I'm probably just late getting there, as usual, but I thought I'd share this handy little utensil. A few weeks ago, I was poking around a booth at the Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show. Along with a couple other things I was looking for, I came across this mandrel. I have been looking for one of these things for more than a year since seeing one in a beading book. I searched every bead and craft store in town and even looked for one on Etsy, but had no luck. I wasn't even really positive what to call it.
As you can see, there are different shapes and sizes on it for your wire-wrapping and shaping needs. I was not aware of the fact that Fiskars makes craft tools, but apparently, they make several. I have always like their gardening tools. Anyway, according to their website, you can make 4 shapes in 23 sizes with this little guy. I bought it mainly for one task: handmade earwires! It's a heck of a lot easier to get the smaller curves with this than with the large knitting needle I had been using. So now I can easily make the larger, round style of wires or the smaller hook styles with one tool. I won't have to buy a stock of different sized knitting needles or wonder where my husband stashed my earwire-making-pen anymore. I think it was $6 well-spent. Below are a couple versions of earwires I've made using said wire mandrel.
