Here is an effective mandrel for turning the outside contours of bracelets. You’ll need an arbor (made for using buffing and grinding wheels on the lathe), a rubber stopper and a small piece of 1/4-in. thick plywood. Turn the rubber stopper to a 5/16-in. thick, 2-5/8-in. wide disc. This diameter works well for bracelets, which usually range from 2-5/8 in. to 2-3/4 in. inside diameter. Turn also two 1/4-in. plywood discs one to a diameter of 3 in., the other to 2-1/2 in. Assemble the mandrel with the arbor’s steel washers to the outside and the rubber disc sandwiched between the plywood discs as shown.

To use the mandrel, cut the inside of the bracelet blank with a circle cutter, bandsaw the outside to rough shape and slip the blank over the rubber disc. Now tighten the nut. The rubber will expand uniformly to exert enough pressure to hold the bracelet. Turn one side of the outside contour, then reverse the blank and turn the other face.

This method could be adapted to napkin rings and other ring-shaped objects by sizing the rubber and plywood discs to the project.

Max M. Kline, Saluda, N.C.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, June 1981 No. 28

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