NOOOB!! Never wound a pickup - thinking of giving it a try

[holio cornolio]

Hi all, I've had a bit of a scout around about 'hand winding'. I've never wound a pickup before, and have no intention of going into it in any depth, but thought it might be interesting to have a go at for fun. (I'd also like to hear the direct differences between different magnet types and guess that the most objective way to assess this is buy swapping the magnet on the same bobbin - I don't even know if that's a viable option?...). So..... I don't really want to invest in any specialised tools or winders or anything, I was just going to buy a Stewmac humbucker kit and have a play with that. But.... without the requisite winding machine, do people have any suggestions as to what I could use to spin the bobbin whilst I hold the wire?? I've heard talk of turntable motors, sewing machines, hand blenders etc, even fishing reels, but I imagine I'll need to be able to somehow keep count of the windings, so maybe the fishing line is best?

[dai h.]

hi, there is some info on using a hand drill on the web (looks like a cheap way to go) :

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-...-with-Digital/

http://europa.spaceports.com/%7Efishbake/index.html

[roundmidnight]

I've built qty 2, single coil and qty 1, HB pickups using the hand drill similar to what is shown on the link. I didn't even bother with the ped-o-meter. Just figured out the gear ratio on the crank and calculated the number of required rotations on the crank and counted them out. In reality it didn't take much longer than using the simple motorized winder I usually use. Probably about 12-15 minutes per coil. I was able to get very neat and symmetric coils as well. When I first started fooling wth winding I tried an electric hand drill and I really think that the hand powered approach is better and you get better control.

RM

[holio cornolio]

Thanks for your input, that's useful info, and I have a few ideas now about making a winder out of stuff I already have access to.
I was thinking a bit more and figured an easier way still of beginning my sonic experimentation would be to try substituting different magnet types in pickups I already have. I've been examining an old Tokai PAF 2 pickup and before I destroy it, wondered if replacing the magnet was as simple as unscrewing the bottom plate and taking the magnet out. I guess it's all glued / waxed together, but aside from the 4 screws in the bottom plate, is there anything else holding the plate on and the magnet in place?
I know this is simple stuff, but I'm new to this....

[Chadheckler1]

There should be nothing else except some wax holding stuck between the components after the screws are removed...

[David Schwab]

Some of the older Japanese humbucker bobbins were glued in with some kind of contact cement.

[holio cornolio]

Some of the older Japanese humbucker bobbins were glued in with some kind of contact cement.

It's pretty recent, probably made 2007/8. certainly the cover was 'glued' on with some kind of wierd expanded double sided tape. I anticipate having to get some kind of lever in there. Thanks

[dai h.]

I tried setting up a little rig like in the links using a hand drill and a vice since I have a wah inductor I want to rewind for higher inductance. I practiced a bit with a short length I had removed from the inductor, and fwiw a couple of thoughts/impressions:

-seems to help adjust the position of things (the drill, vice, etc.) so the movements are straight as you can get them. I think it helps simplify things so you aren't dealing with wobbles, etc.(lessens variables to deal with)

-unless you are very apt at mental juggling, a counter helps keep track of the number of winds so you can concentrate on tension and wire placement on the bobbin

-it is possible to lay the winds neatly side by side by being careful. Coversely, it seems easy to not wind neatly just by not really paying attention and not trying to control where the wire goes.

I'm sure there is much more to it but just some things that came to mind.

[roundmidnight]

A rest to support your fingers while guiding the wire onto the coil is essential. Stops to keep it in the bobbin may help if your mind wanders but the hand powered drill is slow enough to where if you go outside the coil you can usually carefully back up and correct mistakes. Bright lighting and any visual aids required to achieve the proper focal length for crisp vision are also a big plus. For light colored coil wire a black construction paper background can be good and for dark wire a white background helps.

Since our brain organization can be quite different from individual to individual some people may have no problem counting rotations while guiding the wire and maintaining steady crank RPM while others may find it impossible. My main problem is that I have to mark off sets of 100 turns or I lose track of my count (getting feeble due to my poor lifestyle choices and moderately advanced age).

RM