Category: Classes

• In single drive, your drive band is directly contacting either the flyer or the bobbin,
• In double drive, your drive band is contacting both flyer and bobbin
• In single drive, the difference in rotational speeds of the bobbin and flyer is caused by a brake band on one or the other.
• In double drive, the difference in rotational speeds is dictated by the difference in diameter of bobbin and flyer pulleys.

Single Drive

• Flyer –lead:  driveband moves the flyer, brakeband on the bobbin
• Bobbin-lead: driveband moves the bobbin, brakeband on the flyer

Double Drive

• Driveband makes two loops, one around flyer pulley, and one around bobbin pulley.

• Screw
• Tilt
• Other

Your foot works the treadle
The treadle moves the footman
The footman turns the wheel crank
The wheel turns and engages the drive band
The drive band transmits rotational force to either the:

• Flyer in a single drive scotch tension system, or
• Bobbin in a single drive, irish tension system, or
• Both in a double drive system.

Wheel diameter: Flyer Pulley diameter in a double drive or scotch tension system

Wheel diameter: Bobbin Pulley diameter in a single drive bobbin-lead system

What the ratio means:

Example- at a ratio of 7:1, the flyer will make 7 revolutions for every 1 revolution of the wheel (one stroke of the treadle).

• A higher ratio means that you can add more twist faster, and with less treadling.
• Lower ratios are more suitable for bulkier yarns, and for people who draft slowly (ie. Beginners)