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Cable unwinder, 250 ft

sberry

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Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
They must make a spool tool for this. I get in a hurry and unwinding it soon goes by the wayside. I see some of the combed look here, it really helps to take it off in a spool fashion.
 
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Innovate1

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Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
4,289
Location
Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri
What sort of cable are you talking about, Romex?

When wiring the house I made spools out of some scrap osb and 2x4s. Good to have several for runs of multiple cables.

Cut four 2 x 4s just slightly longer than the width of the wire coil. Cut some osb disks slightly larger than the coil with a hole in the center big enough for a scrap of conduit or steel pipe. Use the 2 x 4 chunks to form the inside of the spool - I put some screws through the osb into the end of the 2x4s. Once assembled you can just take off one side and align by eye before attaching the side again.

Easy to change the size for spools of wire, plumbing tubing, or what have you. Did the same for rolls of PEX for the floor heat.
 

rlitman

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Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,629
Location
Long Island
The combed look is OCD ****, but is also stupid. Pull the Romex wire out of the center of the 250' loop, and it will naturally twist. Embrace the twist. Twist is good, as it reduces 60hz interference.
 

Zeke

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Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
These are by far the best I've used:

415d-768x1076.jpg
 

sparky 1971

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Oct 9, 2018
Messages
7,975
Location
Central Iowa
I have a few of the Carlon WK7203's. They work good, but....a modification has to be made. I put a hose clamp around the top of each to keep the vertical arms locked in. Before that, every other time I picked it up, it fell apart. They work like a dream now.
 
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Marctrees

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Joined
Mar 5, 2015
Messages
6,265
Location
TX/LA border - Toledo Bend
I have two heavy 3/4 plywood squares like 20" square sandwiching a lazy susan bearing about 10" dia.

Three big spike screws in center slightly smaller than 250 nmb roll ID.

Carefully open roll from plastic, carefully lay on ply, grab outside tail and evenly pull while walking ** holding the tail down low **

Walk off a bunch extra, then work from the rolled off nice and straight wire.

Works great and cheap.

Marc
 
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sberry

Banned
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
I was going to come up with something from bucket lids. A hub from alum tubing, got it in 4, 5 and 6 inch. It would make the stapling a bit easier, look a little neater. Some easier thru holes.
 
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