The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: newtoitall on December 16, 2018, 09:49:57 pm

Title: Ashford Traveller
Post by: newtoitall on December 16, 2018, 09:49:57 pm
Today I collected a new (second hand) Ashford traveller that I bought on ebay. When I got it home I realised it was double drive which I am used to on my old wheel. It also has optional scotch tension. I would like to try this out to find the difference but I am not sure where it all goes as the wire, like fishing wire, seems too long.
Can anyone describe what I should be doing and also the pros and cons of single or double drive. I love the wheel and it fits in the sitting room so I can spin in the armchair :spin:

I want to get a jumbo flyer for it, should I get the single drive or double drive one?

Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: Ashford Traveller
Post by: Dogwalker on December 17, 2018, 06:13:57 am
The ashford website has assembly instructions for all their wheels.  will this helphttps://www.ashford.co.nz/products/spinning/product/travellerTurn the tension peg to wrap the line around.

Scotch tension is supposed to be easier to adjust for beginners but if you're already used to DD that's not a problem.  It's different not better or worse.Sure someone else will be along soon with more detailed answers.
Title: Re: Ashford Traveller
Post by: SallyintNorth on December 17, 2018, 08:36:17 am
Congratulations on your new wheel. :spin: 

Dogwalker's already directed you to the assembly instructions for details of how to set it up in scotch tension.

You might find the takeup stronger in scotch tension.  And you might find you need to adjust the tension as the bobbin fills up.  I went from scotch to double and prefer double for most but do think it was probably easier to learn in scotch - it’s more forgiving. Let us know what you think when you’ve tried it :)

You’ll need to buy double drive flyers for it as it’s a double drive wheel. 
Title: Re: Ashford Traveller
Post by: newtoitall on December 17, 2018, 05:34:58 pm
Thank you both for your very helpful replies. I knew there must be some instructions somewhere but I couldn't find them. I will leave it as double drive for now as I am still spinning some yarn for a Christmas present but I will now be able to give scotch tension a go in the new year to see which I prefer. I spent last night spinning on it and I certainly found it suited me better than my original wheel and even after an evening's spinning my slightly dodgy knee wasn't hurting.
Title: Re: Ashford Traveller
Post by: Lesley Silvester on December 17, 2018, 11:14:10 pm
Glad you're enjoying using it. I love spinning. My physio said it exercises all the muscles in my legs so that's good as I don't walk much and sitting in a wheelchair only exercises my fingers on one hand moving the joystick a couple of mm.

Title: Re: Ashford Traveller
Post by: Fleecewife on December 17, 2018, 11:20:11 pm
I LOVE my Ashford Traveller.  I have a wonderful and lovely Lendrum Saxony which is DD, but I still find myself going to the scotch tension, double treadle Traveller for nearly everything.  As you say, it fits into the living room neatly, whereas the Lendrum, with its three legs, trips me up every time I squeeze past.  I am perfectly content with the Scotch tension, although as Sally points out, it does have to be retensioned a few times through the filling of each bobbin.
I'm so pleased the others came up with the Ashford website link for you, as I was wondering how on earth to explain it to you without pics!