Fig. 203. [↑]
A Large Reel. The two general plans given above are for comparatively small reels. [Fig. 203] shows a reel that winds in over four feet at a turn. It has but one bearing, being attached to the standard by a large bolt for an axle. It would be well to have a piece of pipe just large enough to allow the bolt to turn freely and just long enough to reach thru the wheel as a bushing, for this is much more like a wheel. The sides or flanges are made of two ply wood, in one-half of the thickness the grain runs one way and the other half at right angles to it, so that it prevents warping and is not liable to spit. There is no real drum, but small wooden rods, or slim bolts, hold the sides together, also apart, and are set about two inches in from the outside circumference. In the drawing, the wheel being 18” in diameter, the bolts or rods are in a circle 14” in diameter. The bolts or rods should be about eight in number. If wood rods, doweling, are used, they would be glued at both ends and no other posts would be necessary, but with the bolts, posts will be needed to prevent the sides from coming together. Four posts will be sufficient. No crank is necessary on this reel as a handle can be fastened to the side of one of the large discs. A brake can be attached underneath as in the last reel. The axle must be made very rigid in the standard as it has to support all the pull of the reel. This is a first class reel for fast work.
Fig. 204. [↑]
Fig. 205. [↑]
Discs can be obtained at some box factories for seven and ten cents apiece for sizes 15½” and 19½” in diameter, respectively. They are made of two ply wood and make good reels. A good way to get the holes opposite is to clamp the two discs together and bore all the holes thru both at the same time. Others make reels very much like our grandmothers’ yarn reels. Two arms are halved together and short cross-pieces are attached to the ends, [Fig. 204]. For speed they are made with long arms and take up a good length of string at a single turn.