Mandrels

A ring mandrel is a tapered steel tool used to shape and size rings. You slide a ring band over the mandrel and use a mallet to tap it down to the correct size and ensure it is perfectly round. Mandrels are also used to check ring sizes during making and to reshape a ring that has become distorted. The A-Z+6 markings on our steel ring mandrel correspond to Australian and UK ring sizes, so you can work to a specific size as you go.

The A-Z+6 sizing system is the Australian and UK ring sizing standard. It runs from size A through to Z, with six additional sizes beyond Z for larger rings. Our A-Z+6 Steel Ring Mandrel is marked with these sizes so you can work to a specific size rather than guessing. If you are converting from US sizes, size N is roughly equivalent to US size 6.5, and the sizes step up incrementally from there.

You don't have to use a mallet, but one makes the job much easier and gives a better result. A dead blow mallet applies controlled force without bouncing, which helps you shape the ring evenly down the mandrel without marking the metal. We stock a ring mandrel and dead blow mallet set for this reason. If you're just checking sizes rather than actively shaping, you can do that by hand without a mallet.

A ring mandrel is a tapered steel cone used to shape rings and check sizes during making. A finger sizer is a set of sample rings you place on the customer's finger to find their correct ring size before you begin making. The two tools work together: you use the finger sizer to find the size, then use the mandrel to make and shape the ring to that size. Our Ring Mandrel and Finger Sizer Set includes both.

The A-Z+6 Ring Mandrel and Finger Sizer Set is the most practical starting point for most makers. It covers the core tools you need for sizing fingers and shaping rings. If you also want to measure rings accurately during making, the A-Z+6 Ring, Finger and Mandrel Measuring Set adds a ring measuring stick to that combination. If you're planning to do any significant ring shaping work, adding a dead blow mallet is worth doing from the start.

A bezel mandrel is a tapered tool used to shape bezel cups around stones. Unlike a ring mandrel, which is round in cross-section, bezel mandrels come in different shapes including round, oval, hexagon, and square, to match different stone shapes. You push the bezel over the mandrel and use it as a forming surface to get the bezel to the right shape before setting the stone. We stock a round steel bezel mandrel, with other shapes available in the collection.

A wax ring mandrel is a plain wooden or resin mandrel used to support a wax ring tube while you carve your design. It gives you something to hold and rotate without touching the wax directly, which helps you work more precisely and avoid distorting the model with your fingers. The Jumbo Wax Ring Sizer Reamer in this collection serves a related purpose, letting you size and smooth the inside of a wax ring tube before carving the outside profile.

If you're making for yourself, you can measure your finger using a ring measuring stick or a set of ring sizers. If you're making for someone else, the most reliable approach is to measure their finger directly with a sizer rather than asking them to guess. Keep in mind that fingers change size across the day and in different temperatures, so measuring at different times gives you a more accurate result. Our Ring Measuring Stick and Finger Sizing Gauge Set covers both measurement methods.