Jewelry mandrel pliers and method of using same

A pair of mandrel pliers for forming a material during the manufacture of jewelry, the pair of mandrel pliers comprising:

• a first member forming a first handle, wherein the first member has a first proximate end and a first distal end;
• a second member forming a second handle, wherein the second member has a second proximate end and a second distal end, and wherein the first member and the second member are pivotably joined at a central connection point;
• a first mandrel jaw comprising a first mandrel body pivotably fastened to the first member at the first distal end, wherein the first mandrel body is slidably engaged with a second rivet passing through opposing sidewalls of the second member at a position between the second proximate end and the second distal end, and wherein the first mandrel jaw comprises a first set of prongs having at least two prongs;
• a second mandrel jaw comprising a second mandrel body pivotably fastened to the second member at the second distal end, and wherein the second mandrel body is slidably engaged with a first rivet passing through opposing sidewalls of the first member at a position between the first proximate end and the first distal end, and wherein the second mandrel jaw comprises a second set of prongs having at least one prong;
• a detent device engaged with the first mandrel jaw and the second mandrel jaw that controls the width of a gap between the first mandrel jaw and the second mandrel jaw when the mandrel pliers are in an open configuration;
• a detent device comprising an adjustment screw extending through a first aperture on the first mandrel jaw and a second aperture on the second mandrel jaw, wherein:
• the second aperture is threaded and the first aperture is a clearance hole;
• and
• the adjustment screw comprises a threaded distal end configured to fasten with the second aperture, and a proximal end configured to slide through the first aperture during a transition between the open configuration and a closed configuration;
• wherein the first mandrel jaw and the second mandrel jaw are maintained parallel to each other upon the application of a squeezing force to the first handle and the second handle.