I've been working the last few days on a new spool rack for sectional warping on my loom. So far I have the frame all jointed with mortise and tenon and ready for glue up. A spool rack is a spool rack I suppose. This one will hold 144 - 3" spools and made of hard maple. It is 78" to the top of the cross member and the feet are 24" long by 5" wide and 1-1/4" thick for stability. I think it will have enough weight to stay put. I will begin tommorrow at cutting slits in the middle upright and holes on the outside uprights for dowel rod to the spools.

Picture is of the rack free standing with no glue up yet.

Might as well add a picture of my home made spools. I put this photo elsewhere, but might as well add it here to keep things together.

I've made 80 of these.

Happy weaving.

Comments

Mon, 01/28/2013 - 03:58

jennybellairs

Is it from your own plans?  What did you use for the hollow tube for your spools?  Are the ends wood or cardboard?

Jenny in Charlevoix the Beautiful

 

Mon, 01/28/2013 - 11:34

ReedGuy

3" long 5/8" dowel, bored out on a drill press. The ends are a type of hardboard with birch veneer on the outside. They are cut with a circle jig on the router. I've used this hardboard for dust panels between drawers or other furniture cavities.

These are my own plans as far as jointing and hieght goes. There are a number of racks with the same basic design out there. Even Ed Worst's plans from 100 years ago is similar, but only one section and not as tall. His used dowel joints.

Tue, 01/29/2013 - 22:13

ReedGuy

Cut the slots and drilled the holes for the dowels to sit and cut 48 feet of 3/8" dowel rod. All glued up, a waiting for it to set up. Just sat the spools in there for show.   



All ready for some Shellac tomorrow.

Someone told me I'd never use a dowel cutter, just a novelty item. Wrong!! I've cut close to 70 feet in this project alone.

Tue, 01/29/2013 - 21:52

Artistry

It's a beauty and will be functional as all get out. Like that is tall not wide!
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 21:58

Artistry

Well, let's put it this way, I like that it's taller than it's wide:)
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 22:15

ReedGuy

Yeah, and that's just 72 spools on there right now. :) I liked the idea of going up instead of out as well. Plus I have 10 foot ceilings so 6-1/2' is noth'n.

Tue, 01/29/2013 - 23:05

endorph

a beautiful and functional piece - your wood work is impressive!
Wed, 01/30/2013 - 00:20

ReedGuy

Thanks ladies. I hope to put it to use when I get my sectional beams on the loom..........and some new yarn. :)

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 17:04

fibrefare

Your workshop must be full of goodies!

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 17:13

ThreadseM (not verified)

I only have enough woodworking skills to do minor repairs.  Inherited most of my Dad's tools, and the two tools I kept that I doubted I would use are a dowel cutter and a hole saw attachment for a drill.  Now, I wouldn't even think of getting rid of either.  So much for novelty, right?!

Love the rack and spools.

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 19:14

ReedGuy

You can be sure that any tools I purchase will be used. I can't afford to buy them on whim and fancy and takes years to accumulate. :)

I just applied the second coat of Shellac a few minutes ago. With the choice of joinery, it's just as if it grew out of the tree this way, solid and sturdy. I will apply some linseed/turpentine mix to the dowel rod tomorrow. Spools will be left bare.

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 20:05

Sara von Tresckow

Hope you've got a professional quality winder and measuring gauge.

To work properly, all of those spools need to be filled evenly - and end as close to the wound quantity as possible to avoid waste.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 22:46

sandra.eberhar…

Very nice work!  I have found that it's nice to have a brake on those spools (I love your spools; mine are cardboard and apparently beef flavored, my dogs have eaten several), I added bungee cords to mine.

Sun, 02/03/2013 - 00:02

ReedGuy

Do you mean wrapping it around the frame of the rack and touch on the tips of the spools?

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 22:55

sandra.eberhar…

Yes, I stapled lengths of very light bungee cord to touch the edges of the spools.  My rack is much more primitive in construction than yours, so stapling cords to it was in keeping with the appearance.  

Mon, 02/04/2013 - 23:29

ReedGuy

:D Thanks for the laugh.   We need smilies. :)