[colliewoman]

       

one of my lovely volunteers at the shop has just heard i am looking for a wheel and said......
come round and have the one that's been sitting at my place for years   
when asked how much she replied nothing!!
so i said i'd clear her nettles etc for her   

[Fleecewife]

That's excellent news - right on your doorstep     What make is it?  Remember to check it over and give it a thorough oiling before you try to use it.
I will put my aunt's one on e-bay once I've checked it over.
Looking forward to hearing about your progress.

[colliewoman]

no make on it but looks just like my friends ashford traditional jobbie.
what sort of oil would i use? do i have to get special spinning wheel oil?

thankies

[Fleecewife]

Interesting question    I use almond oil from the chemist as it looks so clear and lovely but I think that it goes a bit horrible on the wheel after a while, so I am thinking of changing, maybe to the proper spinning wheel oil. It needs to be a very light oil, not the sort of stuff you would use in an engine.  Before I found the almond oil I used neatsfoot oil but it is a bit thick.

What does everyone else use?

I apply the oil with a syringe and needle, so I only get a single drop or two at each place, and if the wheel has been standing for more than 3 days then I oil before I start.  On the odd occasion I forget I really notice the difference.

[colliewoman]

righty, i have collected her and what a wreck she looked
however after carefully cleaning, polishing and oiling everything has gone together smoothly (half the bits i had no clue about so rebuilt her next to my friends wheel and simply copied!)
all she needs is a tension spring, the con-rod whatsit and a new bit of string!
found out her history, she was donated to a charity shop in pieces so they though she was broken (one tiny bit of the treadle was damaged but has now been mended) so they THREW HER OUT IN THE SKIP 
my mate found her and brought her to live in her conservatory, and now she's been given to me
i thought i should name her and only one name would do, so i now have a spinning wheel called ..... stig of the dump

[Lesley Silvester]

Have fun.  I used to run a spinning and weaving workshop with my ex (before he was my ex) but we sold my spinning wheel and he get all the weaving equipment when we split up.  Quite fancy giving it another go.

[Fleecewife]

Colliewoman it sounds as if you have done a wonderful rescue and resuscitation    Brilliant name for your wheel - Stig o the Dump - love it 

One day when you are getting something else at a spinning shop, treat yourself to one of those clear plasticky drive bands as they are much better than string, although string works ok.

Goatwoman - do give it a second go    There are a few of us on TAS who spin.  I also have a couple of looms but will need advice when I go to warp up for the first time in ages.