View attachment 373459
PRO's:
1. It's nearly free
2. Easy to use if you have big hands and/or arthritis
3. Easy to count your turns because it's square instead of round. Count in quarter turns ie. 1,2,3-1. 1,2,3-2. 1,2,3-3 etc.
4. Provides better leverage because it's larger and has flat sides to grip.
5. Faster and more secure wire retainer than using your thumb or tape
6. No need to overwind then unwind starter coils because it winds the first turn at a perfect 90 degrees
7. Almost anyone can fabricate one with tools they already own.
8. coils are wound directly from the wire spool.
9. coils require no torching before install
CONs:
1. Will only accommodate two mandrel sizes ie. one size on each end of tool
2. Probably won't look as pretty as a pin vise.
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FABRCATION:
Super easy to make with a drill bit(mandrel), small #8 screw, cordless drill and a hacksaw if that's all you have. Even seen folks make one from 4-5" of broom handle.
Step 1: Grab a stick of wood about 3/4" square by 4-5" long (preferably hardwood).
Step 2: Shoot a drill bit (mandrel) into the end. Trick here is to drill out the hole except for the last 1/2"" of drilling depth.Then plunge the drill in the last 1/2" and loosen your drill chuck off the bit. That way the bit stays secure.
Step 3: Drill a .125" pilot hole for the #8 retainer screw but make sure it is offset from the center of the tool (as shown in pic) so it doesn't crash into your mandrel.
Step 4: follow instructions below for winding coils.
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DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
This DIY winder is designed to wind coils directly from a wire spool with no preheating, torching or annealing. It can be used with loose wire if you wrap the wire around your hand (ouch!) or hold it with pliers, vise grips or a vise.
1. Pull 2" of wire from spool. Place end of wire along side of and under (not around) the retainer screw head. Allow wire end to extend just past screw head. Not too far or you'll get poked! Tighten screw firmly to trap wire end.
2. Pull 6-8" wire from spool in the direction of mandrel. Now anchor "spool hand" against your side securely. "Spool hand" should remain in the anchored position during entire wrapping session.
3. Grasp tool in other hand "tool hand" and with tool parallel to wire begin tensioning wire from retainer screw, over end of tool and along side of mandrel.
4. To begin winding coil rotate tool perpendicular to wire from spool while holding tension. Then turn tool a 1/4 turn at a time, re-gripping tool as needed, while holding tension against "spool hand".
5. When winding is complete gently lay tool down and snip wire from spool.
6. To remove and straighten "retained leg" loosen screw. Place thumb on end of tool to hold leg, slide wire out from beneath screw and bend leg straight.
7. Slide your perfect coil off mandrel.
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ADDITIONAL:
SCREW WIND MOD: For those who would like to wind spaced coils on a screw:
Step 1: drill proper tap size pilot hole for desired screw size into end of winder.
Step 2: thread a nut onto the screw all the way up to the head of the screw.
Step 3: thread screw with nut on it into pilot hole at least 3/8" deep. No need to tap thread the hole as wood is soft enough to thread by only using the screw.
Step 4: cut the head of the screw off leaving the desired length of threads protruding from the tool. Use heavy side cutters or linemans pliers to cut screw. Attempting to saw the screw off will probably bend it.
Step 5: with a file angled at 45° gently file the end of the screw with a motion from the tool handle to the screw end to remove burrs and distortion caused by cutting off the screw head. Filing in any other direction can ruin the threading.
Step 6: unscrew the nut to the end of the screw to check for remaining burrs or distortion. Once the nut can removed and rethreaded without resistance you're ready to rock!
Happy winding
cig
PRO's:
1. It's nearly free
2. Easy to use if you have big hands and/or arthritis
3. Easy to count your turns because it's square instead of round. Count in quarter turns ie. 1,2,3-1. 1,2,3-2. 1,2,3-3 etc.
4. Provides better leverage because it's larger and has flat sides to grip.
5. Faster and more secure wire retainer than using your thumb or tape
6. No need to overwind then unwind starter coils because it winds the first turn at a perfect 90 degrees
7. Almost anyone can fabricate one with tools they already own.
8. coils are wound directly from the wire spool.
9. coils require no torching before install
CONs:
1. Will only accommodate two mandrel sizes ie. one size on each end of tool
2. Probably won't look as pretty as a pin vise.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
FABRCATION:
Super easy to make with a drill bit(mandrel), small #8 screw, cordless drill and a hacksaw if that's all you have. Even seen folks make one from 4-5" of broom handle.
Step 1: Grab a stick of wood about 3/4" square by 4-5" long (preferably hardwood).
Step 2: Shoot a drill bit (mandrel) into the end. Trick here is to drill out the hole except for the last 1/2"" of drilling depth.Then plunge the drill in the last 1/2" and loosen your drill chuck off the bit. That way the bit stays secure.
Step 3: Drill a .125" pilot hole for the #8 retainer screw but make sure it is offset from the center of the tool (as shown in pic) so it doesn't crash into your mandrel.
Step 4: follow instructions below for winding coils.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
This DIY winder is designed to wind coils directly from a wire spool with no preheating, torching or annealing. It can be used with loose wire if you wrap the wire around your hand (ouch!) or hold it with pliers, vise grips or a vise.
1. Pull 2" of wire from spool. Place end of wire along side of and under (not around) the retainer screw head. Allow wire end to extend just past screw head. Not too far or you'll get poked! Tighten screw firmly to trap wire end.
2. Pull 6-8" wire from spool in the direction of mandrel. Now anchor "spool hand" against your side securely. "Spool hand" should remain in the anchored position during entire wrapping session.
3. Grasp tool in other hand "tool hand" and with tool parallel to wire begin tensioning wire from retainer screw, over end of tool and along side of mandrel.
4. To begin winding coil rotate tool perpendicular to wire from spool while holding tension. Then turn tool a 1/4 turn at a time, re-gripping tool as needed, while holding tension against "spool hand".
5. When winding is complete gently lay tool down and snip wire from spool.
6. To remove and straighten "retained leg" loosen screw. Place thumb on end of tool to hold leg, slide wire out from beneath screw and bend leg straight.
7. Slide your perfect coil off mandrel.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
ADDITIONAL:
SCREW WIND MOD: For those who would like to wind spaced coils on a screw:
Step 1: drill proper tap size pilot hole for desired screw size into end of winder.
Step 2: thread a nut onto the screw all the way up to the head of the screw.
Step 3: thread screw with nut on it into pilot hole at least 3/8" deep. No need to tap thread the hole as wood is soft enough to thread by only using the screw.
Step 4: cut the head of the screw off leaving the desired length of threads protruding from the tool. Use heavy side cutters or linemans pliers to cut screw. Attempting to saw the screw off will probably bend it.
Step 5: with a file angled at 45° gently file the end of the screw with a motion from the tool handle to the screw end to remove burrs and distortion caused by cutting off the screw head. Filing in any other direction can ruin the threading.
Step 6: unscrew the nut to the end of the screw to check for remaining burrs or distortion. Once the nut can removed and rethreaded without resistance you're ready to rock!
Happy winding
cig
