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Oh my Aching Paw!




Spending several hours squeezing the trigger on a drill CAN NOT be good for my jacked up hand... or anyone else's for that matter.




THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY!



Fear not! Dry those peepers little ones. There IS a better way. If you can find, steal, beg, or borrow a cheap sewing machine, you might be able to save yourself some pain. And make a decent pickup winder out of it. There are plenty of YouTube videos to show you how.

Anyway that's what I figured, and ventured out Saturday evening to procure a low cost sewing machine from a swap meet, flea or thrift market somewhere.



Behold the fruit of my exhaustive 1 and 1/2 hour search.



1959 Singer 401a purchased at the price of $10. Only one catch - NO FOOT CONTROLLER. Making it a nonfuntional peice of sewing kit. I decided to take a chance on it anyway (figured I could rig something together for that price).

I first did a Google search for this machine and found out it is still a sought after sewing machine, built like a tank. Meaning I could probably find a pedal for it somewhere.

the original (hard to find)



ebay generic (I dont want to pay 30 bucks for that and wait for it to get here)


Singer replacement (35 bucks! I'm trying to do this on the cheap.)


I let it stew in my noggin last night and went looking for schematics of this thing


wiring looks simple enough. I should be able to make this thing with a potentiomer or something.


I zoned out for a while, drifting through space and time. Just then the Great space cat appeared to me in a dream and whispered the secrets of the universe into my ear.



A LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH! thankyou Great Space cat!

This morning I went to my local Wally world and picked up a dimmer for about 5 dollars. Here is the result.






Well got it working anyway, time to mod this thing for spinning pickups.

You're a handy (no pun intended) dude! My question, how are you counting turns? Or do you just spin until you get the resistance reading you want?

Greg_L wrote:You're a handy (no pun intended) dude! My question, how are you counting turns? Or do you just spin until you get the resistance reading you want?

Thanks Greg. I Was using a reed switch and a magnet with my cordless drill. But it is not accurate at higher speeds. Currently, I'm researching other more mechanical means in this new setup. Maybe somthing involving the arm of the pressure foot?


maybe something like this? (but not as bulky)

Needle






This is my simple idea for a Sewing Machine counter. Using a calculator with wires soldered to the equal sign and a piece of aluminum foil. The Machine's pressure foot holds a piece of conductive material (foil).





When the machine needle pierces it, the open connection on the calculators equal sign is closed, counting one turn of the bobbin.

Needle Strikes!



This is the cheapest way I could come up with. The Calculator cost me $1 and the wire and aluminum foil were scraps. So for less than 2 American Dollars you can have a counter.



The purpose of the ruler and hardboard pieces are to keep the Sewing machine's pressure foot from walking the foils away. (its got little teeth to move fabric along as it stitches). I will construct a more permanent solution later.

a short Demonstration






Well tell me what you think of my Needle counter!

Just in case you happen to experience trouble with the hole in the foil wearing out. I thought maybe this might work, and be a little more positive. Less chance of a missed count. As the copper wears, the just cuts a groove in it. Then you simply snip a bit off the end. For anew brush.


Dan

panther wrote:Just in case you happen to experience trouble with the hole in the foil wearing out. I thought maybe this might work, and be a little more positive. Less chance of a missed count. As the copper wears, the just cuts a groove in it. Then you simply snip a bit off the end. For anew brush.


Dan

That's a VERY GOOD idea Dan thanks I'm going to do just that. 100 bonus points to you! I have not wrapped a bobbin with this yet. I just came from the doc's to get my cast removed. I will try this afternoon.

great work! I recently read about a new solution for the wind counter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Punch-Counter-Digital-5-Digit-Including-Proximity-Switch-Strong-Magnetic-/181111487537

An LCD Punch Counter Digital 5 Digit Including Proximity Switch & Strong Magnet. Seems like a reliable solution at a reasonable price.

MWaldorf wrote:great work! I recently read about a new solution for the wind counter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Punch-Counter-Digital-5-Digit-Including-Proximity-Switch-Strong-Magnetic-/181111487537

An LCD Punch Counter Digital 5 Digit Including Proximity Switch & Strong Magnet. Seems like a reliable solution at a reasonable price.

I'm Sold. Thanks for Pointing this out Mel. You and Your band mate Danny are just turning me onto all sorts of stuff this Month. I love the Tortex Wedges Danny! *wait, he cant hear me*.

Meshugga Beach Party this Gentile thanks you.

I don't have the money for a fancy eBay counter What? Whats that gentle forum member? I couldn't quite make that out. You don't have the skratch for a FANCY eBay COUNTER lovingly crafted in the Great Republic of China?




Dont worry your little head, fair reader. For this is....



THE FINAL COUNTDOWN




Yeah, this is the last mod to the Needle counter. (How can you improve on perfection, you say?)

One word brother, Simplify.

I removed the Feed Dog on this old machine. Now the foil will stay under the pressure foot instead of "walking away".






And now all you need is:

1. calculator
2. the ability to solder
3. 2 bits of wire
4. 2 strips of paper
5. a scrap foil
6. common sense





This thing works great for my needs. And Its VERY simple to make yourself.

the final Demonstration Video. Please observe my technical KungFu.





well finally got this cast off. Not healed yet but at least I can go back to building the rest of my guitar. Cheers peoples.

Your entire winder project is brilliant. You've broken all of the rules and still have a working finished project. Congrats!

Let us know how it works when you start winding coils. I'm wondering how accurate the count will be when you get it up to speed.