Thanks, all; someone's been able to line me up with a takeup reel.  :)

...Tim Radde <tra...@excite.com> and glen herrmannsfeldt
<g...@ugcs.caltech.edu> were kind enough to reply (starting with glen):

I've never worked with a metal lathe. I'm okay with a wood lathe, which
could create a reel which was an interesting conversation piece.  :)

I imagine that after the glue had set, it wouldn't be a problem to sand
down the edges. The glue would want to be something of the "plastic-weld"
variety, rather than just a super-glue or somesuch, so the bond would stay
solid under the repeated centrifigual force it would get in use. Should be
doable, though!

--------------------------------------------------------------
o...@panix.com    Yes, I know the centrifigual force is also an
                 argument against making wooden DECtape reels.
                 Still, it _is_ kind of tempting.  :)