Category: SpinningWheels101

• 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)

• The flyer holds the bobbin,
• imparts twist to the wool that is passing through it, and
• winds the twisted wool onto the bobbin.