It is a smaller spindle for our Heavy Duty Ball Winder than the standard spindle.

Why would I need or want one of these?

If you wind smaller balls and do not want a large center hole structure to your ball, then this may be something you would want to have.

How big is the Small Diameter Spindle and how does it compare to the standard spindle?

The diameter of the SDS is 1.25" for its entire effective length non-tapered). This compares to the standard spindle which measures 2" at the base and tapers to 1.625" at the top. Although they both measure 6" tall, the SDS only has 5" of winding length due to the larger mounting section where the flange is attached.

Customer testing shows that users who make kits with smaller amounts (20 - 80 yards or so) of yarn prefer the SDS over the standard spindle.

Can I purchase a Ball Winder with just the SDS?

No. The SDS is limited in its ability to wind really large balls because of the thicker mounting transition at its base. Therefore, we have chosen to include the standard spindle on all units that we ship and the SDS is only offered as an optional item.

Why did it take NKK so long to design the SDS?

We learned by trial and error that ball winders inherently do not like small diameters! Why is this? Because when you are winding yarn the way that a ball winder does, the yarn does not behave properly when you try to wind it around a small diameter spindle. There is less bearing surface between the yarn and the spindle and the constant turning of the yarn around a relatively sharp angle does not work well when trying to construct a well shaped ball. During the development of the SDS we designed no fewer than 10 approaches of various shapes and sizes in order to solve this problem. We ultimately arrived at the optimal diameter for our specific ball winder and with a shape that was very similar to our starting point - the standard spindle.

Have you ever wondered why there are no ball winders with really small diameter spindles? We believe it is because of the issues raised in the above paragraph.

NKK is the only ball winder manufacturer that offers different spindle sizes for its ball winders.

If you would like to order an SDS, please be aware that there may be a delay up to 2-3 weeks depending on the units current availability. 

You may need additional parts depending on the age of your ball winder. If you have a yarn tensioner post that can be turned to adjust tension and you have a black knob at the bottom, you will not need this part, otherwise you will. Most importantly, our Post Arm now have a slot that allows the user to move the SDS in close to the Spindle. This is critical as the distance between the post curly Q and the spindle must be reduced when using the SDS. This arm is $5.00 if your unit does not have it. The entire Tensioner upgrade kit is $15.00 for older ball winders and includes, the new Post, Arm , and Black Knob.

If you have the adjustable arm below that allows you to slide the post back and forth toward the spindle, then you will not need this part, but otherwise you will.

You may order these items when ordering the Small Diameter Spindle. If you need both parts (post, knob, and arm), then order the complete Kit for $15.00, otherwise, just order the Adjustable Arm for $5.00 (the adjustable arm started shipping in March 2010 as standard equipment).