Reel pickup in Rogers Park (60626)

Small lots on a dense grid

Rogers Park runs from Devon Avenue (6400 N) to Howard Street (7600 N) along the lake, at the north end of the city. Building rehab is constant here: older courtyard buildings get new services, risers and unit panels, and that work empties 24 to 36-inch reels of building wire one or two at a time. Those reels end up in basements, back porches and gangways.

We put Rogers Park on the north lakefront day with the other North Side stops, so three or four reels are worth a stop. The driver needs to know whether the reels are in an alley, a gangway or a basement, and whether stairs are involved. Next step: send the count and where the reels sit.

Parking is the hard part in Rogers Park. Permit zones, narrow one-way streets and alley garbage carts all shape where a truck can stop, so describe the alley entrance and any overhead wires, and we choose the right vehicle.

Buying one spool in the city

Rogers Park buyers mostly want a single spool for a table, a plant stand or a balcony. A 30-inch spool stands about 17 inches high on its flange, which makes a coffee table; a 36-inch spool is a bench or side table. Larger spools do not fit through a lot of building doors, so measure the door and the turn in the stairwell before you order a 48.

City delivery is to the curb or the alley. Tell us if you need it carried further, and how many steps are involved. For a table, ask for a spool with sound flanges and no maker stencil, since those are the ones that become yours to keep.

Courtyard buildings and renovations

Rogers Park is full of courtyard buildings and older apartment blocks, and their owners rewire, add laundry rooms, replace risers and upgrade elevators. That work empties a few reels per building, and they often end up in a basement or a gangway because there is nowhere else to put them.

A reel in a basement has to come up the stairs, which limits size: anything over about 36 inches is a two-person job. Roll reels out to the gangway or the alley before the truck arrives, and we load from there.

Pickup and delivery notes for 60626

• Alley access is best; street parking on Sheridan and Clark is tight during the day.
• Measure doors and stair turns before buying a spool over 36 inches.
• Contractors with reels at several buildings can list every address in one work order.

Before the truck comes

1. Count the reels by flange size, outside edge to outside edge.
2. Photograph the stack, plus one tag or stencil up close.
3. Stand each reel on edge and chock it; never stack them flat.
4. Leave an aisle wide enough for forklift tines, or a clear path to roll.
5. Keep maker-tagged returnables in their own row.

What the driver checks on each reel

Flanges

Boards whole and flat, not warped, split or cupped.

Staves

Lagging mostly intact on the drum, without rot or gaps.

Arbor hole

Round and solid, so a spindle or payoff bar fits.

Drive holes

Not torn out or elongated by a payoff stand.

Markings

Any maker's stencil, returnable tag or reel number.

Leftovers

Cable ends, staples and banding removed or noted.

The rest of the Chicago day

Rogers Park shares a run with these stops:

• the Southeast SideCalumet River and the Calumet Industrial Corridor
• HegewischCalumet Industrial Corridor, south end
• Roseland and PullmanRed Line Extension, Michigan Avenue and 111th Street
• Clearing and Garfield RidgeClearing industrial district and the Midway area

Where Rogers Park reels go

• Buyback: one-way wooden reels with sound flanges and staves are paid for at the stop, priced by size and condition.
• Maker take-back: anything tagged or stencilled as returnable is listed for its owner's own collection.
• Recycling: split, rotted or warped reels are broken down, the wood recovered and the hardware separated.
• Resupply: checked reels go on to buyers who need them for rewinding, storage or projects.

Questions from Rogers Park

Will you pick up two or three reels in Rogers Park?

Yes. Small lots go on the north lakefront day with other North Side stops, so a few reels are worth the trip.

What size spool fits through an apartment door?

Most 30-inch spools and many 36-inch spools fit a standard door when rolled on edge. Measure the door width and the turn at any landing before ordering a 48-inch spool.

Can you take reels out of a basement?

We load from the alley, gangway or curb. Bring reels out before the truck comes; anything over about 36 inches is easier with two people.

Can I buy a spool and carry it up to a Rogers Park apartment?

A 24-inch spool weighs roughly 25 to 70 pounds and fits through most doors. Larger ones are better kept on a porch, patio or in a yard.