The Spinning Wheel Repair Book

First of all I want to let everyone know everything is fine here, because I haven’t posted recently I have been receiving a lot of inquiries.  I have been busy finishing up my next book on Spinning Wheel Repair. Here is a mock up of the hand set type title page, still in need some adjustment, it is being done by a friend.  The forward was written by a friend.  I am having the cover art finished up by another friend and one more technical part being done by another friend, thank goodness for friends. The book will be out in time for the holidays, but I am thinking of taking orders earlier. Stephen

New Distaff for an old wheel

My friend and Master woodcarver and turner Richard McDonald picked this wheel up at a local flea market.  It is in excellent condition and appears to have never been finished, it is ‘in the white’. All that was missing was the distaff and the pitman (footman) needed to be replaced.  I designed the new distaff and pitman from turning details on the original, Richard turned the pieces and I assembled the parts. I got very little spring back or recovery from the bent dowels. The ribs are 1/8″ diameter birch dowels, the rest of the wheel is also made of birch.  I made a bending jig, boiled the 5 dowels, hoping to get 4 good ones in boiling water for 20 minutes, …