Empty Spool Refill Machine....

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Hey guys,This post is for those of you who have or use a spoolgun, or want to rewind their empty spools. I have (2) spoolguns and I go thru a lot of 2# spools of steel & AL each month. This winder is made from a Star M-200 Window Shade Cutter that I picked up at a hardware store auction for $10. I had to remove all the elaborate attachments and make a shaft with threaded end to mount the empty spools. The thru-shaft is a piece of 1 1/2" tube with a length of 3/4" allthread welded to it. The nice feature of this unit is the power available with the cog belt and rpm reduction to approx. 650rpm. When winding, I simply guide the wire with my finger & thumb while holding a piece of scotchbrite to de-oxidize the wire while winding. I also have a rheostat to reduce the rpm to approx. 350rpm.There will be (11) photos, so it will take 3 posts to complete and provide an explanation for each photo. Please allow me to post all 3 parts before responding. Thanks....DennyPhoto 1)... Spool winder with base plate of 24" X21 1/2" X 1/8" with (5) 3 1/2" legs for support & stability. Large spool holder is made from (2) pcs. 1 1/2" sq. tubing with 2" cut on the diagonal & facing each other to hold reel tube.Going to next post..... Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:2nd Group...Photo 2)... 1 1/2" thru shaft assem.        3)... Install empty spool.        4)... Loaded 44# spool of .030 ER70S-6.        5)... 8 turns of wire started to keep wire from slipping while winding.        6)... Spool is 3/4 filled...notice the on/off switch is the silver sleeve with hex bolt on the frame. The switch was a button originally that I had to modify to be able to turn on/off by simply rotating hex bolt.Going to next post...... Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:3rd Group...Photo 7)... Spool is full.... Better pic of the on/off switch.         8)... Wire cut & tied off.....WARNING!!!!! Be sure to have hold of both ends of the wire securely when cutting...OR ELSE!!!!! You know what......         9)... Spool tagged with size & grade.        10)... Both steel & AL spools are refilled.        11)... My spool rack. Each rewound spool is put in a ziploc sandwich bag to keep clean.Anyway, I hope this may give a few of you an idea to make a winder if you use a lot of 2# spools or 11# spools as I can do both with this unit. The cost of the large spools, 33/44# is quite cost effective and makes it fairly inexpensive to wind your own spools. Hope this helps you....Denny Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:I guess I would label your winder, "Homemade & Handy."  Ingenious design.  I take it that there are no worries when the spool is unwound, not having the wire laid along in a neat row?WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:very nice design. it seems as though you have put a lot of thinking into it. i don't think i coudl have come up with a better design for the cost involved. is there really much of a cost savings to doing this (buying the wire in the larger bulk spools) or is it merely a convenience issue (not having to run to the LWS to get more small spools)?later,Andy
Reply:What a great Idea !   This is the reason that I read the posts every day.  I bought a "Seal a Meal" vacuum bagger 5 or 6 years ago and use it to vacuum seal my spools of MIG wire along with the bag of desiccant.  No moisture = No rust.Again,  Great idea,Mike
Reply:Hey yorkiepap,Thanks by your post.  It is exactly what I need to do, therefore as I comment in another link, where I live  they sell large spools that do not fit in my millermatic 180.  Again thanks by the idea, I expect not to bother you that copy it.  I have a question. How do you maintain the tension of the wire?Diego BelloMillerMatic 180 Im just learning how to weld!  Bogota, Colombia. South America
Reply:that´s a great machine man!what a nice design...!good luck with it!My Babies: HF Drill pressHF Pipe Bender3   4.5" Black and Decker angle grindersLincoln Electric PROMIG 175that´s it!