SANFORD DOUBLE FLYER WHEEL

I posted photos back in September from the Endless Mountains Fiber Festival where Cyndy got the double flyer working, spinning on it with both hands.

At the time Cyndy felt that it would be better to find a way to wet the flax as it was spun. Spinning dry didn’t smooth it as much as wet spinning and now and then stray fibers caught in the flyer hooks and stopped the process.

Cyndy found a picture and description in Patricia Baines book, Spinning Wheels, Spinners & Spinning that seemed to suggest a wet sponge hung from the front of the horizontal distaff arm and the fingers or fibers were moistened on it.

We tried to simulate that, but it didn’t seem to work all that well so we'll have to try again sometime.

The wheel was squeaking some when we started and when made the video, but got quiet later, after some oiling.

This is just a quick peek at how it works. There is a longer video from a better angle here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJGRpUrECiE