How Do I Make a Yarn Winder From a Fishing Rod?

YARN BASKET image by brelsbil from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

If you have some old fishing rods sitting about collecting dust and your significant other happens to knit or weave, turn those old poles into a yarn ball winder. The winder can also be used to spool and ball up fishing line or fly fishing backer. With a few minutes of time, some tape and a power drill, you have all that is needed to fashion a homemade spinning winder.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Discarded fishing pole or pole blanks
Small hobby saw
Duct tape
Power drill
Scissors

Step 1

Pull the fishing rod apart, getting a mid-size rod blank. Remove the fishing guides from the pole (the metal circles that guide the fishing line across the pole). If you have a solid pole, use the hobby saw to cut down the length of pole desired for the winder. Insert the wide end of the pole blank into the drill chuck and tighten it down like you would with any drill bit.

Step 2

Pull off a 2-inch piece of duct tape from the roll and set one end on a table or hard surface so it remains still, but not completely stuck to the surface.

Step 3

Pull a length of yarn you wish to wind. Spool and wrap it around the middle of the rod coming out from the drill. Pick up the duct tape and secure the yarn onto the pole by wrapping the tape around the rod twice, with the yarn under the tape.

Step 4

Set the drill to turn clockwise. Slowly begin to pull on the power drill trigger so the mechanism spins, causing the rod blank to spin with the yarn spooling around the blank.

Step 5

Continue to turn the drill until you have the desired size spool or ball of yarn. Cut the yarn off and tie it to the ball or secure so it will not unravel.

Article Written By Eric Cedric

A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.

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