Fun Things to Do with a Cable Spool

Cable spools are those big wooden spools that hold metal cable for shipment or storage. If you happen to locate one of these things and can procure it for personal use, give yourself a pat on the back. They can be loads of fun and quite versatile. However, I am in no way condoning performing any of these activities where cable spools might be located for an industrial purpose and you could be arrested for trespassing.

Roll It

Push your cable spool to the top of a large hill. Then, simply bring it to the edge of the slope and give it a good push. The thing will go careening down the hill and its momentum can continue to carry it for a couple hundred feet after the slope dies. For some added fun, you can set up some obstacles at the bottom of the hill and try and aim the spool at them. These obstacles can include upright bales of hay, stacks of cardboard boxes, or anything else that could be knocked over. This can make for a fun (albeit quite short) game of bowling. Knocking things over can be a blast, especially with a giant cable spool.

Walk on It

Push your cable spool to a section of paved driveway, preferably one that has little to no slope. Turn the spool so that it's resting on the driveway like a big wheel. Now, carefully climb up on the spool and stand on it. The object is to try and balance yourself enough that you can roll the spool with your feet and attempt to walk on it. If you've ever seen those log roller competitions on ESPN, then you've got a pretty good idea of what to do. For the more daring out there, try to walk on top of the spool while it's rolling down a slight decline. Just be careful you don't crack your head open.

Use it as a Table

For a makeshift table that you can play poker on or furnish your college house with, simply tip the cable spool so that one of its flat faces is upwards. It makes a great little coffee table to put beers on while playing video games or rolling a J.

Stage a Joust

If you have the luck of having TWO cable spools, you can make yourself a jousting arena, kind of like what they had on American Gladiators. For this, you're going to need some jousting sticks. Find yourself some egg crate padding and wind a good amount of it around each end of a long stick (like a broom handle). Use duct tape to fasten the padding securely on the ends. What you end up with should look like a giant Q-tip. Now, Place the upturned spools (like tables) about ten feet apart and get yourself a jousting partner. Wear a helmet and mouthguard if at all possible, or you could always just tape some pieces of cardboard to your body to serve as armor. Now, take up your jousting sticks and try to knock the other person off their spool. Show no mercy.

Those are just four things you can do with a cable spool or two. If you let your mind wander, I bet you can come up with even more enjoyable uses for this versatile object.