wide band ring sizing troubles

[Dennis]

For bending, I use a ring bending tool as below, with a strip of leather inserted to protect the outer surface from marks (fiddly but important). It will bend thick metal with little effort and also serve to press the ends together.
Tools n Tools have some moderately priced ones made in India.
When bending short pieces of stout wire, remember to bend both ends first and then the middle.

I aim to have the ring approximately one English size too small, and then gently stretch it to size with my ring stretcher. No bashing and no damage. Dennis