It seemed none the worse for wear after being stored for these long months while we moved. I oiled it and started it up. I believe it's an Ashford Traditional wheel but I'm not sure since I bought it used and it has no markings or labels of any kind.
I do have one small problem though.
See the nut and bolt from the footman rod to the hub bar? As I spin, this tightens and makes it harder to treadle. I loosen it by hand every few minutes and that really shouldn't be a big deal, but it's beginning to bug me.
Has anyone seen this problem before and know how to fix it? I might get my DH to file off the threads on part of the bolt... the inside of the hub bar is threaded but I don't think the bolts threads should be that long. I think just the end of the bolt should be threaded to hold on the nut... right?
Oh I feel bad about complaining I'm so happy to finally be able to start spinning - you have no idea! :D
I find using the wheel soooo much easier too. I felt very clumsy using the hand spindle and couldn't get past the 'park'n draft' method so it was really slow. The spinning wheel feels comfortable and I don't need to stop and start so it's a lot smoother. (except to loosen the hub bolt) So my yarn is coming out a lot smoother and I'm absolutely thrilled!!!
I'm practicing happily and I don't think it'll take too long before my consistency is better [I hope] , my thin/thick parts don't seem too bad at all any more. I'm just going to keep practicing, I don't even want to think about the plying yet - that scares me. Hopefully I'll find some local help to learn how to do that properly.
