One of my pet peeves is how thread on a ball will bunch and move around or fall off in bunches of loops all at once. Then I have to straighten it out and make sure there are not knots. Yesterday morning I decided to do something about it. I fired up the modeling software and designed a winder and a spool. I was not sure how well it would work but I was sure going to try!
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| See how messy this is starting to get? |
First I laid out the spool I sort of measured it against the ball of thread. It may be just a little large, but not by much. Once I got the spool figured out, I designed a winder, nothing elaborate, but it turns out more than what I needed. I had six parts, but one of them, as it turned out, was too flimsy and unnecessary. The rest worked fine.
What really surprised me was the last photo. It fit in the ball holder I have from Handy Hands. It unwinds neatly. I always hated the way it could bind in the holder, but not now. I am going to make more spools now. These work pretty well. Yes, I could probably just buy them, but when you have a 3D printer, you like to make the most of it. I am always looking for something to make and when its for my tatting I really like to do it.
Ace idea but as I've got well over 100 balls of thread it would be expensive to 'kit out' all those balls!!! You're amazing with your ingenuity.
ReplyDeleteHandy!
ReplyDeleteCool. Any chance you could make a winder and smaller spools for just the 50 yards of HDT. Would be interested in purchasing if one was available.
ReplyDeleteLove this and will keep the offer in mind, O the things I can think 😀
ReplyDeleteI bet you could sell these! Mostly I'm just fine but like you, I just loathe when it falls off in big hunks. Or maybe you could sell the design? We have a printer at school....
ReplyDeleteNeat !!! The possibilities of 3D designing & printing !
ReplyDeleteNow your thinking way outside the box. Great, bravo.
ReplyDeleteYou could say an old craft has meet a new craft. I have not seen a 3D printer I have heard about them, but to make something that is so useful is great well done, a new cottage industry in the making
ReplyDeleteAs others have noted, your inventiveness is boundless. Bravo Tim!
ReplyDelete3D printer to make these... drool!! I wonder if I write to Santa and ask him for one I'll get it?? LOL Great idea though Tim. I do agree that the thread falling off the ball is annoying... it's why I just about always use 2 shuttles instead. Mind you, if I did get a 3D printer I'd spend all my time making shuttles.... ROFL
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I do make shuttles, but they are the little "teaching' shuttles that I give away at Tat Days. I made 500 and gave away this year. Thinking on 1000 for next year. They went fast.
DeleteI came over to your blog following a link... I saw your printed shuttles and was intrigued - what a great idea! I really like seeing what tatting tools you are designing and printing. Really does make me wish I had access to such a printer though... :-)
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