Coil-me-up.

June 26, 2009 9:25 PM

Does this cable wind-up tool exist? And where can I buy one?

I asked a question a while back about winding up cable. TomMelee provided this helpful comment but I was unable to locate anything that matches this description:

Have you tried looking for one of the wire-wrappers as seen in Lowes/Home Despot? They're generally blue, have a center depression and "wings" on the sides. You start your cable in, flop up the wings, wind wind wind, then flop the wings down and slide the cable off.

Just one problem: nobody at any hardware store I've been to has heard of these devices being sold there. I got a few "that would be useful! but no, sorry, we don't sell those" responses and I can't find anything like it online (that cost less than $700, anyway).

So before I go and build one (a hinge-winged cylinder on a bearing on a stand), do they exist in the wild?

posted by ostranenie to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

What kind of cable are you winding up? There's self-winding cable doohickys -- but this ethernet cable one seems to be a unit in and of itself. This one seems to be more adaptable to different cords...

This is way too big huh?
posted by not_on_display at 10:06 PM on June 26, 2009

How about this?
posted by spasm at 10:07 PM on June 26, 2009

Best answer: This is motorized and handheld and costs about $110, but I don't know if it will handle cable of the gauge and length you're working with.
posted by Knappster at 10:22 PM on June 26, 2009

The only place I see these is in places such as Home Depot where they sell wire and cable. They are a retail or supplier fixture but work exactly as you describe: wind the cable on and then snap down the two "ears" and slide the spooled cable off.

Probably expensive as they are solidly built industrial fixtures.
posted by bz at 10:28 PM on June 26, 2009

Try searching with terms like cable coiler, coiler reel, or cable winder at some places like McMaster-Carr. I know such things exist.
posted by paulg at 12:50 PM on June 27, 2009