Thanks!
i realy like the spacer idea, i might try that out next time
the rings have a 1/4" Inner diameter.
to get the surface area i used "Ultimate Maille Calculator 2.0"
which is a program which is realy usefull for people like me
you can download it here
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/cschwar4/shared/UMCv2.exe
but the SA that the calculator gave me was not 100% acurate because i input the mandrell size and not the real inner diameter of the rings
"The Inner Diameter, more often than not, is larger than the diameter of your mandrel, due to springback of the metal. Copper for example has less springback than stainless steel, so copper rings and stainless steel rings wound on the same mandrel will not be the same size - the stainless steel rings will be larger."
sorry... im blabbering on about chainmaille on an anodizing forum
thanks again
andrew.