Bobbin Lace Winder & Other Novelties

My wife took up Bobbin Lace as a hobby.  To build anything requires many pairs  of bobbins with about 2 yards of thread wound on each one.  A small project requires 30 bobbins.  A complex project takes over 100.  The thread has to be wound by turning the bobbin so as to not introduce twists into the thread.  I designed this small portable bobbin winder to meet those needs.  It measures 3.75” long by 3.25” high by 2” wide. The bobbin slips under the rubber band drive belt, then hooks into the saddle as shown.  A few turns of the crank winds the thread.  A keeper pin holds the rubber band in place when no bobbin is installed.  I have sold 51 of these on eBay at prices up to $62.  I made the jigs below to speed up mass production.

Display Cabinet

This display cabinet was made for a family member to display some glassware.  The back is two mirror tile.  The front is a piece of Plexiglas.  The sides are grooved to hold these pieces.  I routed a decorative edge around the top and bottom.


















Vacuum Tube Lamp

This lamp is made using some 1940's vintage vacuum tubes.  They were salvaged from a war surplus Navy transmitter.  I saved the socket bases as well.  They are mounted to a pine board.  There is a chrome tube going from the base to the top of each tube.  I mounted a neon "candle" light to the top of each tube.  The wiring is routed in channels in the bottom of the base.  It makes a fun conversation piece.















Battery Charger

I have several rechargeable batteries for my cordless drills.  The charger that came with them doesn't have any charge cutoff circuitry.  Consequently, it overcharges the battery if accidentally left on.  I built this 4 bank trickle charger to solve that problem.  A small LED above each battery indicates that it is charging.