ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (gfretwell), 32 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#3687 08/26/01 11:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 37
S
stan Offline OP
Member
i always have my 1 single employe pulling the romex off the 250ft rolls and its always looks like a spring when he runs the wire all twisted up i like the wire to lay as flat as a flitter. What i need is to build a homade spool that the romex will come off just by pulling does anyone have any ideas????

#3688 08/26/01 11:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
You could use a 24" round piece of plywood, drilled in the center with a coffee can or similar sized cylindrical object in the middle... The roll fits down onto the can and rests on the ply. Hang it from a rope in the center with some sort of thrust bearing to keep it from twisting... Wire Caddy! (you can buy Wire Caddy's too.)

Or just buy 1000' rolls, they come on a spool, but you knew that already...

You can also quote 110-12 and tell him it's a code violation (I love 110-12!)

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 08-26-2001).]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#3689 08/26/01 11:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 151
D
Member
We made two of the caddys that '66 described, except we used a lazy susan type ball bearing race between two layers of 1/2" plywood. The 3 lb coffee can holds staples, and the wire pulls off easily. We also built one with a 18" nipple out of 1" GRC in place of the coffee can for 1000 ft spools of NM. Use a pipe mount standard to screw the nipple to the plywood base. Makes it easier to transport and store.

#3690 08/26/01 11:47 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
Dallas

Cool! Does it still work without much sliding around when the rolls get emptier and lighter?

I had thought about that one, but felt a rope would keep an empty one put...

If it works well I'll switch!

With spools, I just use 3 16d nails at 30" high on studs and tap them around a 1/2" EMT axle... I do this near the panel and one location on each floor/area then switch spools as needed...

I buy all #12 and #14 in spools... only #10 and #6 in rolls...


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#3691 08/27/01 07:26 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,056
R
Member
NM dispensers are (were?) commercially available. I haven't seen one recently, but they are orange plastic with a flat round bottom and swivel.

#3692 08/27/01 06:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member
Quote
Originally posted by Redsy:
NM dispensers are (were?) commercially available.

We have one that is all steel. A turntable that sits on top of a mounting bracket that hangs from a 2x4 wall stud. We call it a "stud reeler". I don't know if that is the proper term or not.

GJ

#3693 08/27/01 09:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 60
S
Member
I have one of these, and it works really well It has a metal frame and two wheels like a clamshell made of plastic. You open the wheel drop in the wire and pull away, great for long runs. I purchased mine from the back of Electrical Contractor magazine. If I run acroos the add I'll post more.

A quick search of the net and I found this. http://mectool.com/prod01.htm

#3694 08/27/01 11:14 PM
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 38
B
Member
The way I build mine is with 3 2x4. ,you make a cross with 2 of the 2x4 around 18" long each.Then with the last 2x4 you run it upward with around a 26-28" piece.You run romex over the top piece from each direction and staple the wire under the bottom and on the side.At the top of the wire wheel you will need to put a small slice in the wire to run a bent nail with a hook in it faceing the top and what I use is a hanging bar with a washer under the romex at the top and the nail goes through the washer and the hanging bar then through the romex and the hook will always be on top and drive a staple in a closet door header or a window opening and pull wire.Usually takes me 10 minutes to make this helpful tool and beats the $100 bill for a good one it lasts a good 6 months depending on handle and care.

#3695 08/28/01 11:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 151
D
Member
'66,
It did occasionally at first, if the subfloor is extra dry and slick. But, we ran some short #10 screws through the plywood bottom to stop that. Right now, our biggest problem is stopping the reel after it gets going on long pulls. Once in a while, someone has to re-roll the spool some to keep it from binding between plywood pieces after a long pull.

We also stack 250' rolls on them for multiple homerun pulls to kitchens, etc.

The lazy susan races were about $20 for 3, I think from a homeowner store like Lowes or Home Depot, and the plywood was scrap.

Right after we built the first ones, I got a set of those "ad cards" from one of the contractor mags that had the commercially made metal wire caddys in it. Kinda like the idea of the "tub edge". One day we'll re-work ours to make them round, and mount a rim around it as well.

""NM dispensers are (were?) commercially available. I haven't seen one recently, but they are orange plastic with a flat round bottom and swivel.""

But, Redsy, what fun is that?

#3696 08/28/01 11:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 151
D
Member
Wahooo! I finally lost the "new guy" tag after my name. 'Bout time!

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5