Short easy to understand videos specializing on great / walking wheel repairs and fiber spinning. Additional videos on CPW aka Canadian Production Wheel and long draw spinning.
My husband found a CPW Tile Tension wheel on Facebook market place. It came with one bobbin but the bobbin does not fit properly in the flyer. Do you have advice about finding a replacement bobbin.
@@shannontemple6716 is it too big or too small? If a replacement is needed check with Spiritwood Spinning Wheel repair in Iowa or many others. If on Facebook the Antique Wheel group or Ravelry CPW group can advise. While on Ravelry, please be sure and buy the pdf downloads of history and makers. Congratulations! They’re sweet wheels.
Val I desperately want a great wheel but I’m in Australia and there just are t any here. Do you have any suggestions about how I could build one or any other thoughts on the subject.
@@AmazingJane137 although it’s a “great wheel hack” you might consider something similar in a spindle wheel with the following video. Also, Ashford makes spindle conversion kits for their Traditionals that can be used for multi different fibers. The Acadians in southern US have adapted for spinning cotton by sitting at the end Research muckle wheels as well. A version of a great wheel with simpler construction. Sometimes, it can be achieved with creativity and thinking “outside the box”. Hopefully, in time, a traditional walking wheel will cross your path. If you are capable of woodworking, one of Foxfire books describes the process of making a southern great wheel. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WO8KLTtLOmg.htmlsi=zWwLKaQaANd88Z5e
Last year, I purchased a Canadian Production Wheel as my very first spinning wheel. It had an old cotton twine drive band, and I decided to make a new one. While researching how to make a new drive band, I came across a video by Métier Doré about splicing drive bands. From her video and show notes, I found out that the drive band should be pre-stretched before sewing them in. She also spins her own drive bands from 2 strands of wool and 4 strands of cotton and sells them in Etsy. As a 'mad scientist' myself, you can imagine that I had to make my own drive band, thinking I could customize a drive band with pretty colours, so I dove into my yarn stash, and pulled some lace weight wool yarn and cotton threads. I twisted these together with a high twist, then I soaked the resulting cord in water. Once completely wet, I gave my cord a good thwack, and wrapped it around a metal base with strong tension and left it to dry for a couple of days. The resulting cord made an excellent drive band. I plan to make a new one for my new to me Ashford Traditional. I look forward to hearing back how your waxed band holds up over time.
:) I propped the moa on my cpw up on pillows for the ride home. The lady who sold it to me thought it was so cute-I was sweating every mile worried the wheel would would take damage or the mother 😱 Great video!
Remove the tape from the wheel, the wheel is cracked. I think the space in the wheel is caused by the crack in the outer wheel is making the outer band larger. If you can get the crack together tighter it may eliminate the space. As a woodworker i use Tightbond III wood glue. Its a bit runny but it will be handy in this situation. Once it dries its waterproof and bonds to metal and wood, great for that spindle to hold against the outer ring and the crack. Take the wheel off to work on it so the glue isn't running down onto the rest of the unit. Clean in the cracks with an Exacto knife before gluing. Mask the backside with masking take and pour the glue in the cracks. wrap the wheel with a ratcheting tiedown strap and cinch it tight to get it to pull tighter together and let it set up overnight, but scrape off any unsightly glue after a few hours, or you wont get it off later, its very strong. I don't understand why you say there's a problem with the alignment. The center of the wheel is in the center of the mother. The bobbin whorl is between the upright posts where cornhusk bearings should be tied to; Jillian Eve ( On YT ) did a restoration on a Great wheel that used woven corn husks as bearings for the bobbin. you can checkout Bobbin Boy on FB to get a replacement bobbin. . Heres the link to Jillian eve video you can fast forward to 9:37 to see her making the " Bearings" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yXPmoz6uv9g.html The post is not a replacement, its original. Check the markings in the wood made by the maker. The Post for the wheel matches the post for the mother, check your video time at 2:10 for the mother and the post for the drive wheel at 3:47 you can also see the same marks on the mother itself. the maker had some dull tools, and it was burning into the wood at the time it was made probably a dull depth cutter marks to determine size of the spindle pieces when their being made on the lathe.
@@dean4939 thanks for the comments. I like your idea about tape on the reverse to prevent glue run. Some very good thoughts. The alignment is off due to the double braces for the wheel post. The spindle bearings have been replaced, hub bearings, spoke pegs, crack glued and other repairs including a twisted drive band. It’s been quite a learning experience. Double braces are finicky. Not for the impatient. When I have time soon, I’ll need to post a video on repaired status.
Helloooooo! I just picked up my cpw this morning I’m so excited and nervous-I don’t want to hurt it. It has some small cracks in the MoA and bench and I don’t dare test spin until I know more about if these cracks will worsen and how I should care for the wheel. 🥰 I am on my way to the ravelry group! Hopefully y’all will be able to help me identify the maker as I can’t find a mark. I did find reta hilar nails though which is exciting.
Thanks so much for showing this. I just picked up a great wheel that's missing the post and axle for the wheel. Easy enough to make, but I was puzzled by the tapered hole in the wheel hub. Looks like a leather bearing is the answer, but I'm still not quite sure why the hole is tapered. Any ideas?
@@MarkNowotarski not sure I could answer that. However, a lot of spinning wheel makers were also wagon wheel makers. Some characteristics from wagons or carriages were carried over into spinning wheels.
@@wycohibito it’s a double flyer usually for flax spinning. The thought was double production in the same time by a single spinner. However, the skill required is extraordinary with production reported at about 170%. Often, they’re mistakenly called gossip wheels with a team of two working on one wheel. Fun thought.
I used light cotton clothes line. I love your bearings. I used leather, then for the spindle side I cut down a .44-40 case for a bushing to hold the spindle without any slop.
I've been having trouble getting my quills off the spindle. I've tried waxed paper and corn husks and in both cases they end up being too tight to slide off. For now, my answer is to wind off onto my reel (twice) and ply from the reel, but that's only practical if I'm planning on plying right away. The spindle, by the way, is a modern replacement and looks nice and shiny. Fifteen minutes later. Wow! I decided to take the cornhusk quill (which has been "stuck" on the spindle for about a month now) off and start over with waxed paper. I had thought the corn husk I used a month ago was completely dry but it turns out it wasn't. And it's probably not a good idea to leave it on for a month anyway, but when I pulled off the corn husk, the spindle under it was rusted! I've sanded the rust off now and tonight I'll try waxed paper again.
@@cammacrae7959 I’ve had the same experience. Damp cornhusk if left on too long will cause rust or pitting. Wax paper works well. Occasional buffing with emery cloth removes any rust with perhaps a very light buff of oil.
Hi Val, I bought my great wheel Sept. 27, 2023. I appreciate all your videos. It is hard to find information and assistance on a great wheel. Could I ask how you removed the wool off the spindle and onto a knitting needle? I have only taken the spun wool off as a center pull ball and plied it on my Ashford. Or how do I get it off and onto a bobbin without hand winding it? Thank you kindly.
@@traceytowner176 the use of a quill is essential. Use wax paper, parchment paper, coffee filters but traditional is cornhusk. The entire cop slips off the spindle and then slip on a thin knitting needle ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ibu1Ms9DSSo.htmlsi=f97IavfH_PD1Xdzd
@@valeriegaddis5973 Thank you ever so much! I have never used a corn husk quill and now it makes sense how you made the lazy Kate with the knitting needles! Brilliant!
Thank you for this, it’s incredibly helpful! I have a Miner’s Head on my wheel and while that spins great, I’ve been having issues with it turning the bobbin. I’ll have to check the size of the grooves and see if I need a larger band on that part. The wheel is new to me and hasn’t been spun on in who knows how long so I’ve been cleaning and trying to refurbish it as much as I can, so not being able to spin well on it is frustrating since I’m so excited to have it. 😊
Nice to see a new video, Val. I’m no longer on FB, one too many hacks via friends’ accounts and too much nonsense. I’ll have to find another way to keep in touch. Brenda from Falkland, BC.
Thank you for explaining where the drive band should be resting on the whorl. You have been a wealth of information! (I am Gina, the one asking for help on FB recently!)
So very interesting! I just got an antique great wheel and now I'd like to find a wheel boy to add to my spinning collection... and possibly use, since I'm at 5'4" 😊
@@miryamnae2164 if it’s knotting, a couple of different thoughts. 1. You are over twisting before winding on. 2. Or maybe not drafting enough before winding on. Watch lots of videos and practice. You’ll get it.
I’m so delighted to be seeing new videos from you. I can watch and listen to you all day, you have such a gentle manner and “visit” in such a natural way. 💖 Cindi-Rae Norejko
Appreciate the "drop and wind on" demo versus over-the-head triangle! As an Occupational Therapist, this is much more ergonomic and so much healthier for the shoulder! Thank you!
By loosening the driveband and twisting driveband into a figure 8, it reverses the direction of the spindle as if counter clockwise. The spinner continues to spin clockwise using muscle memory. Otherwise, if you leave the driveband in normal position you may spin counterclockwise. Either will work. Happy spinning
I’m loving your tips for great wheel spinning! I have a beautiful old wheel that Spiritwood has repaired for me. Now I am practicing a little every day and your information is so very helpful. Thank you!
Very interesting, again! I've been admiring and reading a bit about great wheels for some time now, but from a distance (Netherlands..) No great wheels available here, sadly. So interesting to know why there are different heights and styles. It didn't cross my mind that they were designed especially to spin cotton or wool. Which is logical if you think about it 🙂
@egaddis5973 Yes, maybe in Scotland. I've been longing to go there for a long time. Will be hard to find though, but who knows! A bigger house would be necessary ;-) Love your (too) small wheel!
Interesting! Never heard of a Wheel Boy. If it were meant for an elderly person so she could sit on a chair she would still have to get up to walk to the wheel to wind the yarn on the spindle etc.. Or am I forgetting something?
Am a docent at a small town's historical museum. We were gifted a Great Wheel. While in college (art major) I did lots of 4-shed weaving...the spinners were grad students and we did not learn to spin... SO: I needed exactly what you have shown here so that I can somewhat generally explain the spinning process... Visitors WILL ASK ! (and yes, I will recheck the parts and see if I can demo some spinning. There is a spindle there...but am away from the wheel so I don't recall whether a mother-of-all and maidens are there...)
