collar mandrels

[medusa]

I'm at the point where I'm stepping up my designs a bit and really need to get a collar mandrel. However the ones I've seen are not suitable as I get requests for collars ranging from 12 to 18 inches in circumference. What I need is something like a bangle mandrel but bigger. These don't seem to exist however so I thought that maybe I could commission a wood turner to make one from wood. My questions are:

1) would wood stand up to forming silver on it? I'm assuming a hardwood maybe like African Blackwood but obviously a cheaper wood such as oak would be preferable cost wise.
2) if it would, given that I really need to be able to make sizes up to about 18 inches, I'm guessing that the wood would need to be glued together to make the size up, maybe like this? http://www.maxkrimmel.com/WoodTurnin...Lrg/wedges.jpg Has anyone ever worked on a mandrel of any kind glued up and turned like this?
3) if wood is not a good idea, does anyone have any other suggestions? I have looked for metal workers but no one I've found so far has the equipment to make what I need.

[SteveLAO]

I've seen them made in metal from my time in jewellery workshops in the west end, so they definitely do exist! You might want to get in touch with a guy called Peter Taylor at the Goldsmiths Centre? his email is Peter.Taylor@goldsmiths-centre.org He is in charge there and if he doesn't know I'm sure he'll know someone who can point you in the right direction.

[medusa]

Cheers Steve!

The only metal ones I've found thus far are this kind: http://www.manchesterminerals.co.uk/acatalog/92-104.jpg or here: http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery...rcode-999-1017 but both versions don't do the size ranges I need. I have to get this organised because I've turned down many potential commissions for this kind of collar.

[Goldsmith]

Hi Liz, if you wnat to get some hardwood mandrels, what you need are called bowl blanks that are sold by woodturner supplies, I have a stock of them that I have used for shaping items in the past. I also have a large tapering steel mandrel which I bought from a silversmith. Check out this supplier and get some hardwood bowl blanks of various sizes, see; http://www.stilesandbates.co.uk/brow...on/261/level/3 - http://www.stilesandbates.co.uk/prod...9/sn/BUBBB_MST these hardwood discs come in all sizes, one 6 inch diam x 3 inch thick costs £7.40. and is large enough for 18 inch circumference. It's a pity you don't live closer as I have loads of stuff in my workshop doing nothing.

James

[medusa]

It's a pity you don't live closer as I have loads of stuff in my workshop doing nothing.

James

ahhhh silver tongued devil!

I honestly hadn't thought of getting individual sized blanks. I was actually looking at this site just before making my post. If they are just a couple of inches high, will they be harder to form the metal on than if they are larger and maybe clamped into a vise?

[Goldsmith]

ahhhh silver tongued devil!

I honestly hadn't thought of getting individual sized blanks. I was actually looking at this site just before making my post. If they are just a couple of inches high, will they be harder to form the metal on than if they are larger and maybe clamped into a vise?

In the past I have used these types of wood pieces to shape my fittings on the table centres, I have a few large steel bolts that are about three quarters of an inch thick, and I drill a hole in the centre of the wooden shapes and screw the bolt in their centres, which enable me to grip the bolt and the wooden shape in a vice. If you could find a woodturner near you, they could glue a few of those bowl blanks together and turn them into a good size cone for shaping neckbands on. Take a look at this website, I am sure that they could make something for you or let you know of anyone locally who would turn what you want, it's an easy job for someone with the right tools. see; http://www.cornishwoodturning.co.uk/
or there is this guy in Hayle; http://www.woodturners-retreat.co.uk/

James
James

[Ada]

In the past I have used these types of wood pieces to shape my fittings on the table centres, I have a few large steel bolts that are about three quarters of an inch thick, and I drill a hole in the centre of the wooden shapes and screw the bolt in their centres, which enable me to grip the bolt and the wooden shape in a vice.

This is really interesting, but try as I might I cannot visualise this. Do you perhaps have any photos showing how you set this up James?

Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and for all those links you provide to suppliers/contacts.

[Tabby66]

Hi Liz, if you wnat to get some hardwood mandrels, what you need are called bowl blanks that are sold by woodturner supplies, I have a stock of them that I have used for shaping items in the past. I also have a large tapering steel mandrel which I bought from a silversmith. Check out this supplier and get some hardwood bowl blanks of various sizes, see; http://www.stilesandbates.co.uk/brow...on/261/level/3 - http://www.stilesandbates.co.uk/prod...9/sn/BUBBB_MST these hardwood discs come in all sizes, one 6 inch diam x 3 inch thick costs £7.40. and is large enough for 18 inch circumference. It's a pity you don't live closer as I have loads of stuff in my workshop doing nothing.

James

Those look fantastic James, ideal and a reasonable price, thank you for the link!!

[Goldsmith]

I was checking my records and if possible one of the best timbers for making wood mandrels out of is Lignum Vitae.
Also I found this supplier who may stock deeper bowl blanks, see; http://www.peterchild.co.uk/wood.htm

James

[Goldsmith]

Ada asked for photos, well I sorted through some of my boxes and found this turned hardwood mandrel, I had it turned by a friend, egg shape for a large job I was making. This is made from some hardwood bowl blanks glued together, then turned to shape and I got the wood turner to drill a central hole for me to screw the threaded bolt into the block. This wooden shaping block is 6 inches diameter and 8 inches in length. That is a foot rule in the photos.



James