Joe Collins Spring Winder Plans

[bangster]

I approached Joe about posting the plans for his winder directly on the MB, and he gave enthusiastic approval. Quoth he: "It will make me Happy to have them on the board." I've compiled them into four downloadable 8x10 pdf files, for printing. The fifth file has them all on a single 8x10 file; but printed out, most of it would be too small to read. At his request, I'm including a link to his video tutorial on Youtube. The video was made with an early model of the winder that had no brake. Enjoy. --bangster


View attachment Joe's Plans page 1.pdf View attachment Joe's Plans page 2.pdf View attachment Joe's Plans page 3.pdf View attachment Joe's Plans page 4a.pdf View attachment Joe's Plans on One Page.pdf

Joe's Tutorial Video (click it)

 

[bangster]

Hey Joe...
Thanks for inventing this winder. And thanks for passing it along. It's excellent in itself, but it also provides a groundwork for inventive horologers to modify for their own purposes. You're the father of this basic design, and many will continue to love you for it.

Accept the thanks of everybody who will ever make use of these plans.

bangster

 

[David S]

Awesome Joe thank you. I have used it for about 4 years now. Being made of wood it is easy to modify, enhance, replace what ever. It would be interesting to know how many members have used your plans.

David

 

[phildee]

I would Like to say a Big Thank You to Joe,for allowing this to be Posted,and to Bangster,for Posting It,Awesome

 

[Fitzclan]

Ditto on that. I plan to make one real soon. Thanks Joe for sharing.

 

[leeinv66]

I am lucky enough to have a set of hand drawn plans Joe sent me back in 2006 and also his 2005 tutorial CD on how to use the winder. 9 years on and my Joe Collins winder is still working a treat. Thanks Joe!!!!!

 

[AndyDWA]

As a newcomer to the hobby, one of my biggest concerns has been my inability to service mainsprings. Joe's winder changed that.

I do not consider myself a woodworker and I do not have the sort of powered workshop tools, like bench saws, drill presses and lathes, that some might take for granted. Yet I made a functional winder using quick-grip clamps, square, tenon saw, power drill and sandpaper. I was amazed when I wound my first spring, and my winder didn't collapse

The most difficult parts for me were finding something to make a suitable mainshaft and getting my hands on an affordable t-handle wrench. But the actual manufacture just took observation, care and time. After servicing just two springs, I am already making modifications and considering others.

Thanks Joe.

 

[bangster]

For a few variations on the Joe Collins design, check out THIS THREAD.

HERE's another interesting thread.

And HERE's yet another.

 

[Roger007]

Hi Joe this is groovy cant wait to get going on making this

 

[crossie]

Hello Joe, I am in the process of making a mainspring winder,but cannot find after many attempts a chuck the same that you use on your mainspring winder,
I would be most grateful if you could tell me where you obtained it.
I am making a pattern shown on utube it uses a brass barrel clamp, again I cannot find it in the u.k. Do you know where I might get it.
I have it made up and just need those two items to finish the job.
Your winder is very good,now I have the pattern I will make yours next.
Best regards Geoff Cross. (crossie)

 

[Kevin W.]

Thank you Joe for allowing it to be shared on this mb, i use mine.

 

[ncollar]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Joe [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Ihave tried to download the files with out any success. Any help wouldbe appreciated and be used to learn and grow in the repair of clocks.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Nelson[/FONT]

 

[bangster]

What happens when you click on the picture?

bangster

 

[ncollar]

Joe
Thanks for replying to my post. When I click on the pics it starts to redirect and just times out before it does anything. Any help would be more than appreciated.
nel2lar (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

 

[leeinv66]

The pictures are actually PDF files. Do you have a PDF viewer program on your PC? If not, you will need to down load something like this: Click Here

 

[TJ Cornish]

Joe
Thanks for replying to my post. When I click on the pics it starts to redirect and just times out before it does anything. Any help would be more than appreciated.
nel2lar (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

Adobe Acrobat is notoriously finicky. Try right clicking on each picture and choosing "Save Target As", then save them to your computer and try opening them directly, not through the browser.

 

[mountaintimer]

Well, I guess I had better get brave & try to make a winder like you invented Joe.
Thanks for allowing us to copy your invention & thanks to bangster for posting it on here.
Ron

 

[Tim4t]

I'd like to thank Joe Collins for his plans, and also everyone on this forum for sharing their ideas. I'd also like to encourage anyone who doubts they have the ability to make a success of it, to give it a go. I lack the tools and skills to make a nice job of this sort of project, but produced a functional winder, which I used for the first time today.



As you can see from the picture it is made mostly from old scraps of wood and 15mm copper domestic water pipe. For the spring clamp I've used an old hole saw which was part of a cheap set of 4 different sizes. I filed the teeth to take the sharp edges off.

I had to purchase the T bar tap wrench (for M3 to M6), the two long M6 bolts and wing nuts, and "jubilee" hose clips, totalling around five pounds. For a temporary spring hook I passed a long screw driver through and clamped it with the workbench.

The way I clamped the wrench to the pipe makes the spring clamp access difficult, but now I've proven to myself I can make something that works, I'll be tidying it up, sorting out the brake, spring hook etc.

I wouldn't have done it without your generous sharing of ideas and experience, thanks again.

Tim.

 

[David S]

HI Tim, Nice going. It is always more rewarding when you can re-purpose stuff and keep costs down.

Also looks like you have it on a Workmate. We used to make them at my plant here in Brockville.

David

 

[bangster]

Congrats! As time goes on, you'll have it looking dang near professional!

 

[saconi]

Dear Joe.

Thanks for the draws. It will be very usable to me.

 

[FrontMan]

Joe and Bangster, thanks so much for the winder plans. I downloaded them five minutes ago, and will get started on the construction tomorrow! Time is the enemy, but clocks are friends.
Best Wishes,
Paul

 

[Adam Gauthier]

Joe,

Thank you for posting this, I have been looking at old patents from the 1800's to find a way to make one. Now if I can find plans for a bushing tool!

Best,

Adam

 

[chezwilly]

For a few variations on the Joe Collins design, check out THIS THREAD.

HERE's another interesting thread.

And HERE's yet another.

I don' know if I'm doing something wrong but these links don't work for me. They just bring me back to the NAWCC main message board.

Willy

 

[bruce linde]

thx for letting us know... we're aware of the problem but having specific posts and links to work with is a big help. can't tell you when it will be fixed, pls be patient. thx again.

 

[THTanner]

I don' know if I'm doing something wrong but these links don't work for me. They just bring me back to the NAWCC main message board.

Willy

I get the same results with those links -

Try these links

Spring Winder Video?
Online Clock Repair Resources as of 10/04/2017

or click on the Main Page link then click on the little magnifying glass icon in the upper left near TOP and enter SPRING WINDER into the search window - you will get pages of links to spring winder discussions

 

[bruce linde]

I
Spring Winder Video?
Online Clock Repair Resources as of 10/04/2017

both of these links work for me as of 9:21am pst 12/26 ... ??

 

[Carl in France]

Well following on from my first spring service with it boinging all over the place i decided to make the Collins spring winder.
I have just finished it and am pleased that all the parts were lying about in one way or another and just needed putting togather with some cutting, filing and soldering.
Fantastic website for information so once more thanks to all and especially Joe Collins here for making the plans available.

 

[Timothy Adam Smith]

Now that I have viewed all the different variation I am ready to build my own. With this CV-19 lock-down going on this will make a great project! Now to just get my hands on a clock that needs repair...

 

[eteo66]

Where can l find a chuck or adapter for use on open mainsprings? Or can l use something else?

 

[shutterbug]

1/8" steel bar can be bent to attach to the winder and the other end to the spring. Basically an "L" shape with a loop for attaching. Heat makes the bending easier.

 

[eteo66]

Thanks Shutterbug. How about the adapter for the open mainsprings? J have attached an image.

 

[shutterbug]

I can't picture how that works. Not a very clear illustration maybe

 

[Timothy Adam Smith]

Where can l find a chuck or adapter for use on open mainsprings? Or can l use something else?

This is what I used....

 

[bangster]

Chuck is the same for open or barreled springs. You're overlooking a crucial part of Joe's design.


Put the aluminum cylinder dummy in the clamp. Put the arbor of the open MS into the hole in the dummy. Put the loop on the spring over the pin on the part indicated by the arrow. Wind away. The part with the arrow flops over, depending on which way the spring winds.
Watch Joe's video.

 

[wisty]

Another thank you for the plans. I am in the process of making the winder, and have what feels like a stupid question - but I can't find the answer.

What size is the loop end on a typical spring? Or if they vary depending on the spring, can someone suggest a suitable diameter for the pin ( arrowed in the previous post). The dimension is not given on Joe's plans, but scaling the drawing suggests something in the region of 2.5mm. I was planning to use a bit of 4mm stainless bar I have lying about, but was worried that that might prove too big should I ever need to work on a get a loop end spring. All my clocks are barrelled springs.

 

[shutterbug]

1/4" would be fine (6mm). You want it pretty strong. About the size of the posts on most movements would be good, since that's what they fit over.

 

[wisty]

Thanks.

 

[Altashot]

I finally did it.
My old spring winders were 2 Frankenstein monstrosities. One out of an old Korean movement for open springs, and for barreled springs, another monstrous contraption.

Both of them were not very safe but I made do with them for years.

A couple days ago, I almost had an accident, I thought I got cut badly but luckily, I didn’t. I did freaking hurt though. I got slapped several times in an instant.

So I said: “That’s it! I’m done with these 2 pieces of crap. I’m building myself a Joe Collins Spring Winder.

I purchased the materials yesterday morning and spent the afternoon cutting and assembling the wood. Today, I did the metal.

In his honour, and should someone, some day, stumble upon this strange device,


Thank you Joe.

M.

I just gave it a tan and a shine.

 

[shutterbug]

Looks great, Alta. I like how you softened up the corners and honored the inventor

 

[Kevin W.]

Looks great Alta, glad you made it. Joe would be impressed.

 

[David S]

Nicely done Alta. Joe will be impressed.

David

 

[eteo66]

Is there a way to add a ratchet to the handle winder? I feel it is safer to install a ratchet. Thanks

 

[David S]

Eteo66,

Here is a link to one.
Joe Colins winder.....automatic brake???
David

 

[eteo66]

Thanks David. I'll take a look

 

[Elliott Wolin]

Here's mine, inspired by the Joe Collins design, but with some modifications. Note that I use thick piano wire to hook the spring end. I have a hand loop-end winder I use for loop-end springs, one day I'll add something to the this winder to handle loop-end springs.

 

[UncleDoc]

That looks like it came out nicely. Mine is about 3/4 done. Lacking woodworking tools, I'm stuck till I can borrow a table saw to make the offset cutouts for the pieces that clamp the spring. I'll post pics tonight.

 

[UncleDoc]

That looks like it came out nicely. Mine is about 3/4 done. Lacking woodworking tools, I'm stuck till I can borrow a table saw to make the offset cutouts for the pieces that clamp the spring. I'll post pics tonight.

Getting there. I said 3/4, maybe only 1/2 complete. Great design though.

 

[Elliott Wolin]

Clearly there are many ways to connect the turning shaft to the square-shaped winding arbor. I used a small tap wrench handle and a short section of copper tubing to connect it to some threaded rod (it's a little more complicated than that).

Do three-jawed chucks get a good grip on four-sided winding arbors? I'd worry that they might slip.

 

[UncleDoc]

Clearly there are many ways to connect the turning shaft to the square-shaped winding arbor. I used a small tap wrench handle and a short section of copper tubing to connect it to some threaded rod (it's a little more complicated than that).

Do three-jawed chucks get a good grip on four-sided winding arbors? I'd worry that they might slip.

That sure is a concern. My problem is I limited to off the shelf parts lacking the ability to machine things I need. I hope that'll change over the next year or so. What does Joe spec for the chuck end/arbor connection?

Duane