Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => General Questions and Trouble Shooting => Topic started by: USN_ED on September 11, 2016, 06:44:17 PM

Title: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: USN_ED on September 11, 2016, 06:44:17 PM
Two questions:

1.  For you guys and gals that spool braid/spectra and then a mono top-shot on top of the braid/spectra, do you use any kind of backing between the spool and the braid/spectra?

2.  I've seen some say that using straight mono puts too much pressure on the spool arbor. I've always used straight mono with no backing with no problems.  Should I be using a backing between the spool arbor and the mono.

 
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Bryan Young on September 11, 2016, 07:19:12 PM
Alan recently did a write up but I just cannot find the link.

I don't use any backing when spooling braid the add a top shot.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on September 12, 2016, 09:18:24 AM
The most important thing with braid is to spool it on tight. I use a powered spooler which applies 10lb of drag to the line.
I take the empty spool - apply a couple of wraps of easy-fuse tape - then tie on the braid with a 3 turn arbor knot (leaving a tag the width of the spool).
Then hit the power switch and wind-up the speed - guiding the line on nice and even. Right hand for speed control - the left holds a broken rod top with tip-top (the level wind).
I see no advantage to using mono under braid. Solid braid is pretty cheap these days :)
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Keta on September 12, 2016, 10:59:59 AM
I either put Vet Wrap (sometimes sold as Flex Wrap) on the spool or splice in a short section of Dacron lie to tie to the spool.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Rivverrat on September 12, 2016, 04:00:39 PM
Regarding your second question using mono for backing.  I agree, in light of other methods that can be used I fail to see any merit using mono for backing. Waxing the spool to guard against corrosion & applying the tape Lee speaks of is the most used & time honored accepted method.  
Unlike braid mono stretches a lot. A few years back it was not a good idea to fully spool a reel under a great amount of pressure with mono.
Because of the stretch in mono it stores energy, with each wrap on the spool multiplying this twisting force. This force could be great enough to warp a spool. I cannot understand nor do I believe using mono for backing could do this.... With reels that have knurling on the spool I've got good results with no backing or tape using a uni or SanDiego jam knot leaving a long tag end that's laid flat on the spool & wrapping my braid over the tag. While using it fishing up to 25 lbs. of drag....Jeff
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: alantani on September 12, 2016, 05:24:14 PM
since i started spooling so much line, i've started a routine that i hope will start to catch on.  

the first thing i do is peel off all the line, as well as the old tape.  i've found corrosion under tape!!!!!

with the reel being wound at high speed, i use an old greasy tooth brush to scrub the spool.  sometimes the corrosion is so bad that i have to use a scotch brite pad or even the blade of a swiss army knife to remove the corrosion.  once the spool is as clean and smooth as possible, i use an old rag to remove the excess grease.  i've chosen grease because it will not harm the mono or spectra and the corrosion inhibiting properties are far better than car wax.  

now for a double layer of flex wrap.

the bulk spool of line is next.  for straight mono, i figure out what the anticipated drag setting will be and set the tension to 10 to 20% of that drag setting, so 30 pound mono will be fished with 10 pounds of drag, so the bulk spool will be set to 1-2 pound of tension.  

for spectra, the bulk spool is set to 50 to 75% of the anticipated drag range, so 80 pound spectra might be fished with a 60 pound topshot and a 33% setting of 20 pounds of drag, so the bulk spool tension would be set to 10 to 15 pounds of tension.  

now it's 6 times around the arbor and a 6 turn uni knot and wind away!  

so the problem is that there are likely only two winders north of los angeles that are capable of delivering more than 10, 15 or 20 pounds of tension off the bulk spool in a buttery smooth fashion.  much less being able to crank a reel against that 10, 15 or 20 pound load.  i have one, jim nomura has the other.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: swill88 on September 12, 2016, 06:07:55 PM
Quote from: alantani on September 12, 2016, 05:24:14 PM
since i started spooling so much line, i've started a routine that i hope will start to catch on.  

the first thing i do is peel off all the line, as well as the old tape.  i've found corrosion under tape!!!!!

with the reel being wound at high speed, i use an old greasy tooth brush to scrub the spool.  sometimes the corrosion is so bad that i have to use a scotch brite pad or even the blade of a swiss army knife to remove the corrosion.  once the spool is as clean and smooth as possible, i use an old rag to remove the excess grease.  i've chosen grease because it will not harm the mono or spectra and the corrosion inhibiting properties are far better than car wax.  

now for a double layer of flex wrap.

the bulk spool of line is next.  for straight mono, i figure out what the anticipated drag setting will be and set the tension to 10 to 20% of that drag setting, so 30 pound mono will be fished with 10 pounds of drag, so the bulk spool will be set to 1-2 pound of tension.  

for spectra, the bulk spool is set to 50 to 75% of the anticipated drag range, so 80 pound spectra might be fished with a 60 pound topshot and a 33% setting of 20 pounds of drag, so the bulk spool tension would be set to 10 to 15 pounds of tension.  

now it's 6 times around the arbor and a 6 turn uni knot and wind away!  

so the problem is that there are likely only two winders north of los angeles that are capable of delivering more than 10, 15 or 20 pounds of tension off the bulk spool in a buttery smooth fashion.  much less being able to crank a reel against that 10, 15 or 20 pound load.  i have one, jim nomura has the other.

Alan... can this post from you be stickied?

steve
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: sdlehr on September 12, 2016, 06:56:11 PM
Quote from: swill88 on September 12, 2016, 06:07:55 PM
Alan... can this post from you be stickied?

steve
Done!
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on September 12, 2016, 09:11:47 PM
Alan - there is at least 1 in the UK that can manage 25lb of drag at spooling speed - mine ;D
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on September 12, 2016, 09:13:25 PM
But  for braid I see no reason to use more than 10lb :)
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: USN_ED on September 13, 2016, 04:31:47 PM
Thanks for all the replies and advice guys.  Jeez!!!!  I'm a sticky!!!!

Now I gotta figure out a way to spool line with that much tension without a winder.  I'll figure it out.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: RowdyW on September 13, 2016, 06:52:25 PM
Ed, you might want to try putting the line on another reel & mounting it on a rod or reel seat & then set the drag & wind in the line on the reel you are going to use.     Rudy
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: ScottOz on September 13, 2016, 07:24:01 PM
Hi All, Considering making a electric winding machine out of my barley/chum minced.What speed does a spooling machine rotate at in revs per minute?The motor and gear box I have now does 60 rotations a minute.But this could be sped up by using a bigger pulley on the gearbox.Would also have to make a smooth drag system for the spool.Wonder if Alan  has any pictures of his mega spooler he would share for ideas?My motor is not speed variable.
Scott.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: alantani on September 13, 2016, 07:50:02 PM
60 rpm would be ok, just a little slow.  you might want to get something up to 120.  torque is probably more important, so if that's what you've got, give it a try!
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: ScottOz on September 14, 2016, 08:27:28 AM
Yep got heaps of torque .1/2hp motor runs through a 30:1 reduction gear box.runs a#32 size mincer with ease.sounds like its worth a try.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on September 14, 2016, 09:14:31 AM
When I built my spooler I used a DC E-bike motor 36V. Reduction gearing by toothed pulleys and belts. Final speed 180 rpm or 3 revs a second. This gearing also increased the torque. To make the whole thing practical you need a very strong reel mount and a consistent drag mechanism. This thread should give you some ideas:
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=11452.0
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Keta on September 18, 2016, 12:29:29 PM
Quote from: USN_ED on September 13, 2016, 04:31:47 PM
Thanks for all the replies and advice guys.  Jeez!!!!  I'm a sticky!!!!

Now I gotta figure out a way to spool line with that much tension without a winder.  I'll figure it out.

You could drive to Klamath Falls and use my linewinder.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Rivverrat on June 11, 2021, 04:29:48 PM
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on September 12, 2016, 09:13:25 PM
But  for braid I see no reason to use more than 10lb :)

   Thought about this myself. The issue can be when using heavier braids that have been wound on at 10 lbs. resistance, then with fish on going to 20 lbs. of drag or more, the braid can & in some cases will embed
in its self ... Jeff
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on June 11, 2021, 05:58:43 PM
Not so according to Jerry Brown
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Rivverrat on June 11, 2021, 07:02:42 PM
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on June 11, 2021, 05:58:43 PM
Not so according to Jerry Brown

   I was unaware of this. Do you have a link where this was stated ? While all my reels contain braid I am always open to learning more. The embedding of braid into the braid on the spool stopped when I started filling my reels at higher drag. I'll be the first to admit I could be missing something in the process... Jeff
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on June 19, 2021, 03:13:43 PM
I have spooled reels with 10lb to 20lb drag - with 60-80lb test. Then the line was pulled to over 30lb - no difference, no dig in. Several years ago I did some tests spooling the same line at different drag settings and measuring the amount of line on the spool. Over 10lb drag did not get any more line on the spool - from this I concluded any minimal stretch was gone by 10lb drag (therefore any more spooling drag was a waste of energy).
When I spool line I use a crisscross method (I don't use a nice and neat 'side by side' technique). If you are using very fine braids (like 20-30lb) possible dig in may be an issue - never tried :-\

I don't trust the factory spooling to be tight enough so I rewind the braid onto an intermediate spool at 10lbs. My spooling machine applies drag at the spool not directly on the line.

I do regularly use 40 or 50lb hollow core braid for fly line backing (not for strength but minimal knots and capacity). I only spool it with a couple of pounds of drag - never caught anything remotely big enough to cause any problems :D
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: kmstorm64 on July 12, 2021, 06:30:01 PM
I can't say for spooling it on, but taking it off, I chuck a piece of wooden dowel in my drill and just allow the drill to do all the work after that.
Title: Re: Spooling Line on Spools
Post by: Hytekrednek on January 15, 2024, 08:48:02 AM
Quote from: Keta on September 12, 2016, 10:59:59 AMI either put Vet Wrap (sometimes sold as Flex Wrap) on the spool or splice in a short section of Dacron lie to tie to the spool.
Great idea!  I have been using a very nice double sided tape, made from what locks like weaved fiberglass and has a very good adhesive. I just cut a piece the width of the spool and go around the spool 1 wrap with no over lapping tape. Your idea sounds easier. I have plenty of Coban, and some vet wrap too.