The rotator shown by R in Fig. 146 may be fixed at any required place on any porter, and be handled by three or four men ; and another rotator may be fixed to some other part of the same porter, when the work is heavy ; consequently, two sets of men can handle two rotators, instead of crowding too many men together at one rotator. The men at the extreme end of the porter do not handle either of the rotators, but steer the work to its required situation for undergoing the various processes.

When it is inconvenient to use rotators having arms of great length, windlass rotators are employed. These consist of pairs of semicircular grips that are bolted to various parts of the porter, and sometimes to the shaft or axle which is being made. Around the rims of the grips are holes for containing ends of levers, named handspikes. These levers are made of ash, and when the work needs moving around its axis, a few men place the thick ends of their handspikes into some of the holes in the rotators, and adjust the work to the position desired.