As the high rolling fight director of our local combat group one of my responsibilies is to make the ribbons for each event. (no wonder I got the job so easily). We're talking 10 pilots, 4 rounds, 40 ribbons per month. I am self employed with 3 kids so time is always an issue. Yesterday I built a little wooden box slightly larger than a rolled ribbon with holes in the sides for a long (6'') phillips bit to go through (the 1/4'' dowel is too slick to wind with), then with a low power battery drill I can wind the ribbons up pretty fast in the box which helps them to stay straight. Then each ribbon must get it's end taped, the hole punched and the string tied on. This all doesn't take forever but it just seems like it. Do any of you have any other tricks for high speed ribbon making?