Rotating yarn holder on a bearing

A compact, modular rotating yarn holder designed for smooth and stable yarn feeding. The bearing ensures effortless rotation even with small yarn balls, preventing tension on the yarn. The base can be weighted with concrete or fine sand for extra stability. A magnetic vertical rod allows quick yarn changes and easy disassembly for compact storage.

You will need

• 1× bearing (608 type, standard skateboard / inline skate bearing)

  height 7 mm, inner diameter 8 mm, outer diameter 22 mm

• Neodymium magnets:

  either Ø10×1.5 mm (4 pcs) or Ø10×3 mm (2 pcs)

• Super glue or fast two-part epoxy for bonding

• Threaded stud (M4), about 5 cm long (from 2 to 15 cm is also fine), to connect the two parts of the rod

• (Optional) To weight the base: fine sand or concrete mix

  • fast epoxy to seal the holes (required if using sand)

Printing

• Base

  Print with supports — tree (tree slim).

  This will not interfere with filling; instead, it improves internal bonding and strength.

• RotatorTop

  Print flat side down, bearing socket facing up,

  with tree supports (there is a recess for the LimiterRing).

• AxisBottom

  Print with tree supports (for the magnet cavities).

• AxisTop and AxisBottom

  Print with a brim.

Assembly

1. Optional base weighting

   Fill the base with concrete or fine sand.

   If using sand, seal the holes with epoxy or any glue (hot glue also works).

2. Bearing installation

   Insert the bearing into the base without glue.

   Place RotatorTop onto the bearing, also without glue.

   Check alignment: RotatorTop should rotate smoothly without touching the base.

3. Magnets in RotatorTop

   Glue a Ø10×3 mm magnet (or two Ø10×1.5 mm magnets) into the magnet slot.

   The fit is tight — having a 10 mm drill bit or another flat tool helps to press the magnet fully in.

4. Magnets in AxisBottom

   Glue magnets the same way.

   Check magnet polarity before gluing.

   An easy method is to place the magnets onto RotatorTop (with its magnet already installed), then put AxisBottom on top.

5. Rod assembly

   Screw the M4 threaded stud halfway into one Axis part, then screw the second Axis onto it.

   No glue is required — the joint tightens clockwise and remains removable for compact storage.

6. LimiterRing

   Glue LimiterRing into RotatorTop.

   It keeps the axis centered and stable.

Although this design is more complex than some existing holders, it rotates very smoothly, allowing even an almost-finished yarn ball to unwind easily. Thanks to the weighted base, it can be placed even on a blanket without tipping over. According to my wife, this is one of the best yarn holders she has ever used.