Mandrel and Bracket

[cuttingcreations]

Does anyone know where I can buy a mandrel and bracket set from for making jump rings etc.

Thanks in advance.

[mizgeorge]

knitting needles and a hand drill or electric screwdriver work for me! Charity shops are a great source of knitting needles.

If you're wanting to make them for maille, it's worth getting a digital caliper so you can measure your mandrel sizes accurately.

[Madly Creating]

Here I go, displaying my ignorance again - how does the electric screwdriver come into it? I'm going to keep my eye out for knitting needles now (in my own cupboards, I think!)

[mizgeorge]

get a snap-in chuck for the screwdriver (a drill has too much torque for safety), use it to hold the mandrel, tuck the end of the wire into the gap between the chuck teeth and hit the power! It will wind for you. A coil of wire takes me seconds rather than minutes now

[goldy1]

for small jump rings I use the none business end of my fine files. You can use any thing I have used a pencil before now.

[Madly Creating]

I was using a bit of dowel, but I think the knitting needle will suit me better.... now to find the OHs screwdriver!

[WitchfordSilverDesigns]

I use a very cheep hand drill mounted in a bench vice. It’s very easy to get friction burns if the wire is held in tension by your fingers. Let it run through some old rag.
Also it doesn’t take a lot of effort for the wire to cut in to your hands if it’s thin. With the hand drill method it’s very hard to keep turning as it cuts in to the skin.
So slowly does it and you won’t be losing your fingers?

[mizgeorge]

An old leather glove makes a great hand protector too

[cuttingcreations]

Thanks for all your tips and technquies I have shown the OH a picture of what I need he has since adapted the face plate of a lock and I have pinched some knitting needles of my Mum, so wire twisting here I go lets just hope my fingers remain intact.

I shall let you know how I get on, wish me luck

[ShinySilver]

Hope it works out well! The tip for twisting with a screwdriver is excellent. I use anything and everything as a mandrel, even the top of a nail varnish bottle once as it was the right size! I don't think that would work in the screwdriver though . . .