I bought this spinning wheel at an antique shop for a really good price and could not pass it up. I know absolutely nothing about spinning wheels so I am hoping that someone might be able to help me.
I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if there are any missing parts they can see on the picture?
I know that the drive band needs replacing. It’s rubber so I have absolutely no idea where I can buy one from. I also know that the hooks on the flyer are missing too so not sure what I’m looking for and where I can get those.
I have no idea who the wheel is made by or really any of the anatomy names (apart from the drive band and flyer) so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Any insight, help and advice will be really useful. Thank you!
I don’t know the maker but all parts are there except for the hooks and the brake band for the flyer. You should probably disassemble it, give it a good cleaning, re-oil it and replace the drive band. You don’t necessarily have to use a large rubber drive band, cotton yarn, plastic lacing (like you would use for kid’s pony bead necklaces) or twine would also work.
It appears your wheel is bobbin-led and you can also adjust the height of the mother-of-all (as your drive band stretches) by turning the tensioning knob. When putting on the new drive band, adjust the tensioning knob to the lowest position.
Any type of mild wood cleaner will work. You just want to clean off any built up dust and gunk caused by old oil that has solidified on moving parts. Different spinners use different types of oil on their wheels. The main thing is you want a light weight oil. I use a 3-in-1 oil that my husband uses on his old treadle sewing machines. You’ll want to oil any place it moves, including inside the bobbin so it rides freely on the shaft of the flyer. Clean the flyer shaft with fine steel wool prior to oiling.
I’ve been thinking about what to suggest for your brake band … the flyer seems to sit down inside the maiden and I’m not sure how a brake band would come into contact with the flyer. It confuses me! Maybe that particular wheel works without a band??? I don’t see anything on the front maiden to suggest that there was ever a flyer brake assembly.
Once you get it cleaned up and oiled, you’re ready to give it a test drive. I can help walk you through that also. There are old threads where I’ve walked other new spinners. Don’t worry if you don’t have fiber to spin yet … the way I teach spinning, you work with the wheel without fiber first so by the time that fiber you’ve order gets there, you’re almost ready to spin.
Speaking of fiber, I suggest getting a nice medium wool roving or top like corriedale or romney
Another place to get great fibers at a terrific price is The Sheep Shed. The page is kind of difficult to navigate, but trust me, it is well worth the time to explore. Carol Lee offers “mill ends” … this is fiber that is left on the huge drums from the fiber mills that machine spin yarns. If you have any questions, Carol is happy to answer you, she’s a real sweetheart! http://thesheepshedstudio.com/
I just cringe whenever someone says they know nothing about… and then buy something!!! So very wrong! How would you know if it was all there? But it’s now done.
It appears to be a complete wheel, except for the hooks (which can easily be added) and the drive band. The rubber band is only because they don’t know how to make a proper one, and the rubber will fit most sizes.
You should make your own. I have several times. You must use a non-stretchy yarn… cotton is good, if twisted tightly. Hemp/linen is better, but more expensive and harder to find. Measure out about 3 times the length you need, and then twist them together. If you can braid it, that is even better. You want to make a good strong, and somewhat thicker band that will go around the wheel, and the bobbin. Join the ends together as smoothly as possible. Have the wheel in the lowest tension position and make the join fairly tight. Then adjust the tension slightly. If you have to adjust a lot, then re-do the band. Cotton will sometimes stretch a little with use, so take that into account.
I also want to suggest that you find a spinning group in your area. There is one, but may be hard to find. Ask at your LYS first — they know everything! You will get a tremendous amount of help from the others.
Take a class!! This is vital, since you need to learn how to use this wheel. They are the same, but each is different. It appears to be a good wheel (I have two uprights like that) and they work well, but you need to know what to do with them.
@paddi Often craftsters jump in head first without researching their tools. It’s not how I do things but I’m not them and I’m not spending their money.
It’s been 9 months since @Fayonaise brought the wheel home. I hope they have had a lot of success with it!
Not every place has a spinning group in the area. Heck, the closest LYS is over 100 miles away from me.
Great description of making a new drive band. A weaver’s knot is the perfect knot to use for the join.
