[THRobinson]

Anyone here wind pickups?

Been looking at Arduino and making a pickup winder... seems simple and cheap enough to build. Programming... never tried Arduino, but seems to be a good group/forum for it so, should be able to figure it out. Lots of free scripts out there to copy/paste.

I have a few Squier single coil pickups and thought be a good cheaper way to learn by just recycling what I have and swapping the wire/magnets.

Winder wise I know what's needed... Found a few sources for wire, though nothing in Canada yet... what else is needed? I remember watching someone wind them once who, when done, passed them through something but can't find that video again to see what it was... magnets? A lot of how-to's that I found stop at winding and don't show much after like wax potting and such.

Anyone have any good resources for materials? how-to? equipment?

Advice?

 

[THRobinson]

Thanks... looking online at diagrams and DIY's... and that Arduino stuff is so cheap... $15 for a board, and a $5 HALL sensor, $10 for a motor speed controller, $10 for a motor and $10 for a decent display... asked on the Arduino forum if sounded do-able and consensus was basically the hardest part of the build would be the box. Definitely cheaper than what StewMac sells for. Even found a few posts with the code done already for reading the RPM.

I think the main thing I'll need help on is the code for entering in a number (ie. 8,000 winds) and having the Arduino count the rotations/winds and auto-stop when the number is reached. I suspect sitting there holding the wire while it winds, will make your eyes glaze over and probably mentally drift off. Having an auto-stop function seems a good plan.

 

[THRobinson]

Gaussing... that's what it was! Hard to Google stuff when name is on the tip of the tongue and can't recall what it was.

Automating wise... Arduino parts are cheap enough. I'd say about as automated as an old reel except a powered motor vs handcranking.

Business wise... maybe. Building a CNC this year to make bodies with. Those I plan to sell. If pickup winding goes well... maybe.

If I try winding pickups and enjoy it, I'd like to find some people on here willing to test them out, send them along to the next guy to test, etc until they come back to me and use the feedback gathered for adjustments. I'm sure a few folk here would be down for that.

 

[THRobinson]

You can always 3d print a box or have one printed or just buy something off the shelf

Tons of arduino pickup winders on youtube

Oh god... don't get me started on 3D Printers. I debated between a 3D Printer for Boxing Week or a CNC since the summer... decided CNC which went from a cheap Amazon $300 unit, to researching and deciding to build one that's much bigger and pricier. I'm afraid if I go back to looking at 3D Printers, I'll go from $300 to $1500 by the end of the week...

Probably just make one with 1/2" MDF. I don't have much skill/tools for metal fabrication. 3D printed by someone would be an option, but would need to make mockups with wood first anyways.

 

[THRobinson]

the winder pulls the wire thru the bait caster ( wind the wire in over the spool and out the line leveling mechanism )
it moves the wire side to side and the spool puts tension on the wire .

or just use the mechanism from an open faced reel ( moves the winding spool in and out for a level wire wind )

Yup, I understand how it works, saw few YouTube videos and DIY sites using those or sewing machines. Just as much work making something from a fishing reel and old calculator as something from an Arduino and shields, IMO.

With the Arduino, I'd have more control over varying the winding patterns of the wire where with something like the fishing reel, the back/forth rate of the spool is set and can't be varied.

 

[THRobinson]

Ya... will also say I gave my fishing equipment away to my nephew. I doubt he'd be happy if I took back the reel and dismantled it.

Arduino stuff has interested me for a while so, project was also an excuse to buy some of the stuff and see how it works. Couple of really cool HiRes FLAC audio player projects can be done with small tube pre-amps and such I'd also like to try. Cool nixie tube projects too....

... hmm, could make a cool steampunk winder with nixie tubes as a counter! (I won't)

 

[THRobinson]

@mhammer some good info there... and that's how I see it. Price of buying new brand names is just too much.

I was looking at IronGear pickups and reading reviews and someone made a good point... they're as good as Seymour Duncan, but the reason half the price is because they make and sell direct, where SD makes them, sells to a wholeseller, who tags on 25%, sells to a retailer, who tags on 25% then sells to us. The price makes you think they're so much better than anyone else, but really, it's mostly markups.

Figured, for $50 to make my own winder... if I can make something comparable, I'd be happier than spending $100-$150 per pickup.

Rewinding, same deal... keep the cheap plastic bobbin and such, but replace the magnet/poles.... be better than what you had and cheaper than replacing. Probably.


So... how'd the local wreckers get wire that thin? We get a lot of old motors and such here, but, fairly heavy gauge wire (old appliances... fan motors, washer motors, etc)