Thread: Cheap Pickup Winders - Alternatives to StewMac Winder

Hi Fletch,

Good for you, I've been looking at those for a while and some of the guys on the pick up maker's forum have also recommended them, one of whom even tells how he modified it to cater for bobbins.

"http://music-electronics-forum.com/f11/"
Hey I hope you got the 240 volt one and no the 110 volt . And I'm glad you didn't purchase a Schatten winder because they are a complete piece of , gee how can I put it delicately ???? cr@p for the price.

"http://music-electronics-forum.com/t14394-post113668/#poststop"

Have fun with it Fletch

regards

Wal

Editor's Note: Sorry Wal - removed the cross forum links, they sometimes cause us a little grief.

Wal, thanks for the links. Ive been looking for a pickup makers forum for a while to read up.

I must confess, I did place an order with Stewmac for the rest of the stuff I need ( or probably don't need..) - Magnets, polarity tester, some single coil and humbucker "kits"... Wire I got from Ebay.

I reckon next week I should be able to give it a spin and see how it goes

Hey Fletch I was just trying to find the link that showed the mods to that winder but no luck as yet.

Basically what this bloke did was changed the pulley's on the motor and shaft to a higher ratio cuz 4000 rpm is way too fast, and it gave him far better speed control on the foot pedal. then he screwed a largish aluminium disc to the end of it and just used double sided tape to hold the bobbin on.

regards to all,
Wal

Originally Posted by walcen

Hey Fletch I was just trying to find the link that showed the mods to that winder but no luck as yet.

Basically what this bloke did was changed the pulley's on the motor and shaft to a higher ratio cuz 4000 rpm is way too fast, and it gave him far better speed control on the foot pedal. then he screwed a largish aluminium disc to the end of it and just used double sided tape to hold the bobbin on.

regards to all,
Wal

Thanks Wal, I'd be interested in reading that - the book that came with it rated the motor at 600-4000 rpm , 600 may be on the managable side for me but agree any faster might be a problem. I guess all will be revealed when I try my hand at winding a pickup next week.

Is the spec correct on the listing? It states the winding speed as "around 800 - 4000 turns", I assume he means RPM and min/max speeds. If that's correct, then you'd want to slow down to zero or very close to it. The machine we made ranges from 0 - 1200 RPM.

The Schatten winder is a definite rip off, the internals look like a toy speed boat. We made a machine from scrap parts except for a $30 kit counter that I wired up, simple, powerful, reverse wind capability, lighting etc.

Originally Posted by mkat

We made a machine from scrap parts except for a $30 kit counter that I wired up, simple, powerful, reverse wind capability, lighting etc.

wheres the thread and plans on this man? jeez

Hi people! walcen got my attention on the pickup makers forum....

I've fitted an 80mm pulley to my winder which has brought the minimum speed down to something more acceptable. Ideally it needs to go slower but the footswitch socket will have to move to fit a bigger pulley than the 80mm one. I'll get the step drill out and do that some time soon.

The approach I take with winding on this thing is to guide the wire with my right hand while applying slight pressure to the pulley with my left for speed control. I press a folded piece of paper towel on it as a brake. Initially I used the 'brake' on the acrylic disc bobbin holder I had made so it wasn't an awkward position but since then I've cut slots in the disc all the way to the outside (should have thought about it more first). The slots allow me to bolt bobbins on any length to the disc with the bolts running through the polepiece. I'll be making a new disc and pulley for it asap, possibly with a screw adjustable brake just in case. I like the control that it gives.

The microcontroller used for the speed control etc. is an Atmel unit and theoretically reprogrammable, but that's something I don't know much about. If I knew someone who was into that stuff I'd be happy to let them check out the code and make changes. I had thought about fitting a resistor to drop the voltage to the motor but got a bit concerned about damaging the controller.

I'd like to go to a fully CNC controlled winder with a nice tensioner at some point so I think I'm happy to keep things simple with this one until then.

Big hello to Andrew B and MKat too!

Hey Brisbane, Welcome to the forum, give us a name to call ya.

Start a thread and show us some pics of your gear, we love pics .

I'm Dan. What kind of pics are you wanting to see? My workshop currently looks like a cyclone went through it so I'd rather not show it :lol: Pics of my work here - http://www.myspace.com/oniguitars

I recognise Andrew from sevenstring.org and mkat from the pickup makers forum, possibly elsewhere too?

username looka familliar...
is that Dan Oni?

that be me

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!!!!

one of my favorite builders!!!!!!!!!

i showed the boys on here, my fav build of yours *drools*

Good to make tour acquaintance Dan, those axes are sweet so when can Andrew_B come and pick one up or do you deliver.

Originally Posted by walcen

Good to make tour acquaintance Dan, those axes are sweet so when can Andrew_B come and pick one up or do you deliver.

lol, i wouldnt mind an 8string
not keen on taking out a loan though