Hey, y'all!

Sorry I've been so silent here. I'm on a weaving retreat until November. It's a trek to get to the house where the computer is, and I only make that trip once every day or two to post a blog entry. I keep meaning to spend more time online keeping up with things, but I keep weaving instead. :)

Last week I broke my Swedish Bobbin Winder. I put up a photo essay of the teardown process, including sawing through the shaft with a hacksaw. You can see it HERE.

It seems that the cast iron Swedish Bobbin Winder is not made to be repaired, which brings up my questions. What bobbin winder do you use? Have you ever broken a part on it? How easy was it to replace?

Thanks!

Blossom

Comments

Lois S (not verified)

Hi Blossom

I have a Leclerc manual bobbin winder that is totally reliable, but my favorite is the Leclerc double-ended electric.  It will also wind small to medium cones.  I keep a supply of different size rubber and cork stoppers for the ends of the cones and Voila! I have saved the cost of a cone winder. 

Lois S

SteveL (not verified)

I too am looking for a single manual bobbin winder that will also do quills and pirns - why have three three winders?
 
I'm aware that many use the smaller Swedish style winders to do the larger bobbins with various shims:  tape, toothpicks, etc. However, there has to be a more eligent solution.
 
Anyone have any experience using the Schacht double-ended winder on quills?  Do the cone ends offer enought grip on the quills to wind?
 
Steve

Sara von Tresckow

 The "elegant" solution to the thin spindle Swedish winder is to put one of the Swedish cardboard tubes on the spindle and mount the larger bobbin over that.

OK, I don't use EFS and wind pirns, but for 30+ years I've used my trusty original Swedish winder and wouldn't trade it for anything. As long as you don't run them counterclockwise, they last forever.

dteaj (not verified)

I've always used an electric drill with a paper shim between the bit and the bobbin.

Just recently I've run into the first yarn which does not work well with this system - a 100/1 linen. I'm using the spindle on my great wheel, with a rubber band as a shim for this yarn.

blossommerz (not verified)

Thanks for all the good feedback. I'm going to try the Schacht double-ended bobbin winder and see how that works for me. At least I can replace individual parts if it breaks on me. If this doesn't work for the volume of bobbins I'm winding, I'll trust people's advice and go back to the Swedish winder. I just know next time that if it's "chattering" I need to stop right away to find out why and not run it into the ground.

Blossom

sequel (not verified)

I have a Schacht double ended bobbin winder.  I use it for boat shuttle bobbins, LeClerc and Schacht, pirns, cardboard spools, soda straws, etc.  My only problem is finding a table to clamp it to.

Joanne Hall

Hi Blossom,

Glimakra bobbin winders can be taken completely apart and we can replace the spindle.  If you send us the winder we will look at it and see if it can be repaired after the cutting you have done on it.  Joanne

Joanne Hall

Hi Steve,  I am a little late in noticing your message.  The thin spindle bobbin winder can easily wind the plastic bobbins by simply putting on a cardboard quill and then the plastic bobbin.  And, they are easy to remove.  The cardboard quills are used by many weavers rather than the plastic bobbins.  They are more quiet, they can be cut to the length you want and they are thinner, so hold a little more thread.  I use the 6 inch quills when I am using thicker yarns.  Joanne

PS  The cardboard quills do not create the drag that plastic bobbins make, so there is less draw-in at your selvages.  And you never have to pull out thread from the quill before you throw it.