Traditional cleaning
Nov. 22nd, 2024 10:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
merrileemakesAshford Traditionals are the Toyota Camry of the spinning world. They're easy to use, easy to repair and easy to get parts for. Almost everyone has had one or knows someone who had one. You can pick them up for a steal on Facebook Marketplace. You occasionally see one in use that is in such disrepair it should be scrap, and yet it merrily cruises along almost defying the laws of physics.
But despite how ubiquitous they are I had yet to work on one, so when Canberra Spinners and Weavers said they had a donated wheel that needed a bit of love I readily agreed.
She was in pretty good nick, just needed a clean and a bit of maintenance.
The biggest issue I could see was this crack just behind the orifice. I think the wood just dried out a bit and shrunk slightly, cracking around the metal orifice which wouldn't have changed size.
But a bit of wood filler and then some black paint pen filled it in nicely and should stabilise it for the foreseeable future.
This lovely little wheel still had its original maintenance kit.
I was pleased with this because I could replace the footman connector with an original piece rather than improvise one. The connector was still intact but was little a bit worse for wear. It's amazing how much the leather shrunk over the decades!
The plywood finish on the treadle separated slightly while I was cleaning, so that needed to be glued down.
But after all that and a good clean, finnish and oil she was good to go.
This is my first spin on a jumbo flyer (a larger bobbin to fit more or fluffier yarn). It was a bit obvious that this is an aftermarket addition to the Traditional, because it wasn't the most enjoyable spin. The original flyer, also with the wheel, was a smoother ride. But it does add extra functionality to the wheel and can let a beginner explore more kinds of yarn.
This wheel is now back at Canberra Spinners and Weavers, looking for a new home.
But despite how ubiquitous they are I had yet to work on one, so when Canberra Spinners and Weavers said they had a donated wheel that needed a bit of love I readily agreed.
She was in pretty good nick, just needed a clean and a bit of maintenance.
The biggest issue I could see was this crack just behind the orifice. I think the wood just dried out a bit and shrunk slightly, cracking around the metal orifice which wouldn't have changed size.
But a bit of wood filler and then some black paint pen filled it in nicely and should stabilise it for the foreseeable future.
This lovely little wheel still had its original maintenance kit.
I was pleased with this because I could replace the footman connector with an original piece rather than improvise one. The connector was still intact but was little a bit worse for wear. It's amazing how much the leather shrunk over the decades!
The plywood finish on the treadle separated slightly while I was cleaning, so that needed to be glued down.
But after all that and a good clean, finnish and oil she was good to go.
This is my first spin on a jumbo flyer (a larger bobbin to fit more or fluffier yarn). It was a bit obvious that this is an aftermarket addition to the Traditional, because it wasn't the most enjoyable spin. The original flyer, also with the wheel, was a smoother ride. But it does add extra functionality to the wheel and can let a beginner explore more kinds of yarn.
This wheel is now back at Canberra Spinners and Weavers, looking for a new home.
