I'd like something that can hold half dozen rolls of wire, and grip the ends so I can easily grab and pull however much I want, like a packing tape dispenser. I also worry about the spools coming undone. Most of what I see is just a rod that goes through the spools, with no particular guide or control for the wire feed. Am I imagining a product that doesn't really exist?
Dispensers are common for very large wire spools, but not so much for small ones.
You could make something yourself, to go with a standard wire rack.
Some of the few for smaller wires: harbor freight 400 ft wire storehouse 61527
https://www.amazon.com/Fermerry-Stranded-Flexible-Silicone-Electrical/dp/B089CW7YSR
You could make something yourself, to go with a standard wire rack.
Some of the few for smaller wires: harbor freight 400 ft wire storehouse 61527
https://www.amazon.com/Fermerry-Stranded-Flexible-Silicone-Electrical/dp/B089CW7YSR
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I keep mine in clear plastic bags sorted by gauge, easy enough to keep all together in one plastic shopping bag, I only buy 5-10m at a time so it does not come on reels. For reels use a threaded rod and secure on the ends
@SoaDMTGguy , it weems to me the feature you're looking for is a mechanical one-way "valve". It allows the wire to be pulled out, but prevents it from being rolled back onto the spool.
no?
Kind regards,
Drew
no?
Kind regards,
Drew
Yes, some resistance or spring-load on the spool would be good, to keep the wire snuggly rolled up.
https://www.wurthusa.com/Shop-Suppl...Dispenser-For-Organizational-System/p/0956109
This seems pretty close. I wish they had a better picture. Or a description.
This seems pretty close. I wish they had a better picture. Or a description.
Looks reasonable if it holds enough spools for you. A bit expensive for a hobby, but not too bad.
Make something using 1 way bearings and add some pre-load so that have some resistance to rolling. Some are quite 'tight' naturally.
the solder dispenser above was meant to illustrate a way of holding the wire in place so it doesn't "roll back" when you let go
The problem I’ve found with putting them all one next to another on a common rod is that when the spool rims touch, as you pull from one, it tends to turn the ones next to it as well, causing them to unspool or at least loosen. Something with fixed dividers between each would prevent that. All that said, I haven’t gotten ambitious enough to build such a holder so tend to keep the spools on a box sequestered by gauge/type, and put them back after getting what I need. Small gauge with thin insulation I secure by doubling back and looping through the last turn; thicker I twist a rubber band around the end then stretch the big loop around the spool.
-Pat
-Pat
I like the look of that Wurth unit but replacing individual spools on a common axle with some manor of clutch involved may be a minor pain.
Turn each spool 90°, with rails along each end, a small bolt for each individual axle, a pair of fender washers and a cork (or other) disk to act as a clutch would be easy in that regard. I'm imaging slots to receive the axle to avoid threading it all together in place.
Turn each spool 90°, with rails along each end, a small bolt for each individual axle, a pair of fender washers and a cork (or other) disk to act as a clutch would be easy in that regard. I'm imaging slots to receive the axle to avoid threading it all together in place.
