Reel program
Reel supply for contractors and plants
Contractors, plants and rewinders need empty reels too: to rewind leftover cable, store spare runs, or ship cable to a job. We supply checked used reels sized by flange, drum and traverse, from a single reel to a trailer load, and take your empties on the same trip.
Reels sized to the cable
The right reel depends on the cable, not just the flange. A reel's capacity comes from its flange diameter, drum (barrel) diameter and traverse (the inside width between flanges), minus a clearance at the rim. Tell us the cable's outside diameter and the length you need to hold, and we suggest sizes that fit. The capacity calculator does the same arithmetic.
For storage reels, the arbor hole matters too: it has to fit your payoff stand or spindle. Most mid-size reels have a 3 to 3¼-inch arbor; larger ones go up to 4 inches.
What "checked" means
- Flanges flat and whole, with no split boards.
- Lagging / staves intact, and no protruding nails or staples on the drum.
- Arbor hole round and solid; drive holes not torn.
- No maker's claim: one-way reels only.
Reels are used, so expect stencils, scuffs and weathering. If you need a matched set for a job, say so and we pick from the same build.
Ordering
Tell us the sizes, the quantity and the delivery ZIP, and whether you have reels to send back. Small orders ride with corridor days; trailer loads get their own truck. For volume, see reels by the load.
A worked example
A plant electrician in Franklin Park has 1,400 feet of 0.6-inch control cable left after a project and wants it off the floor. A 36-inch reel with a 20-inch drum and a 22-inch traverse holds roughly 2,400 feet of that cable with 2 inches of rim clearance, so one reel does it, with room to spare.
Swap the cable for a 1.4-inch feeder and the same reel holds only a few hundred feet; a 60 or 72-inch reel becomes the sensible choice. That is why we ask for the cable's outside diameter before suggesting a size.
Common requests
| Use | Usual flange | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rewinding leftover building wire | 24 to 36 in | Drum diameter above the wire's minimum bend |
| Storing spare feeder runs | 48 to 72 in | Traverse and depth for the length |
| Shipping cable to a job | 36 to 60 in | Sound flanges and drive holes for the payoff |
| Maintenance stock in a plant | 30 to 48 in | Arbor size to fit the plant's stands |
| Pulling-rope or tape storage | 24 to 36 in | Light, small, easy to move by hand |
Minimum bend radius matters for big cable: the drum must be large enough that the cable isn't kinked as it winds. Check the cable maker's data sheet for the minimum drum diameter before choosing a reel.
Delivery
Small orders are delivered on the corridor day for your area. Trailer loads get their own truck and are loaded by size, smallest reels in front, so they come off in order. Deliveries to job sites need a contact on site and somewhere firm to unload.
Questions
Can I buy a used cable reel for rewinding?
Yes. Tell us the cable diameter and length, and we suggest a flange, drum and traverse that fit, then deliver a checked reel.
Do you sell returnable reels?
No. Only one-way reels that nobody else owns are sold.
Can you collect empties when you deliver?
Yes. A delivery and a pickup run on the same truck.
How big a drum does my cable need?
Check the cable maker's data sheet for the minimum bending radius or minimum drum diameter, then choose a reel whose drum is at least that size.
Can you match a reel to my payoff stand?
Yes. Tell us the arbor size the stand takes, and we pick reels with a matching arbor hole.
Do used reels come cleaned?
They come checked, not refinished: protruding nails and staples are pulled, loose debris knocked off, and anything unsafe rejected. Expect weathering, old stencils and scuffs. Buyers wanting furniture-grade spools should plan on sanding and sealing.
Can I reserve a size that isn't in the yard yet?
Yes. Tell us the flange, drum, traverse and arbor you need. When a matching reel comes through a pickup, we hold it and arrange delivery.
Reel words on this page
- Flange
- The round side discs that hold the cable in. Flange diameter, edge to edge, is the size a reel is known by.
- Drum (barrel)
- The cylinder between the flanges that the cable winds around.
- Traverse
- The inside width between the flanges: how wide a layer of cable can be.
- Arbor hole
- The centre hole a spindle, shaft or payoff bar passes through.
- Payoff
- The stand or trailer a reel turns on while cable is pulled off it.
Request a pickup or quote
Work order received
- Reference
- Request
Next we read what you sent, sort the reels by tag and condition, and come back with what we buy, where returnables go, and a pickup day for your corridor. If it helps, reply with a photo of the stack and the reel tags.