If you happen to have a bulk spool of th read and a stand alone tension device, and don't want to respool thread to a smaller spool, the following thread stand is a nice thing to use to hold the thread and allow the thread to spool nicely off of th e top of the spool:

[www.allstitch.net]

I had run out of thread a while ago, purchased a bulk spool of thread and had respooled a small spool to fit on my tension rack.
When the small spool went empty again, I happened to glance up and I noticed that I had this thread stand sitting on the back of my bench.

I also do custom sewing and I had picked up a few of these thread stands to go with one of my machines.

I put it to work and it works fine to direct the thread off of the spool, and into my thread tension device that I use for wrapping.

Obviously, if you use a spool mounted thread tension device, this would not be useful for you.

But the nice thing about using this device, for that color that you use all of the time for the bulk of your wraps, you don't have to respool your thread, and it may reduce line twist.

One other thing about my wrapping setup, is that I tend to leave my thread and tools stationary, and I move the rod past my wrapping station, rather than moving my self, tools and thread up and down the rod.
If you moved up and down the rod, and if you wanted to use such a thread stand, you would want to mount an extension on your tension device, so that the thread would easily move with the tension device.

------------
Incidentally, it might make an interesting test to
a. spool thread off of the top of the bulk spool using the afore mentioned thread stand to respool the thread onto a smaller spool for mounting on a thread tension stand, and to
b. spool thread off of the side of the bulk spool using a simple rod to contain the bulk spool.

Then, use the refilled small spool to wrap a bunch of rods. When doing the wrapping, make note of whether you experience more or less line twists by respooling off of the top of the bulk spool, or respooling off of the side of the spool.
I would be inclined to think that one would get fewer twists if one respooled off of the side of the bulk spool, but I won't know for sure unless I test the thread after doing it both ways.

Take care
Roger



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2011 09:29AM by roger wilson.

Nice idea Roger. Wish i had the space to move my rod up and down rather than me and my spools of thread. But an up to 9 ft rod would need more than a 13 ft long wrapping room. I even have to flip my rods end over end often during wraps.

Lou, why do you have to flip the rod over?

Billy, because the one side of my winding area/room also contains my desk with the computer and a 5 drawer file cabinet (UPS power dictates this) . The rod can get in there but not me: I am 6 ft 3 and 230 lbs and do not get into small spaces very well. The end of teh rod is in a sort of panhandle if that is a better explanation?
So i normally place the butt that end but when i have thread work to do at the end of a 9 ft sea rod, it needs to get turned.
I laid my room out when 90% of what i made was travel rods and the pieces were no longer than 3 ft each!
I am just glad its indoors, until beginning of last year it was all in the garage. mama is now more tolerant of the stuff in the house:)