Quote Originally Posted by Sully View Post
Best "tensioning" devices Ive found are basically simple.

A threaded rod goes thru a hole drilled in the "upright"...Shove rod thru and on each side put a teflon washer. spool goes on either side and a plain old flat washer over the spool.....then a coiled wire spring...another flat washer and finally a wing nut.

As you crank down on the wing nut you increase the tension on the spool....and you can go from NONE...all the way to "you cant even pull the thread off the spool" tight.
The more holes you drill and use this setup on the "upright" ( made of wood or whatever) the more spools of various thread you can "carry" at one time. My rig carrys 8 spools.
Here is one that I came up with after the wing nut kept moving and changing the tension. A plastic bushing from Lowes, drill under size hole and put 10-24 thumb screw in, or you can tap the hole. Slide over the shaft and lock in place at the right tension.



It will stay put and not unwind.

GJ