SpinOlution
The Evolution of Spinning Wheels is finally here!
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Echo being offered as Raffel Prive at Fiber Fair
North Country
September 18 - 20, 2009
Friday - workshops, Saturday 9 – 5:30, Sunday 9 - 4
Codington Co. Expo Complex,
Behind the scenes developments, The Wind spinnning wheel
SpinOlution has typically designed scotch tension based wheels. The Mach I and II, Bee and Echo are all based on adjusting the tension to the bobbin. This design has been very popular, and Mike believes this design is the most efficient design in spinning wheels. However, that being said, many in the spinning world enjoy what is commonly referred to as a bobbin lead system. After talking with a few spinners that enjoy this type of wheel, Mike decided that he would design and build a wheel off of this premise. Again, his design criteria would be to incorporate new technologies and materials to make the wheel the most advanced and efficient wheel of it's type on the market...
The Wind, a bobbin lead spinning wheel, will be released around Jan 1, 2010. This wheel is designed with a 20 inch wheel like the Mach II, however it will be placed behind the body of the wheel and it will not have any slots. The Wind will incorporate several bearings like all of the other wheels, and include 3 aluminum hubs. The tension knob will be located under the flyer and will include 6 speeds on the whorl. We will also incorporate the extra large bobbin of the Mach II into the Wind. This wheel will be a no holds bar, top of the line wheel, that will be the most efficient wheel in the class of bobbin lead wheels.
Keep watching for more updates as the design and prototyping continues.
Good Spinning
Mike and Kris
The Wind, a bobbin lead spinning wheel, will be released around Jan 1, 2010. This wheel is designed with a 20 inch wheel like the Mach II, however it will be placed behind the body of the wheel and it will not have any slots. The Wind will incorporate several bearings like all of the other wheels, and include 3 aluminum hubs. The tension knob will be located under the flyer and will include 6 speeds on the whorl. We will also incorporate the extra large bobbin of the Mach II into the Wind. This wheel will be a no holds bar, top of the line wheel, that will be the most efficient wheel in the class of bobbin lead wheels.
Keep watching for more updates as the design and prototyping continues.
Good Spinning
Mike and Kris
Trouble Shooting Knocking Noises
I got an email from a customer the other day asking if I had any suggestions to a noise problem. It was a strange issue, because it only happened when she treadled with both feet. When she would switch to single foot treadling, it wouldn't knock. What was really bad, was it seemed to be getting worse.
The answer to problem lays in the mechanics of the wheel. When a person treadles the style of wheel SpinOltuion makes, there is a bearing point on the wheel, off of center that is driven by a slotted plate at the end of the pitman. This photo shows the plate removed
from the pitman arm. The bearing in the center of this picture runs up and down the sides of the slot as you treadle. This is what drives the wheel. This is also a wear point. The is why we made it removable. The noise comes from the bearing slapping the opposite side of the grove when you push with the other foot. If you only treadle with one foot, the bearing stays against the one side. This noise issue is one of wear management. You want the bearing to run free so the slot needs to be loose, however, if it becomes to loose, then it starts making noise.
An easy fix for reducing the noise is as follows. Please keep in mind that the bearing needs to have a little clearance so it can roll freely.
Step 1: Grab the treadle, with both hands near the pivot point, and pull gently away from the body of the wheel.
This will separate the pitman from the wheel.
Step 2: Gently push the pitman plate back towards the wheel, removing it from the pitman. The easiest way is to grab the pitman and use your thumbs to press the plate off. The Plate is held on by 3 metal dowels.
Step 3: Coat the inside of the slot with either Elmer's glue or fingernail polish. In the picture below, I used my wifes hard as nails clear fingernail polish. Finger nail polish is nice to use since there is a brush and is hard when it dries. However Elmer's glue works just as good. Let this dry off of the pitman or it might dry to the pitman, and you will have hell trying to get it off the next time.
Step 4: Once the polish or glue has dried, reverse the order to reassemble. Some things to make sure of, the metal dowels are not protruding through the plate as it will rub against the wheel and make a mess of things. Also, make sure the bearing is inside the plate slot. Once reassembled, give it a spin. Your wheel should be noticeable quieter. If the plate is to worn out, it can always be replaced.
Good Spinning
Mike
The answer to problem lays in the mechanics of the wheel. When a person treadles the style of wheel SpinOltuion makes, there is a bearing point on the wheel, off of center that is driven by a slotted plate at the end of the pitman. This photo shows the plate removed
from the pitman arm. The bearing in the center of this picture runs up and down the sides of the slot as you treadle. This is what drives the wheel. This is also a wear point. The is why we made it removable. The noise comes from the bearing slapping the opposite side of the grove when you push with the other foot. If you only treadle with one foot, the bearing stays against the one side. This noise issue is one of wear management. You want the bearing to run free so the slot needs to be loose, however, if it becomes to loose, then it starts making noise. An easy fix for reducing the noise is as follows. Please keep in mind that the bearing needs to have a little clearance so it can roll freely.
Step 1: Grab the treadle, with both hands near the pivot point, and pull gently away from the body of the wheel.
This will separate the pitman from the wheel.Step 2: Gently push the pitman plate back towards the wheel, removing it from the pitman. The easiest way is to grab the pitman and use your thumbs to press the plate off. The Plate is held on by 3 metal dowels.
Step 3: Coat the inside of the slot with either Elmer's glue or fingernail polish. In the picture below, I used my wifes hard as nails clear fingernail polish. Finger nail polish is nice to use since there is a brush and is hard when it dries. However Elmer's glue works just as good. Let this dry off of the pitman or it might dry to the pitman, and you will have hell trying to get it off the next time.
Step 4: Once the polish or glue has dried, reverse the order to reassemble. Some things to make sure of, the metal dowels are not protruding through the plate as it will rub against the wheel and make a mess of things. Also, make sure the bearing is inside the plate slot. Once reassembled, give it a spin. Your wheel should be noticeable quieter. If the plate is to worn out, it can always be replaced.
Good Spinning
Mike
Welcome...
Welcome to the SpinOlution Blog...
Kris and I have decided to move with technology, and start a Blog for everyone. This blog will be our "diary" of sorts of our day to day activity. We hope this will become a cornucopia of information for everyone. We will focus on:
1. Technical issues - Problems and solutions of all our products
2. New Product - Developments and ideas as they come about
3. Funny stories - Hey, we are human and life happens, so lets laugh
4. Feedback - We love feedback, and we want to know what everyone else thinks
5. Video Instructions - We plan on adding video to further clarify our abstract thinking
6. Other - This is a no bars hold venue, abstract rants will occur...
So everyone, sign up for our RSS feed, add the page to your favorites and get ready to have some fun with
Mike and Kris...
Best
Mike Pauly
Kris and I have decided to move with technology, and start a Blog for everyone. This blog will be our "diary" of sorts of our day to day activity. We hope this will become a cornucopia of information for everyone. We will focus on:
1. Technical issues - Problems and solutions of all our products
2. New Product - Developments and ideas as they come about
3. Funny stories - Hey, we are human and life happens, so lets laugh
4. Feedback - We love feedback, and we want to know what everyone else thinks
5. Video Instructions - We plan on adding video to further clarify our abstract thinking
6. Other - This is a no bars hold venue, abstract rants will occur...
So everyone, sign up for our RSS feed, add the page to your favorites and get ready to have some fun with
Mike and Kris...
Best
Mike Pauly
