What is the best proven way to spool a reel with either braid or mono?
Let's here your way of doing things.
if i do it myself i put a dowel through the spool,put a towel on each side have somebody else(a relativly strong person) hold the towel/dowel as tight as i can against the spool and crank at high drag
if i do it myself i put a dowel through the spool,put a towel on each side have somebody else(a relativly strong person) hold the towel/dowel as tight as i can against the spool and crank at high drag
We do this as well. but the person holding the spool also has a towel in their lap. This allows them to press the spool against their lap which actually puts more pressure on it without burning your hands up...it is also less tiring than trying to squeeze your hands tight against the spool.
Yep,.......same here! 
I throw my spool of line in a bucket of fresh water and let it chill for a lil while. Idk if the soak helps to soften the line or not but I like to think so. You'll be surprised how much dye comes outta your braid if you use some of the cheaper stuff, then it wont dye your fingers later. Then I tie a Bimini or Spider hitch. Then I Nail knot the doubled line to the reel. NOTE: (If you get spooled HOLD ON, It'll damn near get ripped outta your hands!) 
. I put a towel down on my floor, set the spool down and I use my feet to hold my dowel rod and spool down against the floor/towel tightly and crank it on. Then I crack a Coors and admire my work . LOL!
Yep,.......same here!
We didn't use a towel when we did Eddy's braid and it burnt the color out of my shorts
I throw my spool of line in a bucket of fresh water and let it chill for a lil while. Idk if the soak helps to soften the line or not but I like to think so. You'll be surprised how much dye comes outta your braid if you use some of the cheaper stuff, then it wont dye your fingers later. Then I tie a Bimini or Spider hitch. Then I Nail knot the doubled line to the reel. NOTE: (If you get spooled HOLD ON, It'll damn near get ripped outta your hands!)
The wet spool trick works great. I have been doing this as well. I usually soak it for a few hours before spooling. Braid seems to pack on alot tighter and smoother when its wet.
Also, make sure you spool it in low gear. It will be easier on your arms, and allow you to guide the line on more evenly at a slower speed.
ouch!!!!!!!!
I like building a little box around the spool, putting a bolt with washers through it. This way I can set the tension on the spool.
Some service spools are not spooled really tight so you have to be careful putting to much pressure on the spool its self, the line can dig down in the spool and damage the line. Its best to put some tension on the spool and with a wet gloved hand guiding the line on in a nice level wind fashion.
I also like doing drag test at 1/4 spool 1/2 spool and full, this gives me around about percentage of drag increase as the spool gets smaller during a fight. I just set the drag light at strike then never move it during spooling, take a scale and just make a double loop knot around the scale. This way you just slide the knot odd the scale and the knot will just come undone with out any line damage.
Braid must go on super tight especially in the beginning, the spool should feel like solid steel even after 700 yards of braid.
Heres some great info on spooling braids. http://www.bhptackle.com/pages.php?pageid=36
1 - Attach a sprocket to the side of the spool of line.
2 - remove bicycle tire from bicycle
3 - place bike on stationary stand
4 - place spool onto the bike frame and hook up bike chain
5 - Charge a hefty friend 5 bucks to ride your magic bike in low gear and burn some super calories.
6 - crank handle and put line on your reel as your buddy is on the stationary bike
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
sounds like a good way to lose weight for the hefty friend if you're spooling your reel with 1000+ yards of line
thanks for the input,
I should have the reel and line by tuesday.
going to run straight mono 130 lb . 750 yards
will it be best if i strap in to my harness while spooling the reel? i imagine you can crank alot easier and have more tension on the spool of line this way?
will it be best if i strap in to my harness while spooling the reel? i imagine you can crank alot easier and have more tension on the spool of line this way?
This statement is why you had trouble with the 50w. If you were trying to spool braid onto a reel without being strapped in with someone putting alot of tension on the spool of braid, then it was not going on the reel anywhere near tight enough.
Mono is a little more forgiving, but anytime you spool braid, you need to be strapped in. Without a harness, your arms will be burning something fierce after only the first 1/4 spool.
will it be best if i strap in to my harness while spooling the reel? i imagine you can crank alot easier and have more tension on the spool of line this way?
This statement is why you had trouble with the 50w. If you were trying to spool braid onto a reel without being strapped in with someone putting alot of tension on the spool of braid, then it was not going on the reel anywhere near tight enough.
Mono is a little more forgiving, but anytime you spool braid, you need to be strapped in. Without a harness, your arms will be burning something fierce after only the first 1/4 spool.
I didnt think about it untill i reposted to this thread... If i did i would have stripped the line and tried it that way. I imagine being in a harness would allow to have more pressure on the spool allowing for it to pack tighter correct?
Makes it A lot easier....