Reel size
42-inch cable reels
At 42 inches a reel crosses from "two people can lift it" to "use forks if you have them". It carries feeders and longer communications runs, and it is common on commercial and industrial jobs.
The numbers
- Flange thickness
- 2 to 2.5 in
- Height on its flange
- about 24 to 33 in
- Handling
- Forklift preferred; two people can roll it on firm ground
- Weight method
- Two flange discs plus the stave shell, at 28 to 40 lb per cubic foot
What it carries
Feeder cable, larger multi-conductor power cable, longer fibre runs and coax. Nailed board builds dominate, with thicker flanges than the 36-inch size.
Who empties them
Commercial electrical contractors on mid-rise and warehouse jobs, plants upgrading distribution, and branches. Warehouse fit-outs along I-55 and in the O'Hare corridor leave plenty in the truck court.
Buyback, return or recycling
Good buyback demand from rewinders and contractors. Returnables are common; check for bolted builds and tags. Torn drive holes show up more from this size up, because powered payoffs are used more.
Uses for buyers
Larger patio tables, display stands, outdoor bars when stood on a flange with a deep traverse, and storage for long cable runs.
Where they turn up around Chicago
Warehouse and distribution fit-outs along I-55, I-80 and I-88, plant distribution upgrades in Bedford Park and Franklin Park, and feeders on mid-rise residential jobs in the city. Branches cut down longer reels onto 42-inch ones for contractors.
They are awkward: too heavy to lift by hand, light enough that people try. Use forks.
Checking one
- Look for fork damage on the flange edges.
- Check drive holes; powered payoffs start to show at this size.
- Tap the drum: a dull sound may mean loose or rotten staves.
- Note any steel arbor plate, which can mean a returnable.
Common mistakes
Lifting a 42-inch reel by hand is the classic one: it looks manageable and isn't. The second is stacking them flat, three high, on gravel: the bottom reel rots and the stack becomes unstable. Stand them on edge in a row, chock the ends, and use forks.
How much cable it holds
Layered capacity at the middle build shown above, with 2 inches of clearance below the flange rim. Real cable packs less neatly; treat these as upper figures and check with the capacity calculator.
| Cable diameter | Length | Layers × turns |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25 in (6 mm) | 25,210 ft (7,685 m) | 34 × 96 |
| 0.35 in (9 mm) | 12,560 ft (3,830 m) | 24 × 68 |
| 0.5 in (13 mm) | 6,300 ft (1,920 m) | 17 × 48 |
| 0.65 in (17 mm) | 3,610 ft (1,100 m) | 13 × 36 |
| 0.8 in (20 mm) | 2,280 ft (695 m) | 10 × 30 |
| 1 in (25 mm) | 1,460 ft (445 m) | 8 × 24 |
| 1.25 in (32 mm) | 850 ft (260 m) | 6 × 19 |
| 1.5 in (38 mm) | 600 ft (180 m) | 5 × 16 |
| 1.75 in (44 mm) | 380 ft (115 m) | 4 × 13 |
| 2 in (51 mm) | 360 ft (110 m) | 4 × 12 |
In metric
- Flange
- 107 cm
- Traverse
- 51 to 71 cm
- Drum
- 46 to 61 cm
- Empty weight
- about 50 to 118 kg
Questions
Can I move a 42-inch reel without a forklift?
Two people can roll it on firm, level ground. Lifting it into a vehicle needs a ramp or forks.
Is a 42-inch reel common?
Yes, on commercial and industrial jobs. It is a frequent size in warehouse and plant pickups.
Do 42-inch reels fit on standard reel jacks?
Most reel jacks and stands for contractor use take 42-inch reels; check the stand's maximum flange and the arbor bar size.
Are 42-inch reels bought back?
Yes, when sound and one-way. They are in steady demand from rewinders and contractors.
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.
- Traverse
- The inside width between the flanges: how wide a layer of cable can be.
- Drive hole
- A smaller hole off-centre in the flange that a drive pin uses to turn the reel.
- Payoff
- The stand or trailer a reel turns on while cable is pulled off it.
- Returnable reel
- A reel its maker expects back, usually stencilled or tagged to say so.
- Reel tag
- The label or plate carrying the maker, the reel number and sometimes the return terms.
Selling or buying 42-inch cable reels?
Pick buy, sell or recycle, the product, the count and your ZIP, and the full request opens with those filled in.
Or write to info@chicagowoodenspools.com with the count, flange sizes and a photo of the stack.