Buy wooden spools
We sell the sound reels that come off our pickup runs: a single spool for a table or a garden, a matched set for an event, or a trailer of empties for a contractor or reseller. Ask by flange size, count and condition. We answer with what we have or expect, and how it gets to you.
Delivery rides on the lane runs: the 710, the 60, the 10, the 5, the 405 and the 15.
What we sell
Sizes at a glance
| Flange | Empty weight, lb | Makes a good | Moving it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 23 to 24 | Side table, plant stand, stool base | A car or SUV |
| 30 in | 39 | Coffee table, outdoor side table | A car or SUV |
| 36 in | 64 to 77 | Coffee or low dining table, display riser | A pickup truck, two people |
| 42 in | 90 to 100 | Dining or bar table, garden table | A pickup truck, two people |
| 48 in | 106 to 177 | Patio table, cake or sign stand | A pickup or trailer, a ramp |
| 60 in | 187 to 347 | Garden feature, large display | A pickup or trailer, a ramp |
| 72 in | 204 to 592 | Venue centrepiece, playground or farm use | Our delivery, with a forklift at your end |
| 84 in | 223 to 920 | Large landscape piece | Our delivery, with a forklift at your end |
| 96 in | 250 to 1,199 | Statement piece; plan the move first | Our delivery, with a forklift at your end |
Where the spools come from
Every spool we sell has come off one of our pickup runs: a contractor's yard in Sun Valley, a distributor's dock in Santa Fe Springs, a crew yard in Fontana. At sorting, each reel is checked for flat, whole flanges, a round arbor hole and dry, sound wood, and for any owner's stencil. Reels that belong to a cable maker go back to it. Sound one-way reels are set aside for buyers by size. Everything else goes to wood recycling. So what we can offer at any time depends on what the runs bring in, and we will tell you plainly if a size is scarce.
How to ask
- Flange size. The diameter of the round end. If you know what you are building, tell us that instead and we will suggest sizes.
- How many. One, a matched set, or a load.
- Condition. New, Used or Damaged in the form. Most of what we sell is used; damaged reels can suit garden edging, rustic signs or parts.
- Delivery or collection. Your ZIP, and whether there is someone to help unload.
Nailed or bolted?
For a table or a garden piece, either works. Bolted reels have thicker flanges and stay square under weight, which matters for a dining table or a bar top. Nailed reels are lighter and cheaper to move, and fine for side tables and displays. The nailed and bolted reels page shows how to tell them apart.
Weight and getting it home
A 30 inch reel weighs about 39 lb and fits in the back of most SUVs. A 42 inch reel is about 90 to 100 lb, a job for two people and a pickup. From 48 inches, a reel weighs more than a hundred pounds, and from 72 inches several hundred; those go on our truck and need a forklift or a careful ramp at your end. The guide to moving large spools covers rolling and tipping without hurting yourself or the reel.
Words on this page
- Flange
- The round end of a reel; its diameter (24 to 96 inches and up) is how reels are sized, sorted and loaded.
- Drum
- The barrel between the flanges that the cable winds on; its diameter sets how much cable a reel holds.
- Traverse
- The inside width between the flanges; with the flange size it sets how much deck a reel takes up.
- Arbor hole
- The centre hole a reel stand's spindle goes through; a torn or oval arbor hole takes a reel out of service.
- Nailed reel
- A one-way reel held together with nails; the usual reel for building wire, mostly resold for light use or recycled.
- Bolted reel
- A heavier reel held together with through-bolts, used for utility and large cable; often returnable.
Read next
Buying questions
Do you have a showroom or a yard to visit?
No. Spools are set aside from the runs to match what buyers ask for, and we arrange collection or delivery once you have agreed a price.
How long until you have the size I want?
Common sizes, 24 to 48 inches, come off most runs. Large and matched sets can take longer. We tell you honestly when we reply.
Can you deliver to Orange County or the Inland Empire?
Our runs reach Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, so delivery can ride on a run that passes you. San Diego County is outside the area.
Do you cut or finish spools?
No. We sell them as they come off the run, graded and with loose staples pulled. Finishing is up to you.