need info on Spinning Wheels

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Hi! My father is a very skilled woodworker and he has just offered to build me a spinning wheel. I know very little and have never spun before but have been planning on getting into it for years.

What I need to know.....what kind do you use? The goods and bads of different kinds....what type of wood is yours made out of or what is a good wood to make it out of etc. Any information would be incredibly useful.

Thanks as always!!!!

-- Carleen (netorcs@mo-net.com), October 31, 2000

Answers

Check out these answers (in the Countryside Forum archives under Misc):

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=003mSn

Hope this helps!If you want more info, let us know! Good luck and happy spinning!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), October 31, 2000.


I just looked at some of the posts, and I don't think they address what kind of wood to consider. I have two wheels: An Ashford Traveler, and a wonderful old handmade one that an old Scandinavian man made. The wood that the handmade one is made of, seems rather soft. Not as soft as pine, but close. The oil to finish it is, get this: motor oil. It makes a lovely patina (I use 20 wt). No kidding. I also use it for my soldier winder, skeiner, lazy kate, and bobbins. Also for my pickup truck, but I use 40 wt instead!

I think you could make a wheel out of any sturdy wood that will not be so soft as to wear down on some of the working parts. My treadle is looking a bit rough. Never treadle while wearing shoes if you can avoid doing so! I got mine very, very used, although it was used very, very lovingly!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), October 31, 2000.


UH DUH! I didn't even look in the archives....thank you sheepish. I will start investigating. Appreciate your help.

-- Carleen (netorcs@mo-net.com), October 31, 2000.

I've seen plans on the net for builing wheels and looms. You can do a search, or if I get time tomorrow, I'll repost with the site address.

-- Laura Jensen (lrjensen@nwlink.com), November 01, 2000.

http://www.halfwaytree.com/looms/

This site is mostly about loom building, but I know it has at least one reference to wheels.

-- R (thor610@yahoo.com), November 01, 2000.



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