I have been looking for a ball winder to wind center-pull balls of yarn. After reading many reviews of commercially made winders, it seems that all of them have something wrong with them. So I decided to make my own. It is not perfect, but I made it all by myself! This Ball Winder can wind 100 grams of yarn easily, and I was able to double up and wind two 100 gram balls together as well!!
This instructable may look long, but you could make it in a few hours.
I didn't feel like working in the workshop so I designed this so you don't have to use any power tools or hand tools that would make a mess.
Most of the items I had on hand. I just bought the lazy susan bearing ($2.19) and the tubes of silicone (~$7.00 each), and the binding post (~$1.00).
Using a Yarn Swift with the Ball Winder is a good idea. I made a swift out of wire hangers, a wine bottle, duct tape, and a box to stabilize the bottle. It is a modified version of the Yarn Swift at http://aemmeleia.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/diy-yarn-swift-desparate-measures/. I used 6 hangers instead of 4 and put the bottle in a box. Didn't cost anything!
This instructable may look long, but you could make it in a few hours.
I didn't feel like working in the workshop so I designed this so you don't have to use any power tools or hand tools that would make a mess.
Most of the items I had on hand. I just bought the lazy susan bearing ($2.19) and the tubes of silicone (~$7.00 each), and the binding post (~$1.00).
Using a Yarn Swift with the Ball Winder is a good idea. I made a swift out of wire hangers, a wine bottle, duct tape, and a box to stabilize the bottle. It is a modified version of the Yarn Swift at http://aemmeleia.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/diy-yarn-swift-desparate-measures/. I used 6 hangers instead of 4 and put the bottle in a box. Didn't cost anything!
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: DEMONSTRATION VIDEO
The beginning shows the parts of the ball winder and yarn swift and the end shows how to use it. It might help as you go through the steps.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
Very good - any possibility of a video?
L
Thanks (RealPlayer didn't like it, but I had a go)
L
I did one of these winders many years ago (1959-1960), copying the design of a commercial. It was a little simpler, but it worked very well.
It had a main axis ending in a small cone at the tip. Revolved around this axis had an arm holding the reel, tilted. The reel had a rubber ring that rested against the little main cone. Manually turning a crank, that rotated the reel support. For every turn that this was, winding the yarn at an angle, slightly rotated its position so that the next turn was adjacent to the first. The result was a winding perfectly cylindrical.
I think I have it still in the attic, would have to scramble a bit to find it.
please do look for it when you have the time. I love to see how things work! I have my great-uncle's old eggbeater hand drill and am trying to replicate the gear work hobby shop parts...
Thank you for being so patient.