Schatten Automatic Winder Traverse

[Brian Boedigheimer BBmade]

I haven’t used an automatic traverse but I’ve been in your shoes. It takes quite a few attempts to get comfortable winding and plenty more before it starts getting consistent. For me it was too much tension.

Some people with use cloth or felt between their fingers and others will have a simple attachment coming off the winder that has something like felt between two pieces of wood or plexi. A gentle, small clamp, something that keeps the tension consistent is helpful.

It takes less tension than I thought and struggled with to get reliable winds.

Prepare yourself mentally to notch around a dozen attempts and yes, it costs money to buy that coil wire. The small rolls from Stew Mac are outrageously expensive. I buy larger rolls off eBay from reminginton.

[Doc Rathwell]

I have it with use for my (I think) Model B Schatten winder and I’ve had no issues after setting it up. I find it a little annoying having to set it each time for usage but the tension was fine from the first wind if I remember correctly. I just tried to mimic the resistance of when I used my fingers and it’s been good enough.

Doc