ball winder...tips?

[NeedSleep]

I just got a ball winder and although it's basically self explanitory, I'm not sure how tight/loose to wind the balls. Any tips?

[Tampa Doll]

I usually keep a light hold on the yarn that feeds into the eye. It makes a nice cake of yarn, and it doesn't stretch out the yarn.

[yarndiva]

Try looping the yarn anywhere from 2-5 times around the metal arm before looping it through the feeder hole (the part where it's twisted)

 

I do that to all my yarns/threads and normally do one or two more loops to see how loose/tight it is and then adjust for the perfect yarn winding tension.

 

HTH!!

[Adriann]

I, too, let the yarn just run through my fingers as it goes into the winder, not adding any tension.

[Me&P]

I keep a pretty firm grasp on the yarn as it feeds through the eye b/c the cakes will stay nice and un-floppy longer that way.

[yarndiva]

I tried the holding the yarn, but my hands get really hot from the friction of the yarn. Then I tried grasping/holding the yarn with a little piece of fabric to keep my skin from being burned, that got really tiring-Fast!

 

That's how I discovered looping the yarn around the "neck" of the winder. It keeps my hands burn free and I can wind yarn/thread with better posture!