Any suggestions on where to purchase or how to make an insert to hold Madeira thread spools on an Alps wrapper thread carriage? The wrapper came with an insert that is too large for the Madeira spool and the metal post is too small. Having a hard time keeping the spool straight and secure.

You can if you are talking about the large spools fill some smaller empty spools that fit better
Or
One of these should help You can make one from a coat hanger to pull the thread from the top of the spool
[www.allstitch.net]

Bill - willierods.com

Take a dowel that will fit inside the maderia spool.
Cut it to the length required.
Then, take a drill and drill a hole in the center of the dowel to fit the metal post.

If you have a lathe, it is very easy to get a perfectly centered hole in the dowel. Just put the dowel in the main chuck and put the drill bit in a jacobs chuck that is in the tail stock. Advance the tail stock into the spinning dowel for the perfectly centered hole.

An example of this setup:

[www.rodbuilding.org]

If you don't have a lathe, you can use a drill press to do an adequate job. Drill the hole from each end 1/2 way through. That way, even if the drill is at a bit of an angle, the ends will be centered, and you can use the drill bit to real all of the way through to do an adequate job for this need.

Be safe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2015 12:39PM by roger wilson.

maybe a reel seat arbor over the post

Bill - willierods.com

Thank you both for the suggestions.

Bill,

The reel seat arbor idea worked great. Just used it for a few hours.

Thank again.
David

I don't have that wrapper but I have had spool where the hole was to big and found straws at a fast food place bk that I cut down that fit great and the spool spun nice and centered

I just used a little sense Figured the arbors were easier to drill and sand
When ya get time try to get some spools and fill with all the colors you need

Bill - willierods.com