Hello, I have a Renzetti from the early 90s. There is a carriage which is not mobile that looks like it is designed to hold thread. It has a pivoting arm just like the regular thread carriage, space for one spool, and a set of cupped washers that have a spring and are adjustable. Looks like the thread or cord may go through these. Anyone have an idea of what this is?

Renzetti built a 2-spool carriage for quick thread changing and used the cup washers for thread tension, but I don't think this is what you have. In fact, I'd wager that whatever you have there is a home-made contraption of some sort. Do you have a photo?

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Hello Tom,
I have been unable to navigate the photo page. When I attempt to register it tells me my email is already in the database. Then when I click on forgot password it tells me my email is not in the database.
Anyway what you describe is likely it. It looks like it came from the factory. It has nonthreaded rods for spool supports on either side. Pigtails for running the thread, a “crane arm” that moves up and down for adjustment, and a knob for locking it in place on the rail

Since I can’t figure out how to post photos, I sent a picture to your email



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2021 11:58AM by roger gleason.

As Mr. Kirkman said, take a picture and post it so we can see what it is.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

[www.rodbuilding.org]

The pictures posted above illustrate the single thread tensioner and thread holder that I first built and then continued to use over the years to build hundreds of rods.

A post to hold a thread spool, a like guide to change thread direction. An adjustable board to carry the thread to be above the rod and a spring thread tension device to tension the thread. The thread holder slides along the rod building bench, against the back side of the wrapper and it simply works very well. The base is made of nylon which slides well and the bench top is a formica counter top which is equally smooth and functions well for a rod building bench.

It sounds like the thread holder that you mention is very similar to this one that I built when I first starting building rods a long time ago.

I have never found a reason to have more than one spool of thread on the thread carriage, and I don't care for the thread tensioners that tension the spool of thread.

However, I do NOT use metallic thread with this thread carriage. The tensioner has issues handling metallic thread. However, John Cates sent me a pair of teflon pads to be on each side of the thread betweeen the tensioning disks that do take care of the use of metallic thread with this style thread tensioner.

Millions or billions of pieces of textiles are sewn and or embroidered every single day of the year that use thread tension devices that are identical in design to the spring tension devices shown above. As a result, I certainly have no problem using such a well proven design to tension the thread that I use for rod building to tension the thread.

Thanks Roger, what I have works on the same concept of what you have posted. The Teflon discs are a good idea. If I ever use it I will try to source some of these, cause I do use metallic thread frequently

You just slide the base along the rail. You would not lock it in place while using it to wrap.

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