So, yarn tomorrow - but I wanted to post an update on the wheel dilemna. When, I left for Rhinebeck, I did a quick diagnostic of the wheel -
As you can see, the thingy, which I later found out was a bearing, that holds the flyer is busted. On the ride up to NY, I pretty much rejected the idea of buying a new wheel when Christina and I were talking about how many skeins of Socks that Rock we could buy in good conscience. Skipping ahead in the story, and for reasons I'll reveal tomorrow, we got an incredibly early start to the festival, and ended up in the main building at 8:45 a.m. I had a lot of time before the festival got packed to talk to a few spinners about fixing the wheel v. buying a new wheel. The consensus really was that it sounded like a relatively cheap problem to fix - and that I should go for it.While there were a gazillion wheel vendors on the fairgrounds, only Stony Mountain Fibers had brought their part supplies with them. Of course, it took me hours and several criss-crosses of the fairground before I found it (thanks Purlewe!!!), but here's all I needed:
About $20 worth of supplies.Then, I got home, and reinspected the wheel - hmmm . . . where did I put the flyer???? I ripped apart my stash closet - not there. In the kitchen maybe? I tore through the cabinets. And then I remembered - when I had people over for the Oscars last March, I had scooped up a bunch of crap that had been cluttering up my kitchen counter, just to get it out of the way for the evening. Uch, I had never brought the bag o' stuff in from the backyard. So, I found the plastic Gap bag in the yard, filled with mudd - and my flyer -
Yep, there it is rotting, and in pieces.I've already ordered another one ($33) before I even started thinking about a new wheel again. In inspecting the maidenboard, I'm a little worried about the state of the bearings/brackets/and screws, and maybe I should have bought a whole new flyer unit ($122), but I'm going to try getting new hardware from the handy dandy neighborhood hardware store, and go from there. I had my flyer shipped Ups Priority, so hopefully, I'll have it by next weekend, so I can get my wheel up and running.
In the meantime - um, there's no shortage of yarn! More tomorrow!
7 comments:
Hope you get some needed rest and I can't wait to se the yarn haul - and hear all about it! Good luck with the wheel parts - hopefully everything can be fixed easily and quickly.
Gosh, so sorry about the flyer! Soon you'll be spinning and done knitting a FO before I can even make it through an ounce!
Wendy -- I looked for you and we must have missed each other the entire weekend! Glad you had fun.
I'm glad you were able to find the parts for your wheel. Too bad about the Flyer though. When you go to the handy dandy hardware store, take the stuff you need to replace with you. I learned that one the hard way.
I can't wait to see your Rhinebeck score.
Ick. Your poor, poor flyer. I did that once with a cast-iron dutch over. Moved it to the back porch (stone) to cool after I dished the food and make room to cook something else and then forgot about it. Talk about nasty. Ewww. I can relate but glad it's an easy (though not free) fix.
Can't wait to see your spinnin'!
I am glad I was able to steer you into the right direction. Barbara Gentry is a great person to deal with and always knows what I'm talking about even if I am describing it as "the thingy" to her. But OUCH! on the flyer. Sending quick delivery thoughts your way. You'll be up and spinning in no time.
I hope your flyer comes in fast. I'm glad the repairs were not expensive. Good luck with the hardware store.
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