.