Gonna buy a Pickup Winder

[Calavera]

Hi!
I wanna buy the Schatten Pickup Winder, International 230-Volt.

I just noticed that it was out of stock for at least 1 month. And I won't be in the US for that long. I'd really wanna have it before I leave (4th Jan).

Are there any other stores that sells the International Pickup Winder?

Than you in advance!

[corduroyew]

I really like using my lathe. It's cheaper than a Schatten and it is runs a lot more smoothly

[Possum]

stewmac?

Did you contact StewMac and/or Schatten directly?

[Calavera]

Did you contact StewMac and/or Schatten directly?

Yeah, no answer yet though!

[Calavera]

I really like using my lathe. It's cheaper than a Schatten and it is runs a lot more smoothly

Where can I buy one? Is it more expensive?

[Spence]

Where can I buy one? Is it more expensive?

You should make your own. It's more satisfying, cheaper and you'll feel taller as you walk in the knowledge that you didn't spend all that money on a toy car motor in a biscuit tin.

[corduroyew]

Where can I buy one? Is it more expensive?

Most tool stores that sell woodworking tools will sell lathes. I got my lathe from the local hardware store for 100 quid and then spent another 20 quid on a drill chuck for it. Now I use it for pickup winding but I can also use it for turning wood. My lathe is a record power and it's the smallest of their full size lathes and it works great. It's only got 4 speed options but it's still good enough for me. They do have mini lathes that are cheaper but I can't promis you would be able to find the chuck you would need for mounting the bobbins.

[Calavera]

Ahh, A lathe.. I get it! Have to blaime that one on my poor english!

But I really got this urge to spend money on a winder (in true christmas spritI, and I want it professionaly made, 'couse I'm tired of uneven windings now and then.

I'll just buy the 120V and then buy a transformer when I get back to Sweden!

[Joe Gwinn]

Ahh, A lathe.. I get it! Have to blaime that one on my poor english!

But I really got this urge to spend money on a winder (in true christmas spritI, and I want it professionaly made, 'couse I'm tired of uneven windings now and then.

I'll just buy the 120V and then buy a transformer when I get back to Sweden!

Or, just buy a new wall-wart power supply. That's how Schatten covers both 120 and 240 volts.

[David Schwab]

Or, just buy a new wall-wart power supply. That's how Schatten covers both 120 and 240 volts.

That's exactly it. StewMac also sells the 240 adapter, and that's the only difference. They charge like $15 for the damn thing too.. which I think it ridiculous, but it's not like you can order it without it.

OK.. from my perspective, as an owner of this winder, is It's not bad, but it's not great either. It gets the job done, and is convenient because it requires less work to get a winder, but it has its shortcomings too I suppose.

The things I don't like about it are:

I think it's a bit under powered. If I squeeze the wire between my fingers I can stop the winder! That can't be a good thing.

It's a bit cheaply made for the price too.. and the case one is plastic!

The bottom base is crudely made from melamine covered particle board.

The wholes for the wire guide were drilled out of square to the "winding tower" (their term, not mine).

It's VERY homemade looking, but it is made well mechanically. Even the label was a bit-mapped looking inkjet decal. As a graphic artist that bugged me!

The counter works well but is on the small side. It would be great it you could program a number to stop the winder too.

A nice feature is the clockwise/counter clockwise winding depending on what side you use, but I never use that.

For me I bought this because I didn't have the time and space to make one, and I can put it back in the box when I'm done, since I'm working on the kitchen table at the moment...

If you feel so inclined to make your own, the lathe idea seems good, and the guys here have made some nice winders with them to serve as examples.

If I start winding more pickups, and have a workshop again... that's my next step...

[Joe Gwinn]

That's exactly it. StewMac also sells the 240 adapter, and that's the only difference. They charge like $15 for the damn thing too.. which I think it ridiculous, but it's not like you can order it without it.

Fifteen bucks for a new wall-wart ain't bad, but I get abandoned wall-warts at the local dump.

The things I don't like about it are:

I think it's a bit under powered. If I squeeze the wire between my fingers I can stop the winder! That can't be a good thing.

It's a bit cheaply made for the price too.. and the case one is plastic!

The bottom base is crudely made from melamine covered particle board.

The holes for the wire guide were drilled out of square to the "winding tower" (their term, not mine).

It's VERY homemade looking, but it is made well mechanically. Even the label was a bit-mapped looking inkjet decal. As a graphic artist that bugged me!

The counter works well but is on the small side. It would be great it you could program a number to stop the winder too.

A nice feature is the clockwise/counter clockwise winding depending on what side you use, but I never use that.

For me I bought this because I didn't have the time and space to make one, and I can put it back in the box when I'm done, since I'm working on the kitchen table at the moment...

If you feel so inclined to make your own, the lathe idea seems good, and the guys here have made some nice winders with them to serve as examples.

I made my own winder, using the Scatten as the general pattern. I did use a larger motor, and built the machine frame out of solid aluminum plate. When one is making one of something, using heavy plate is often the easier approach, even though the thicker metal costs more than sheet metal.

I can still stall things, but not by pinching the wire, which will break instead. Measured in parts, I didn't exceed the price of the Schatten winder. Measured in time is quite another matter.

I did put in a bit of my own homebrew electronics, to drive a counter, and to drive a synchronized strobe

[David Schwab]

I can still stall things, but not by pinching the wire, which will break instead.

I can break the wire if I have the speed all the way up, but I rarely wind that fast, and actually, I find it impossible, since to get any kind of tension on the wind, I need to pinch the wire a bit, which slows the machine, and requires me to turn it up to compensate.

Measured in time is quite another matter.

That's a good point. That was part of my decision... I just didn't have the time and space to make one.

I did put in a bit of my own homebrew electronics, to drive a counter, and to drive a synchronized strobe

Wow, that's a great idea Joe! I'd imagine that makes seeing what you are doing pretty easy! Does it give you a headache?

This gives me ideas!

[Joe Gwinn]

"I did put in a bit of my own homebrew electronics, to drive a counter, and to drive a synchronized strobe"

Wow, that's a great idea Joe! I'd imagine that makes seeing what you are doing pretty easy!

It helps a lot. But the #42 wire is still pretty thin, and things that happen between flashes cannot be seen.

Does it give you a headache?

No. You know it's flashing, but it seems steady enough. But, some epileptics should keep their distance, as flashing at ~10Hz (~600 RPM) can trigger a seizure in some epileptics. Don't know how common this is though.

[David King]

For a decent dc motor and speed control a dead portable drill ought to work just fine. I have a $29 Ryobi with dead NiCads that's ready and willing, The VS trigger switch has reversing and built in breaking. You can't beat that. There are thousands of AC-DC supplies left over from old printers, cd burners, tape drives piled on shelves in every Good Will store. Have at them!

[Spence]

Mick uses a drill when he's not shooting at the neighbours.
Personally I find them a little slow even though I like to wind slowly. The drill's speed controller is a bit crude too.
The main benefit of using a drill is that you get out of all the shelf erecting your wife had in mind.