Why buy used
A new nailed reel is built to order from fresh lumber, which takes time and costs more. A used reel already exists, sits somewhere in the Metroplex, and was built to carry cable in the first place. For cut-to-length cable, temporary storage, project spares and rewinding returned cable, a sound used reel does the job just as well. Buying used also keeps good reels in service longer, which is the most useful thing that can happen to a reel.
The checks we make
| Check | What we look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Flanges | Square to the drum, no cracks through the boards, plywood not peeling | A bent or cracked flange lets cable spill or bind |
| Drum staves | All present, tight, none split along the grain | The drum carries the full weight of the cable |
| Arbor hole | Round, with its steel plate if fitted, not worn oval | The reel has to turn true on a stand or a jack |
| Drive hole | Present and clean on reels that need one | Payoff equipment drives the reel through it |
| Nails and bolts | Heads intact, not rusted through, bolts tight on plywood reels | Fixings hold the reel together under load |
| Lagging | Not needed for most reuse | Only matters if you'll protect the cable with new boards |
Matching the reel to the cable
A reel's capacity depends on its flange diameter, its drum diameter and its traverse. The Okonite reel tables, which we use for reference, list a 36 by 18 by 12 in reel and a 36 by 24 by 17 in reel side by side: the same flange size, very different drums and very different capacity. If you're winding cable, tell us its outside diameter and length, and we'll suggest a reel. If you already have a reel that worked, measure its flange, traverse and drum and we'll match it. Our guide on flange, traverse and drum explains each dimension.
Types in stock from time to time
- Nailed wood reels, the most common, from 24 in to 96 in
- Plywood reels with bolts, 12 to 36 in, for building wire and data cable
- Plastic reels, mostly small, for low-voltage and fiber
- Steel reels, occasionally, when a maker's policy allows them to be resold
- Compartmental reels, for several cables wound side by side
Each type has its own page under reel types, with how it's built and what it's good for.
Returnable reels aren't for sale
Some reels belong to the maker even after they're empty. Reels marked as returnable, or covered by a deposit, go back to the maker under that maker's program. We won't sell a reel that belongs to someone else. What we sell are one-way reels and reels released by their owners. See returnable and one-way reels for how to tell the two apart.
Used reels for shipping cable out
Distributors and plants who ship cable to customers on reels sometimes find used reels the fastest way to cover a shortfall. The reel has to be sound, the arbor hole must suit the customer's equipment, and the size must hold the length on order with enough freeboard between the top layer of cable and the flange rim. Freeboard matters: cable wound flush to the rim gets crushed when the reel is rolled or stacked. A couple of inches is normal, more on bigger reels. If your customer will return reels to you, mark them clearly so they come back rather than being treated as one-way.
Prices and what moves them
We price used reels by size, build and grade. Mid-size nailed reels in ready-to-work condition sell steadily; very large drums cost more to handle and move; plywood reels are cheaper but more fragile. We'll quote when you tell us what you need, including delivery, rather than publish a list that changes with every load.
Ordering
Tell us the size, the build, how many, and when you need them. For cable work we'll send reels that pass the checks above. If we can only part-fill an order now, we'll say how many we have and how long the rest might take, and you decide whether to wait or take what's ready.
Questions
Are used reels safe for heavy cable?
A sound used reel of the right size is as safe as it was new. Overloading any reel, new or used, isn't.
Can I get matching reels?
Usually, for common sizes. Builds can vary slightly between reel makers, and we'll tell you if a batch is mixed.
Do used reels come with lagging?
Rarely. Lagging boards are usually removed to reach the cable and aren't kept. New lagging can be added if you need it.
Request a pickup or a quote
Count and flange size are the two things that matter. The rest helps us plan the truck.