What is a Ring Mandrel? Which one should I buy?
Mandrels are cylindrical tools used to round out wire and metal. Mandrels can be made of wood or aluminum and steel.
Mandrels are cylindrical tools used to round out wire and metal. Mandrels can be made of wood or aluminum and steel and come in a variety of lengths and widths.
- A ring mandrel can have grooved ring sizes marked on it to assist with sizing rings. Rio Grande has extremely well-made, marked mandrels.
- An unmarked ring mandrel is a good choice if you want the mandrel to assist with shaping wires for earrings or bending metal for rings. Keep the marked mandrel simply for sizing rings. Amazon has a nice collection of marked and unmarked ring mandrels.
- A bracelet mandrel is shorter and usually oval-shaped to assist with the shaping of bracelets. Amazon and Rio Grande have oval shaped bracelet mandrels on their website.
Ring Mandrel Recommendations
Megan Coward, Graduate Jeweler Gemologist, GIA, Graduate Gemologist
Megan Coward is a graduate of the GIA with Graduate Jeweler Gemologist and Graduate Gemologist accreditations. She has 20+ years in the retail jewelry industry in various roles including as a diamond buyer and gemstone appraiser.
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