• An industrial ear piercing, also known as a scaffold piercing, bridges the top part of the ear. This is actually two piercings combined using a single piece of jewelry. Performing an industrial piercing is the job of a skilled piercer, since both placement of the jewelry, alignment of the piercing and proper piercing technique will all affect whether or not this piercing is successful.
  
  

Clamps and Preparation

• A Gentian violet or single use surgical marker is one of the first tools used to create an industrial piercing. The piercer will use a ruler or calipers to precisely measure the earlobe and then mark the location of both holes using the surgical marker.
  
  Forrester clamps are sometimes used in piercing. These medical clamps have a rounded loop at the end of the clamp that serves to flatten the skin and create an unobstructed surface for the needle to pass through. This allows the piercer better access to the area being pierced, a critical need for an industrial piercing, which can sometimes be obscured by the rim of the ear.
  
  

Jewelry

• Jewelry is an often overlooked tool when performing an industrial piercing. The piercing can be healed in a variety of ways, using two types of jewelry that is inserted into the fresh piercing.
  
  A precisely measured straight barbell can be inserted through both piercings, tying them together from the start. Selection of this type of jewelry must be performed carefully, taking into account the size of the ear and the potential for swelling due to the trauma caused by multiple puncture wounds. This tool should be made of a non-reactive material such as nickel-free stainless steel, titanium or niobium.
  
  An alternate way to heal an industrial piercing is using two smaller straight barbells for each individual piercing. Many people prefer this method as the pressure on the piercings is decreased and they can be performed at separate times so as not to tax the immune system. These barbells should also be measured to account for swelling in the ear. Once the piercings have healed individually, the long, straight barbell can be used to connect them.
  
  

Needles

• The needles are the most critical tool in body piercing. They should be single-use and sterilized using an autoclave sterilizer. Two types of needles are used to perform piercings.
  
  A plain needle is commonly used when performing piercings. These needles are hollow and come in a variety of sizes and gauges. They can be pushed through the ear to create the industrial piercing and are sometimes pushed into a cork to prevent accidental needle sticks.
  
  Cannula needles are widely used by piercers in the UK and Europe. These needles have a plastic sheath or cannula. When pierced, the needle is pushed through the skin and then removed to leave the cannula in place. This cannula is then followed by the jewelry. These needles are particularly useful for industrial piercings as alignment can be more easily judged.