Select a sound piece of wood, 3/8-inch thick, 5 inches wide, and about 1 foot long.  In each end cut a deep V, the sides of which must be carefully smoothed and rounded with chisel and sandpaper.  Nail a wooden rod, 15 inches long and slightly flattened where it makes contact, across the centre of the board, taking care not to split the rod, and clinch the ends of the nails securely.  The projecting ends of the rods are held in the hands while the string runs out.  The projecting piece, A, which must also be well secured, is for winding in.  The winding hand must be held somewhat obliquely to the board to clear the spindle.  Winding is much less irksome if a piece of tubing is interposed between the spindle and the other hand, which can then maintain a firm grip without exercising a braking effect.

This kind of winder is unsuited for reeling in a string on which there is a heavy pull, as the hands are working at a great disadvantage at certain points of a revolution.

[Illustration:  Fig. 123.—­Plan of string-winding drum, frame, and brake.]

A far better type is shown in Figs. 123 and 124.  Select a canister at least 6 inches in diameter, and not more than 6 inches long, with an overlapping lid.  Get a turner to make for you a couple of wooden discs, 3/8 inch thick, and having a diameter 2 inches greater than that of the tin.  Holes at least 3/8 inch across should be bored in the centre of each.  Cut holes 1 inch across in the centre of the lid and the bottom of the canister, and nail the lid concentrically to one disc, the canister itself to the other.  Then push the lid on the tin and solder them together.  This gives you a large reel.  For the spindle you will require a piece of brass tubing or steel bar 1 foot long and large enough to make a hard driving fit with the holes in the wood.  Before driving it in, make a framework of 3/4-inch strip iron (Fig. 123), 3/32 or 1/8 inch thick, for the reel to turn in.  The width of this framework is 1 inch greater than the length of the reel; its length is twice the diameter of the canister.  Rivet or solder the ends together.  Halfway along the sides bore holes to fit the spindle.

Make a mark 1 inch from one end of the spindle, a second l/8 inch farther away from the first than the length of the reel.  Drill 3/16-inch holes at the marks.  Select two wire nails which fit the holes, and remove their heads.  Next cut two 1/4-inch pieces off a tube which fits the spindle.  The reel, spindle, and framework are now assembled as follows: 

[Illustration:  Fig. 124.—­End view of string winder, showing brake and lever.]