What Wheel[s] Do You Have?

[xantha]

Those of you with wheels, what wheel do you have?

 

Just curious here. I'm planning to try out a few at MD S+W, though I think it's going to be so insane up there that I may not get to it. Unfortunately the wheel spinning class at my local fiber workshop keeps being scheduled while I am out of town, so I haven't been able to try the wheels they have (they also don't have the Louets I'm looking at or the Kromskis, so I'm not sure I'd get a lot out of the class)!

 

I am trying to move beyond the spindle ...

[threeolivemartini]

Jess.. I am on this journey as welll... I want something small and easy.. I hear the Ashford Joy is a fabulous and very portable wheel.. although i cant say I have tried one.. I have touched one..LOL .. I am interested to see what others say about this as well..

[RebeccaVelasquez]

well, afraid i won't be of much helps, as i have a Louet, S15 - "Hilary" is her name.

it's very easy to work on, light and in my case, portable. because i have the suburban, i can just put it in the back when i want to take it to my mom's or whatever. it's a single treadle. hmmmm what else can i say about it? i love her

[xantha]

well, afraid i won't be of much helps, as i have a Louet, S15 - "Hilary" is her name.

 

The S15 was my first option, actually. The only thing pushing me away from Louet towards Kromski is the ratios -- 10.5:1 ??! That is going to require some mad treadling in order to spin singles thin enough to make 3-ply sock yarn!

 

So: what weight do you spin most frequently on it? Have you spun anything lace/fingering weight?

 

I'm still considering an Louet S10 DT, Louet S75 (anniversary ed if I can find it), or a Kromski Minstrel.

 

The Minstrel is ahead right now -- cheaper than the S10DT and S75 and has a 16:1 ratio. But it's going to require a lot more upkeep and I have loved the Louets from the beginning.

 

Hohum!

[Woven N Spun]

I have an Ashford traditional....I can get an even worsted weight out of that and it was nice for my first wheel and for traditional type demos.

 

I absolutely LOVE my Asford Joy. It's portable enough to take camping, sit out all summer long wtih the kids and spin, and well...it's just a great wheel for me. I can spin lace weight without a lace flyer as well as bulky to worsted weights. The only *down* side I have with my wheel is that it tends to back pedal just a bit if I don't *lock* the fiber down (just by twisting it around one of the knobs or something like that) and what I have spun will unspin a little bit.

[HollyM]

I have an old Ashford Traditional that I bought used.

 

I've been struggling with it a bit, I'm not sure if it's the wheel or if it's my still being a beginner. It's a single treddle and seems to have quite a "dead" spot when the rod gets near the top. It also is very quick to reverse directions when it gets to that spot. If I treddle faster to keep momentum going, my yarn gets really over twisted.

 

One of the friends I'm going to MD S&W is going to bring her wheel (Lendrum) She's going to try mine and I'm going to try hers to see if it's me or the wheel To be fair, it could be me, but I might be better off with a double treddle.

 

If I have better luck on her wheel, I'm going to see if I can find something reasonable at the festival.

 

The Ashford Joy looks so cute, so does the Majacraft Little Gem.

 

Holly

[HollyM]

Well I did it!!!

I got a Lendrum Double Treadle while at the show. Oh my gosh I just luuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv her already!!!!! I tried my friend's single treadle Lendrum and then tried a double treadle at the show. I have found I am definitely a DT type of gal!!!

 

I'm glad I got to see all the different wheels in person at the show. It made me feel better about making a purchase. The Lendrum is space-efficient yet big enough to work on comfortably. It's a pretty wheel, in a minimalist kind of way If you are thinking about getting a wheel, give this one a look-see. It's reasonably priced, nice solid construction but only 14 lbs and it took less than 5 minutes to set up out of the box.

 

One thing that concerned me about buying a Joy or Kiwi was that the orifice was so low and such a small wheel looked like it would be akward for me to work on.

 

Holly