Rows read flange × inside traverse × drum. The heavy 42 in build weighs only 10 lb more than the standard one, yet it's rated for twice the cable. That's thicker flange boards and stronger staves, and it matters if you're buying a reel to carry heavy cable.
What arrives on 42 in reels
Commercial feeders, larger aluminium building wire, control and instrumentation cable for plants, and some telecom and fiber cable. Data-centre jobs and industrial projects empty them in numbers. Most are nailed; plywood reels of this size exist but are less common, because plywood flanges this large flex under load.
Handling without a machine
A 42 in reel can be rolled by one person on smooth, level concrete. Anywhere else, it's a two-person job. To load one onto a trailer without a forklift, use a sturdy ramp at a shallow angle, with one person pushing from behind and another walking beside the reel holding the flange to steer and brake. Never stand downhill of a reel on a ramp. Getting it off is harder than getting it on, so plan the unloading before you load it.
On the truck
A 42 in reel with a 30 in overall width fits three across a 102 in deck, and thirteen along a 48 ft deck: about 39 in a tier. Wider builds may only fit three across with a little room to spare, which suits strapping. A full tier weighs around 3,500 to 3,900 lb.
As a dining table
On its side, a 42 in reel stands about 30 in tall, which is standard dining-table height. The top seats four. That makes 42 in reels the best size for a spool dining table: no legs or risers needed. They're heavy enough to stay put on a patio in a North Texas storm, which smaller spools aren't, but still movable with two people and a dolly.
Selling them
Sound 42 in reels sell to contractors, rope users and table buyers. They're worth selling rather than recycling, and a stack of them usually covers the cost of collecting smaller, broken reels on the same pickup. Tell us the count, whether they're nailed or plywood, and if you know it, whether they're the standard or heavy build.
Checking a 42 in reel
Stand the reel up and sight across both flanges: they should be parallel. If one flange leans, the drum joint has failed and the reel won't wind cable evenly. Look for forklift tine damage on the lower half of each flange, which is common on reels this size because they're always moved by machine on site. Check the drive hole, too; feeder cable is often paid off with powered equipment, and a torn drive hole can't take the strain. Missing lagging and faded stencils don't matter.
Storage on a site
A stack of 42 in reels takes up more ground than people plan for. Each one needs a footprint of about 42 by 30 in standing up, plus space for a forklift to reach it. Line them up in rows on their flanges with the arbor holes aligned, so a bar or the forks can go straight through the row, and leave a clear lane between rows. Chock the end reels, especially on any slope.
Questions
What's the empty weight of a 42 in reel?
About 90 to 100 lb for the Okonite builds.
Is 42 in a good size for a table?
Yes. On its side it's close to dining height, and the top seats four.
Can one person move a 42 in reel?
Only on smooth, level ground, and only by rolling it. Lifting and ramps need two people or a machine.