Spools for tables
Laid flat, a wooden spool stands as tall as its overall width, and its flange is the table top. That makes a 24-inch reel a low coffee table or ottoman, a 30 or 36-inch reel a side or coffee table at about 22 inches, and a 42-inch reel a dining table at about 30 inches. Choose by the height you need first, then the top.
Height and top, by flange size
| Reel | Top (flange) | Height laid flat | Weight, lb | Makes | Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | 24 in round | About 15 in | 23 to 24 | Ottoman, plant stand, low coffee table | Ask |
| 30 in | 30 in round | About 22 in | 39 | Side table, end table | Ask |
| 36 in | 36 in round | About 22.5 in | 64 to 77 | Coffee table for a large room, side table | Ask |
| 42 in | 42 in round | About 30 in | 90 to 100 | Dining table for four, kitchen table | Ask |
Heights are the overall widths of Okonite's standard builds; other makers' reels of the same flange can be an inch or two different. Measure the one you buy.
What to check before you buy one
- The top flange. It is your table. Look for flat planks, no deep splits and no missing boards. Paint and stencils sand off; splits don't.
- The bottom flange. It has to sit flat on the floor. A warped bottom means a wobbly table.
- The drum. Staves should be tight. Loose staves can be renailed, but a drum with rot at the base will not carry a heavy top.
- The arbor hole. A clean round hole is useful: run a lamp cord, an umbrella pole or a lazy Susan spindle through it.
- Staples and nails. Reels are full of them. Pull every one you can see before you sand.
Coffee table from a 36 inch reel
This is the classic spool table. Okonite's standard 36 inch reel is about 22.5 inches wide over the flanges, so laid flat it is a little taller than a typical coffee table. Some people like that; others take an inch off by sanding the bottom flange, or set the reel on casters, which adds height but makes it easy to move. The 36 inch top is big enough for a large sofa. Weight is 64 to 77 lb, a two-person carry into the house.
Dining table from a 42 inch reel
At about 30 inches over the flanges, a 42 inch reel laid flat is dining-table height, and the top seats four people. The drum gets in the way of knees, so look for a reel with a narrow drum, or plan to sit at an angle. At 90 to 100 lb it is heavy enough to stay put. A bolted 42 is stiffer than a nailed one and less likely to sag in the middle of the top over time.
Outdoor tables
Outdoors, any reel works for a season. For years, set it on pavers or gravel rather than soil, seal every face including the bottom, and check the nails each spring, because wet and dry cycles push them out. Southern California sun dries the top and greys the wood quickly; a UV-blocking finish slows that.
Collection or delivery
Up to 30 inches, a reel fits in most cars with the seats down. A 36 or 42 inch reel needs an SUV with a big boot, a pickup or a van. Larger reels, or several, come on our truck on a run toward you. Give your ZIP and whether there are stairs at your end.
Tools you will want
A claw hammer and pliers for nails and staples, a random-orbit sander with 60, 80 and 120 grit discs, wood filler or two-part epoxy for gaps between planks, a moisture-resistant finish, and felt pads or levelling feet. Wear a dust mask; old reel wood has seen a lot of weather and grime. A weekend is enough for most single tables.
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.
- Traverse
- The inside width between the flanges; with the flange size it sets how much deck a reel takes up.
- Drum
- The barrel between the flanges that the cable winds on; its diameter sets how much cable a reel holds.
- Arbor hole
- The centre hole a reel stand's spindle goes through; a torn or oval arbor hole takes a reel out of service.
- Stave
- One of the boards fixed around the drum between the flanges; loose or missing staves weaken a reel.
- Nailed reel
- A one-way reel held together with nails; the usual reel for building wire, mostly resold for light use or recycled.
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Table spool questions
Will a spool table wobble?
Only if a flange is warped or the floor is uneven. Pick a reel with flat flanges, and put felt pads or levelling feet on the bottom flange.
How do I make the top smooth?
Pull any staples, sand with a coarse then a medium grit, fill gaps between planks with wood filler or epoxy, and seal it. A glass or plywood top over the flange is the quickest flat surface.
Indoors, will it smell of anything?
A dry reel smells of wood. A reel that sat wet may smell musty until it is dried and sealed. We sell dry reels for tables when we can.
Can I get a pair that match?
Often, for 30 and 36 inch reels, which come in steadily. Ask for a matched pair and give us a little time.