Electric Spinning Wheel Pros and Cons
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- Опубліковано 21 кві 2019
- *I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio or joining my Patreon: / tinyfibrestudio Thank you!*
Electric spinning wheels or eSpinners have some great features like high speed in a small footprint and they're increasingly accessible to a wider audience thanks to innovative makers, so I'm taking a look at the advantages and disadvantages of eSpinners vs traditional treadle wheels.
They're not the silver bullet to solve all your spinning woes, but depending on your needs, an eSpinner might be a good tool to try.
UPDATE: On the subject of how long it takes for eSpinners to start and stop, Daedalus wheels have a programmable controller which allows you to change how quickly (or slowly) the wheel starts and stops.
*I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio Thank you!*
**I love helping people learn about fibre arts... I also have to pay the bills! A lot of work goes into these videos so if you found it helpful, please consider supporting the channel by buying me a ‘virtual coffee’ via my Ko-Fi account : www.ko-fi.com/tinyfibrestudio or joining my Patreon: www.patreon.com/tinyfibrestudio Thank you!**
There was a young woman in a wheelchair at a fiber event I went to a few months ago. She had a plastic box with a hinged lid, and inside, on its side, was the little purple Electric Eel Wheel, a battery pack, some bobbins, and fiber. It was amazing how it all just fit comfortably in a pretty shallow box. She took out the wheel, fiber, and the battery cord, shut the box, plugged it in, stuck the wheels' suction cup feet to the lid of the box, turned it on, and started spinning, with the box in her lap. I was so impressed, and so glad she had such a solid alternative. I started daydreaming about all the other places such a box would come in handy, like waiting rooms, and airplanes.
Excellent discussion. After 30 years trying to spin, first on a spindle, then on a Louet, then on a Lendrum, I never felt satisfied with my yarn. I eventually learned to produce a decent yarn on the Lendrum but by then I was experiencing discomfort from treadling. I bought an Electric Eel wheel and it was a revelation. I could spin for long periods in comfort and I was able to focus on drafting without worrying about treadling. My yarn improved immediately and I was delighted. Eventually the noise became an issue (I’m very sensitive) and I went shopping for a quieter e-spinner. I LOVE my Hansen. I’ve sold my other wheels and I am content and able to attempt big projects like sweaters. I guess I never realized how uncoordinated I was but the e-spinner has made a huge difference.
This has been a really useful video to watch - thank you! I am a very confident knitter but don't really know the first thing about spinning, though I am considering it more and more.
As a chronically ill/disabled person, I wanted to share my gratitude for considering mobility concerns when talking about spinning wheels, I really treasured this!
So I newly (around a month) have an Ashford eSpinner 3, purchased specifically because of health and size requirements. The learning curve is definitely different - especially as you can't control everything with both your hands and your feet as you mention.
Treadling on a double treadle wheel every day during TdF last year I found I had a LOT of health problems afterwards and during the even I often could not feel my legs whilst treadling. Also, having to sit looking down consistently all the time was incredibly bad for my health and I had been using a wheel with one of the highest orifices on the market.
SO! The eSpinner allows me to sit or recline at any angle, and more importantly allows me to put the spinner up really high, so the orifice is high, so that I can stand and spin with my arms and neck at a much better angles. Not having to sit and be trapped sitting is a MAJOR selling point for an eSpinner for me.
Very informative - I am a new spinner and have the EEW 6 which I love. The single best tip? Putting the on/off switch under my elbow! Such a simple move that I didn't even think of. This will make me a lot more comfortable in my chair. Thank you!!
My EEW Nano is very quiet (small click-clacking like my treadle wheel), and I run if off the purse-size power brick I initially bought for my cell phone. I get at least 10 - 12 hours of spinning time on one charge. You can also power the Nano with a USB port like on your computer. It's TINY but powerful! You could store the spinner, all the cords, battery, 6 bobbins, any other related equipment (noste pinne, small niddy noddy) and 4 oz. of fiber in a tote bag....I keep all my Nano equipment in a lightweight backpack. I recently got the newer, larger version, the EEW 6, which is SILENT and quite powerful. The bobbins are about 4 times larger than the Nano bobbins, and can hold 8 oz of yarn, depending on how you spin it. Plying is a joy on this wheel. It also comes with a foot-switch to turn it on and off,, and can be run off a larger battery than the Nano, but not off a USB port. So far I have only run it off of wall current. I can store everything I need for my EEW 6 in a 15 liter cooler bag. Both of my Electric Eel Wheel spinners are a joy to use, and are extremely affordable.
My long curly hair would be THE emergency. 🤣 The dogs and bunnies have more sense than I do. 🤣😂🤣
I think this was a very useful and objective overview of e-spinners. Thanks for making this video!
I agreed with most of the things you mentioned, and the pros/cons wer well stated. I completely agree there is no best spinning wheel for everyone. That said the one con that I've had a different experience with is learning on an electric spinning wheel. I go to festivals and talk to lots of knitters who have tried spinning on a treadle wheel and had problems coordinating their feet and hands. Then they try a demo on of my eSpinners and say it's much easier. It is not a scientifically robust sampling because people are generally going to be nice, and because I do usually pre-draft the fiber to make it easier. Still it's my believe that setting an eSpinner to a slow speed makes learning spinning easier than a treadle wheel for most people. That said I completely agree this isn't going to be universally true and there will certainly be some people who find it easier to learn on a treadle wheel.
Maybe if I go to a small festival someday I'll bring a treadle wheel and randomly assign new spinners to either a treadle or eSpinner. I could then rate their experience after a few minutes. I suspect in a day I could easily get 20 demos which I suspect would be enough to say if a treadle or eSpinner is easier to learn on for a complete beginner. Actually since I'm biased, maybe it would make more sense to give an unbiased guild the equipment to do this test and have them report back the results. Now I'm rambling, sorry my brain just goes off on these tangents.
Thanks again for the great video. By the way the thumbnail image is awesome!
Disclaimer - I'm Maurice the inventor of the Electric Eel Wheel spinning wheels so factor whatever bias you think I might have into what I said, but I do try to be unbiased.
Question. I’m interested in the nano. But I read that the spools hold about 2 oz of yarn. If I wanted to make 4 oz what’s the best way to connect the two spools of the same yarn. And if I wanted to do a 2 ply would I need to make 4 spools of the same yarn connect 2 spools than ply? I hope that made sense. Thanks for your time.
Hi Amanda, just in case Maurice doesn’t see your message, when a bobbin holds less than the amount of singles you want to spin, you’d spin the rest onto another bobbin. (Or you could wind your singles off onto a storage bobbin or even just wind it around a toilet roll tube) When you come to ply, you would get almost to the point where one of your singles runs out, then you’d join the new singles in by inserting it into the middle of the two existing singles - essentially it turns into a 3-ply for a few inches. Plied yarn tends to take up more space than the same amount of singles, so the chances are that your 4oz might take up more than two bobbins - you’d just fill a bobbin as far as you can, then wind it off onto a niddy noddy and fill it again. You’ll end up with multiple smaller skeins of yarn rather than one 4oz skein but for most knitting/crochet/weaving projects you can just join a new yarn in and sew in the ends. Bobbins that hold 4oz+ are a relatively recent thing - most vintage and antique bobbins hold a lot less, so the spinners of the past dealt with this all the time. Hope that helps - I’m sure Maurice will be able to add some more nano-focused information.
@@TinyFibreStudio thank you for the information! I’m just learning about spinning. I’m a soap maker and through networking came to know a lady that works with a llama rescue. She mentioned felting my soap which I have done in the past. But my daughter crochets beautiful animals and hats. Basically it boils down to I always have to learn new things and add to my little business. I would love a wheel but they are pretty expensive and I don’t know if I will stick with it long enough to validate the expense of a regular wheel. The nano seems to be the way to go for me. Thanks again for the information. I appreciate it.
Thanks for another excellent video. You have a very concise, easy to understand way of presenting information!
Thank you Beverly 😊 I’m glad it was helpful!
I had never spun on a wheel, and supported the kickstarter for the Dreaming Robots Nano. The low cost was my main reason for my purchase. I'm loving spinning and learning on it. I can see getting a larger wheel in the future, and it will more than likely be an e-spinner.
Thank you for yet another excellent and informative video. The content of your videos are always clearly defined and presented. In addition, your calm approach, pleasant voice, clear enunciation, and the lack of visual and auditory clutter all contribute to creating professional videos that are a pleasure to watch.
This past spring, I began spindling, which I enjoy, but due to polyneuropathy in my hands and feet as well as progressive degeneration of the cervical discs, spindling proved to be quite taxing and painful.
Several weeks ago, after a brief introduction to wheel spinning, friends recently loaned me their beautiful Schacht wheel for three weeks. I loved spinning on the wheel, and as much as I enjoyed and increasingly made progress in the challenge of coordinating treadling and drafting, the treadling proved painful and provoked severe cramping in my feet and legs. Last week, I ordered an "Ashford XXL Jumbo" e-Spinner! Unfortunately, I had no opportunity to try an e-Spinner, but I am quite confident that it is the right choice for my needs, and your video has strengthened my confidence. Thank you.
So thorough, and a very balanced view. I like that you included "action shots" as well to give a good sense of how an e-spinner is actually used. Thanks, Becks!
💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
I’m at this stage…what to begin with. I DO know I’m not interested in hand held spinners. Tks for this video I’ll see what else I can learn on your channel.
p.s. I found you from Green Bean💐
Love this podcast. I have found the Hansen makers to be extremely supportive of their products. I love my Hansen spinner. Thanks for covering this very important topic
You are simply the best, B! Have seen this video before, but you can always go back and learn more as you develop. Love it.//Maria
I have a Hansen and love it. Previously I'd only spun on a double drive treadle wheel so there was a sharp learning curve when I started using the espinner. I love the portability of the espinner, especially since I got a battery power pack for it. I supported the kickstarter for the Electric Eel Nano and can't wait for its arrival. Thank you for the review...as usual, your video was spot on!
Great information. I backed the Electric Ell Wheel Nano on kickstarter and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival :)
Excellent video I have an Ashford E Spinner and find it wonderful as I do have limitations with treading due to knee issues. Thoroughly enjoy you videos 😊
I do have a Hansi as well > and I do love it so much ...the mobility of going outside and spin or take to any place > park > friends is just unbeatable ...I spin way more evenly now > my hand -speed -control is just great and defiantly can keep up with the speed of my hansi ...no problem at all ....It's the only wheel I have and I just enjoy it so often > in any sitting -slouching situation at all ....It's was the best decision ever to get this e-spinner . Important !!!! > the maintenance with the Hansen -Craft -Family is so spot on ...you are alway supported by them in any question you have ...
Brilliant video - thanks so much for sharing your insights!
Thank you so much for all of this information!! I am contemplating a new E-Spinner and I really appreciate the amount of details you've given!! Thanks again!
You’re very welcome! I hope it’s useful!
Thank you for spelling out the pros and cons of espinners. I don't spin yet, but want to learn. I have very little space so I can't use a treadle wheel at this time. This video will help me make decision when I am able to start learning.
Excellent information. I had an Electric Eel wheel that convinced me that e-spinning was right for me. I had trouble coordinating hands and feet on a treadle wheel. I sold the Eel wheel and bought a Hansen e-spinner because it is quieter and prettier but I think the Eel wheel is an economical way to find out if you like e-spinning. I don’t own a treadle wheel anymore but may try again someday.
Thank you for sharingthis info.....very informative!!!!
Lisa R responding from my husbands acct. Greetings :) I do have an E spinner .I purchased it within the last year from Heavenly Hand-spinning..an Etsy shop.While I prefer my wheel most times, I definitely agree they have a place in spinning for many different reasons you spoke of . I’m glad the market has become larger and they are more pportable .With , many price points now its accessible to most spinners who would like one. Heavenly hand spinning is an Etsy shop owned by a lovely couple . The owner makes each item from beautiful woods, They’re extremely well made , There’s an active Facebook group . They also make kick spindles and the worlds only combo e-spinner / double treadle wheel ! ( castle style wheel ) laser engraved NOT at all pricey :) My e spinner has been a lot of fun , it’s very quiet !came with 3 bobbins foot and hand control .priced at aprox $300 I LOVE Espinner for plying or very large yardage projects 👍🏻👍🏻♥️ Thank you for your wonderful podcasts !
I’ve learned many new skills that I wouldn’t have tried without seeing your content 😊Happy spinning
Very informative, thank you. I have ordered a Hansen mini, I suspect I will be using it primarily for plying.
I had a sudden back issue that prevented me from a going on a long awaited trip. My brother suggested I buy myself a consolation gift. I got a Hansen Crafts minispinner. I could spin flat on my back! I did buy the WooLee winder flyer so I didn't need to sit up to move the thread guides. I LOVE it. I haven't used my treadle wheel since I got the e-spinner.
Thank you for your reviews. I have a Spinolution King Bee, which I love. I also have a bad knee.
So I recently acquired a Heavenly Handspinner Arrow ( Scotch tension). I enjoy spinning it, but I need more practice.
My NANO EEL came today.....I love it.
I think it will be great for my luxury fiber stash where I want to spin fine & small quantities. And it's tiny cute, easily portable.
Both e-spinners are well made & eady to use.
Thank you so much, this was very informative and helpful!
Great video! I've been thinking about getting an e-spinner for a while and your video helped me cement the decision to get one. Thanks! Now to decide on an e-spinner...
Glad you posted this video. I am driving to Washington to pick up a Hansen Mini Spinner in 2 days. But there are other good e-spinners out there that interested me. But Hansen is nice because they are made so close to where I live.
Thank you so much for this information.
I love my Ashford Traveller but I can rarely ever spin for more then an hour due to a bad hip. Some days it's so bad I can't spin at all. So I'm looking to get an e spinner to use on those days but was slightly worried about it. After watching your video, I'm less worried, thank you :) I don't intend for it to be my main spinning wheel, I love the purr and feel of a manual wheel too much for that. But I sure could use a hand. Or well, foot :D
This is why I will be investing soon in an e-spinner , because of my knees. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks so much!! This was very helpful.
Thank you for this detailed pros and cons. I am considering buying a gently used Hansen e spinner due to some knee trouble. I hadn't thought of the learning curve of slowing down when hitting a snag in your fiber. If you ran into some vegetable matter, for example. Good to give an extra think.
Very interesting, thankyou! I have just bought an Ashford e-spinner after trying this way of spinning on a tiny EEW Nano 2, a lovely little machine but the bobbins are small. I have been spinning for many years, 40ish, but now there are times I find it too painful to treadle which led me to looking at e-spinners. I was thinking how I could relate the speed to ratios and saw somewhere that a tachometer could be useful. I've bought one, they aren't expensive and, as I love maths I checked the speed at which I had the machine set at against the speed I would normally treadle at to arrive at an estimate of the ratio. Of course, it is only an estimate because treadling and drafting could be different at times. Lively music, a good film or a sad film for examples could alter the speed I treadle or draft at. It could never be exact. Noise is never a problem, I live on my own and can't hear the machine anyway as I am profoundly deaf. I have the foot pedal on my lap to turn it on and off which works well for me. I love my e-spinner but do prefer my lovely Majacraft Rose.
I'm considering an e-spinner having borrowed an eel last year after damaging my foot but as I spin entirely from fleece I found it a bit of a nightmare stopping and starting when picking out debris that had refused to come out in combing. However, for plying it was amazing :-)I'm pretty sure that I will get one at some point but for the time being my Victoria fits in the camper.
Recently I started knitting. I really want to try spinning now too, but I simply don’t have the space for a treadle wheel in my small apartment, and I can’t afford a larger space. In addition, because of COVID, there are no guilds or anyone I can meet with so I can use or try a treadle wheel or e spinner. For now the e spinner is the only option due to space. I just wish there was a way for me to try the different options first or attend a class, but now I can’t because of COVID. Thanks for the video I am now subscribed and I really enjoy your videos so much! They are very informative and I have a lot to learn as I have not even tried spinning yet and have only tried basic knitting at this point.
Thanks for this info. I have an ashford e-spinner and a rechargeable battery pack. My first thoughts were for travelling in my motor coach and going to fiber festival. I still need more practice, but have made singles and plyed with it. Seems more like "art yarn" than mature smooth production still.
Hi
I purchased an e spinner but sent it back after 3 days. I just was not able to spin well using the e spinner. I enjoy using the drop spindle and decided an e spinner was not for me. Thanks for the info.
I have got an Ashford espinner for 6 or 7 years but I only use it for plying. For some reason I can never put enough twist when I’m spinning the singles but it works perfectly for plying
Why did you choose the Hansen product. I like what I see of it due to wood product and added stability. What would you add to this reason.
Very useful information. I'm still torn between getting a serious e-spinner (I just got an EEW Nano, which is a fun introduction to treadle-less spinning but hardly a production machine) and getting something like a Lendrum double treadle with a high speed flyer. I know I need SOMETHING faster than my Ashford Traditional.
Once again, a big Thankyou Becks. A very informative video. My mother bought a Hanson e spinner at 95 when she lost the coordination needed to treadle. She happily used it for 3 years. I thought I’d ‘just put it out there’ that she easily adjusted to it in her late nineties. It has been stored in its box this past 5 years since she passed away and quite recently I felt it was time to use it. What do you think I should look for before I begin as it has not been touched and her last spin is still on it?!
Thanks. Valerie
Are you going to Wonderwool?
Before using fiber, allow the spinner to run and listen to it. If you hear clacking, use grease (not oil) where the bobbin attaches on the shaft near the front. If you have a woolee winder, it requires old on the rod that the eye runs on and on the end of the flyer arm.
Thanks for the video. I’m debating whether to buy an eSpinner for production spinning. I already have a treadle castle wheel and have mastered that. The only fear I have is that if I do get a eSpinner it’ll spoil me where I won’t touch the treadle wheel again! Such decisions!
Thank you for your videos. I am new to spinning, only own a drop spindle. I have watched hours of your videos today. I love the way you share information. Very easy to understand and follow along. I think I am set on the Kiwi 3. I am going to a fiber festival in a few weeks, I hope to try them out and make the purchase.
Thank you so much for the lovely feedback! I’m glad the videos are useful. Fingers crossed you find the perfect wheel for you!
Who makes the Kiwi 3 please?
The Kiwi’s an Ashford wheel.
I still spin slow and I stop and start a lot to make adjustments to my drafting. You are the first person I found on you tube to address that it might be a little awkward to get used to reaching over to slow down or stop. I like your idea of keeping the button under your elbow. I would like the e spinner for portability but want to feel confident the fiber won't run away on me or take on a giant clump of twist while I reach to turn it off or slow down. . I notice the electric eel nanos don't have a foot switch.
I bought an Ewheel nano and on his Utube he shows you how to make a foot switch. Dreaming robots, I just watched the video.
Sorry for the late response! The new version of the Electric Eel Nano comes with a switch although it’s on a very short cord which keeps it right next to the Nano so you still have to reach over to stop it. I just draft quicker for a couple of drafts after I switch it back on to make up for the extra twist that will have built up. You can also rewind your yarn to redistribute the twist (video on that coming in January) but if mobility’s an issue, it’s a bit of a pain that the switch is so close to the Nano. I had a quick look and it seems like most micro USB to USB A switches have the switch in a similar position so maybe a micro USB extension cable would work to get the switch further away? Otherwise you’d need to be comfortable with doing a bit of electrical hacking to adapt a foot switch as per the video Brigid mentioned. It’s definitely better than the previous Nano start/stop options (turn the dial right down, use the fiddly switch on the side or turn it off at the power source) but it’s not as convenient as a foot/elbow switch.
Thanks Brigid. 🙂
is anyone of you could tell me is espinner3 is quiet as the hansen? or anyone tested both?
how unique are the articles it spins?
this is a channel about spinning! ;) and Knitting!
I just bought a used Hansoncraft e spinner. I am looking for a tutorial for how to get started. I may not have all the parts. Can you advise?
Hi Kathleen, how exciting! Welcome to the club. Hansencrafts have a lot of videos on their channel to get you started but let me know if you’re still having problems and I’ll see what I can do. Feel free to drop me an email (the address is on my website) or Instagram message with a photo of what you’ve got and I’ll try to identify if anything’s missing.
I was wondering what people thought of the e-spinner as an option purely for plying. I would like to ply commercially spun yarn (say, laceweight or fingering weight) with itself or in combinations, but I don't really have the "spinning bug" yet.
I find that the biggest diff between my Lendrum and eew6 is plying….SO MUCH FASTER on the espinner. Now for art yarns, I’d use the lendrum because I feel I have greater control.
does it spin spanish articles?
I found out that I spin faster on my eSpinner because I could not ever treadle so fast on my Sonata, and this could be a huge advantage when you're thinking about making money on handspun yarns.
Could you avail one
Can you do 3 or 4 ply with this machine?
I’m not sure specifically which machine you’re referring to. Any eSpinner can do 3 or 4-ply but bear in mind that 3-ply in spinning terms just means three strands of singles plied together (4-ply = 4 strands) and those singles could be any thickness so without knowing how thick the singles are it’s impossible to give a definitive answer. As long as it fits through the orifice it’ll work.
Thanks for the great video. I am a beginning spinner, currently trying to master the drop and the supported spindle. I plan on purchasing a wheel in about 6 months or so. I have decided on a spinolution king bee for its portability mainly. I have this idea that using an espinner is somehow “cheating”, especially when you are a beginner, but I am sure that is an entirely irrational thought.
I would have expected variable speed e spinners would have been more of a thing, kind of like how electric sewing machines have a variable speed. ...maybe that's a market that some business could occupy. I bet that if you tinkered with it, you could even make one yourself, if you know or learn electronics.
Thank you for the video. By the way, where is it that you live that you can carry your spinner on your bike, then go via train to your guild meetings? I would like to move there! (I'm a US citizen but I also have UK citizenship and I am looking for a place to retire to outside of the US).
Re: spinning, I learned on a drop spindle, self-taught with help of all the wonderful YouTubing spinners. Moved up to a very used Ashton traditional, which I repaired so the wheel was a dream to spin on. Eventually purchased a Lendrum double-treadle, a ocket wheel, kick spindle, Mayan spindle---you name it. The other day I purchased the Dreaming Robots EEL Nano and what a great portable spinner, it runs off the USB on my laptop, too. I travel extensively and it will be great for plying on the go.
I’m in Devon and there are two guilds I can get to by a combination of bike and train. Liskeard Spinners over the border in Cornwall or Devon Guild near Exeter. Probably lots more across the UK as trains here are much more local than they are in the US. Buses would also allow my bike on board as long as it’s in a bag.
What a great line-up of wheels and spindles - something for every occasion!
If you have a physical disability and need a espinner. Make sure it has a switch at the front with a variable control button. Including the option of foot pedal being tapped, like the espinner jumbo, has continuous or stop it with a tap. It also has a flick on/off switch at the front. But look at other cheaper options like the lightweight nano Eel. Again revolutions not ratio like a traditional spinning wheel.
Thanks for this video. The hideous pink bobbin has put me right off. I will be looking for another make.
Each to their own. I happen to quite like it in rotation with my blue, yellow and grey ones. That’s an Akerworks bobbin, sold separately from the miniSpinner so you could either stick to the original black plastic ones from Hansencrafts or choose your preferred colour and design of Akerworks bobbin. Or of course pick another eSpinner entirely.
When I purchased my Hansen espinner I went all out and bought 6 all cherry bobbins and a woolie winder. My Hansen lives on the arm of my chair, I place the peddle on my thigh and can start and stop as needed. Best purchase for fiber crafts ever. My Matchless hasn’t seen me for a couple of years now. Lol
A film for friends. To much 🗣🗣 but no explanation for people that do not speak english as a mothers-language.
I’m sorry it didn’t help you. If I were to make a second one, what would you like to see me do differently? I tried to be really thorough in this video and unfortunately that combined with the technical terminology of spinning may make it less accessible to those with English as a second language.