How can I tell a Schacht high speed bobbin from a regular bobbin?
When do I need to use a Schacht high speed bobbin?
How can I tell a Schacht high speed bobbin from a regular bobbin?
If you are like most spinners, your bobbins will get a lot of use and get put here and there. Very good. We like you spinning. You find the perfect fiber for a lace shawl and get your wheel set up in double drive. You have decided between using the high speed and super high speed whorls and you just need to find one of your high speed bobbins. You never wrote which bobbin was high speed on the end. What to do? Take a few of your bobbins and compare the small ends side by side or facing each other. The smaller double drive end will be even smaller on a high speed bobbin. The regular bobbin has a disc of about 1 3/4 inches wide and the high speed disc is approximately 1 3/8 inches wide.
When do I need to use a Schacht high speed bobbin?
If you are going to use the Schacht high speed whorl or the super high speed whorl while spinning in double drive, you will need to use a high speed bobbin. If you plan to use those whorls while in Scotch drive, you do NOT need to use a high speed bobbin. It is only necessary for double drive. (Please note that the super high speed whorl is not recommended for use on the Schacht Lady Bug spinning wheel.)
Quick Reference:
Schacht Whorl Ratios
We have listed the whorl ratios that are specific to each Schacht wheel we carry. Although you can see the ratios listed under our whorl listing, it will not be accurate to each specific wheel. Why? Each wheel has a different drive wheel size. The whorl ratio number given indicates how many times the whorl you are using will complete a cycle in comparison to one turn of your drive wheel. For example, if we use the medium whorl’s biggest groove on our Lady Bug (16” drive wheel), the whorl will turn 7 times to one turn of the drive wheel. This is written as 7:1 when describing the ratio of that groove of the whorl. When using the same whorl on a Matchless spinning wheel (19.5” drive wheel), the ratio changes. The medium whorl on the biggest groove now turns 9 times to 1 turn of the drive wheel. It is a bigger drive wheel so there are more turns of the whorl required to complete one revolution of the Matchless drive wheel. This is written as 9:1.
There are two ratios given per whorl because there are two grooves on each whorl which will give you two different speeds. To use the medium whorl again as an example, it has ratios of 9:1 and 11:1 when used on the Matchless. The same exact whorl on a Lady Bug (which has a smaller drive wheel than the Matchless) has the ratios 7:1 and 9:1.
Whorl Ratios on a Matchless Spinning Wheel
Extra Slow Speed Whorl: 4:1 and 4.5:1
Slow Speed Whorl: 6:1 and 7.5:1
Medium Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 9:1 and 11:1
Fast Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 13:1 and 15.5:1
High Speed Whorl: 17.5:1 and 19.5:1
Super High Speed Whorl: 18.5:1 and 22:1
Whorl Ratios on a Lady Bug Spinning Wheel
Slow Speed Whorl: 5:1 and 6:1
Medium Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 7:1 and 9:1
Fast Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 10.5:1 and 12.5:1
High Speed Whorl: 14:1 and 16:1
Whorl Ratios on a 24” Schacht-Reeves Spinning Wheel
Medium Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 4:1 and 11:1
Fast Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 12:1 and 15:1
Whorl Ratios on a 30” Schacht-Reeves Spinning Wheel
Medium Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 9:1 and 14:1
Fast Speed Whorl (included with wheel): 15:1 and 18:1
Which whorl should I use?
Schacht’s extra slow speed and slow speed whorls are excellent for thick, low-twist yarns, and useful for novelty yarns. A longer drive cord may be needed when the slowest whorls are used.
The medium speed whorl (included with Ladybug and Matchless wheels) is good for medium diameter wool fibers, flax, and some silks. It is also good for plying.
The fast speed whorl (included with Ladybug and Matchless wheels) can be used with fine, short staple wools, angora, line flax, silk and cotton.
Schacht’s high speed and super high speed whorls are excellent for all finer fibers, especially when a fine, high-twist yarn is desired. When using these whorls in double drive, you will need to use a high speed bobbin. If you are spinning with scotch tension, you can use the regular bobbins. Please note that the extra slow speed whorl and the super high speed whorl are not recommended for the Lady Bug spinning wheel.
The Schacht Lady Bug and Matchless spinning wheels packages come with the medium and fast speed whorls included. If you would like to increase your whorl range, please refer to the information below. The extra slow speed whorl and the super high speed whorl is not recommended for the Schacht Lady Bug spinning wheel.
Judith MacKenzie McCuin teaches in her book, “Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning,” that the two grooves in each whorl each have their specific task for each yarn. If you would like to spin a woolen yarn, you would use the bigger groove for the singles yarn and ply with the smaller groove on the whorl. For worsted yarns, you would use the smaller groove and ply with the bigger groove.
Whorls recommended for the Schacht Lady Bug:
Slow Speed Whorl
Medium Speed Whorl (comes standard with wheel)
Fast Speed Whorl (comes standard with wheel)
High Speed Whorl
Whorls recommended for the Schacht Matchless:
Extra Slow Speed Whorl
Slow Speed Whorl
Medium Speed Whorl (comes standard with wheel)
Fast Speed Whorl (comes standard with wheel)
High Speed Whorl
Super High Speed Whorl
Spinning Wheel Care
1. Try to keep the wheel in a dry, moderate climate.
2. Try to avoid temperature extremes (i.e. keep out of direct sunlight and really damp and cold climates).
3. Do not use Liquid Gold or other water-based cleaning products.
4. If the wheel needs cleaning, use a cloth with paint thinner or similar non-water based product to wipe off dirt (once a year at most) and then re-oil with a natural oil like Deft or Watco (follow the directions on the can!). Steel wool, grade 00, may also be used to clean the wheel.
5. Use 10-20 or 10-30 weight oil sparingly, rarely on the footman, mostly just on the flyer shaft and bobbins while spinning. Regularly wiping the shaft clean will prevent the oil from becoming gummy.
6. No oil or lubricant should be used in the spinning wheel hub pin hole, in the center of the hub between the spokes.