Ian White GM3SEK wrote in news:U5VH68Pl733HFA
:

Owen Duffy wrote:
Ian White GM3SEK wrote in
:

Alternatively, wind the wire onto a mandrill.

Or would that be a mandrel?


I've seen both spellings recommended in print, but winding wire onto a
mandrill will be far more entertaining.

Ah, when popularity displaces correctness!

But, I can see the confusion when you place a mandrel into a drill to
wind the coil.

Or should it be a persondrel? Is PC still in vogue?

Owen

PS: my (rather old) Concise Oxford Dictionary thinks a mandrill is a
"Large fierce West African baboon", fierce I guess when bound with wire.
It hasn't caught up with the alternative use for mandrel, well not by
1979.