So I have to be real cheap with my rod building, because I am a poor college kid. I had an old drill laying around, so I took the motor out of it, and wired it direct to the charger for the drill, so it is no longer cordless. My problem is the speed at which it runs; It is REALLY fast. I tried gearing it down, but it doesn't have the power to run with the gears attached to it. My question is has anyone ever tried doing this? If so, is there some glaring errors in what I am doing? Part of this is so I can say I built my dryer, and I also like to fart around with stuff like this. If I need to I can go get a dryer, but I'd sure like to be able to spend that money on rod components. If there are any secrets to building super cheap dryers, even if it doesn't have to do with a drill motor, I'd be up for hearing them, and pictures would be cool, too. Thanks in advance for the help.

Dryers are relatively cheap whether you buy one or make one. I would be afraid that the drill would not be suitable for continuous running of 2 or 3 hours that it would take . A lot of people build them out of old microwave turntable motors.

Hey, I'm the cheap one on the forum! Look curbside for old microwave ovens that people trash. The motor for the turntable is great for a dryer! Turn about 3-4 RPM. I have one set up for a dryer and have two motors sitting on the sidelines for more additional dryers. You can make a chuck out of an aerosol cap- four screws set at equal places on the cap and four rubber bands. Ready to go!

Yea, what John said! I have several, they come out of an old Micro really easy from the bottom. Take a phillips head and a 1/4 in socket with you.

Mike

Your drill motor will never hold up. The brushes inside will burn up,over heat and possibly cause a fire.

Buy or find a motor that you can use. Cheap motors are to be had and with less problems

Randy

I used an old rotisserie motor off a trashed grill, even had a control for speed. works great!

You will find rodbuilders will fight over an old MW oven! Along those lines, I have a sewing machine motor assembly with foot control that is crying to be made into a power wrapper. Ask questions and someone will have an answer!

That's what I use - and it's perfect. 6-8 revs/minute.

Mine is battery operated - two "D" cells.


Snow

I am just getting into this. I went to goodwill and they had a "disco ball" for $5.00. I was ready to get it when I plugged it in and it just didn't turn right. Down one aisle I saw a George Foreman rotisserie for eight dollars. It has a 3 hour timer on it. I am getting ready to put the pieces together for my first dryer. The guy at the fly shop offer me a new one for $60, but I like to tinker and so for I'm out only $8.00.

Flea markets and yard sales are goldmines for stuff that rodbuilders can modify/adapt for a fraction of what the factory stuff costs.

I have a continuous run motor that I bought for $3.50. Now if I can just remember where. A couple of scrap 3/4 in boards and it is a fine dryer that has had over 6 years of service.

well, I found a gold mine in the local thrift store. I picked up a singer sewing machine and a rotisserie for 10 bucks, which is in the budget. I got the motors tore out and mounted, but I have to work the bugs out of my design, then I'll be well on my way. Thanks again for all of the helpful pictures, tutorials, and pointers on here; without them I still be wrapping on my otter-pop box. Hopefully there will be some amateur pics up here in no time.

I don't think I would use a cordless drill for a drying motor...

I stripped 5 baitcast reels the other night with a cordless drill before re-filling with new line. By the fifth reel, the drill was REALLY hot!!!


Snow

Well I think I've got you all beat! I use a car window motor. I had a power reducer for different devices that you could vary the voltage with and hooked it up. The window motor was free and it has a lot of torque and the motor is sealed and you can vary the speed by the voltage setting. I've run it for 4 days without stopping. I've got pictures if you want to see it. I can turn 4 rods at once. I love to tinker!!

I like it. I happen to have one in the garage right now!
What type of power reducer are you using?

Thanks

mines hooked up to the tread mill, throw the ol lady on with a bunch of gas station food coupon books to look through,, no need for power outlets

My wrapper/dryer is powered by a 60 rpm 12 volt motor that I power with a model train transformer, infinitely variable speed and reversible. Works extremely well and I have even designed a clutch to allow hand wrapping with out disconnection of the motor.

Do you have any pics of that clutch set up?

Here's a picture of the other side of the drier. I'll have to look to see what the power reducer is. It was a many head power supplier for different things. You could plug it into radios and casette players and change the votage on it to what ever the appliance needed.

I've heard of people using this from Harbor Frieght:
Router Speed Control