A mandrel for use in a strander assembly includes a mandrel body having a forward radiused end and an axial cable core receiving passageway extending from a rearward to a forward end of the mandrel body. A cable core is routed through the mandrel body and one or more strands are positioned to converge on the mandrel radiused end. The strands engage the mandrel radiused end at a common approach angle and follow the radius of the mandrel forward end to intersect the cable core. Rotation of the strands relative to the cable core wraps the strands about the cable core, resulting in a finished wound cable construction.