Someone asked me the other day: Which Ashford Spinning Wheel should I buy?
I am biased, I adore
Ashford Wheels and Looms. But I do want to mention that it's important to match the spinner to the wheel. All the big makers of wheels right now build awesome products and it's well worth checking them out too. But if an Ashford feels right for you, here are my thoughts on the different wheels they make (at this time)
Any Ashford is a good investment for a long-term wheel. They can all upgrade and adapt as your spinning style changes over the years. It's very much about finding the one that fits you. If you can, get to a shop or a local guild and see if you can try a few different wheels to see what matches your style.
Kiwi - affordable, mostly portable, good solid wheel. I recommend getting the unlacquered and then painting it before assembly because I adore decorated wheels - but you do you. If you like the wood finish, lacquered is well worth the investment and saving of time needed to finish the wood (or re-finish it every couple of years if you go with oil or wax).
The only bad thing I have to say about this wheel is a personal preference. I don't like the double treadle. I prefer a single treadle because I have a lot of chronic pain and being forced to use both feet limits my spinning time. With a single treadle, I can use one or the other foot (often switching every hour or so) or if my hips are acting up, I can use two feet on one treadle. But I'm also a production spinner so I can be at the wheel 8-10 hours a day when I'm trying to meet a deadline.
Traveller - great castle shape. Love the way this looks and handles. Some of my favourite wheel are painted on this wheel as it looks amazing. A bit bulky for small cars, but a solid wheel.
Joy - portability is the name of the game with this wheel. If you travel a lot, take wheels on aeroplanes, or spin at events then this is the wheel for you.
If you spin at demonstrations or at markets where you sell stuff, the Saxony style wheels like the
Traditional are the way to go as these draw a crowd much more than the upright wheels.
If you are a production spinner, the
Elizabeth is my favourite. The double drive and fast ratios shave off those seconds per yard and make a major difference in efficiency.
And if you only ever want to spin extremely bulky yarn, then the
country spinner with the huge bobbin is a perfect match. This is the only wheel that can't be adapted to different spinning techniques with upgrade kits.
There are also electric wheels that are worth checking out but it means being tied to a plug or a battery pack and for that reason, I don't have a lot of experience with them.
They can all be upgraded with flyer kits and other goodies. Personally, I like to recommend the Kiwi because it leaves more money left over for buying fibre. It will keep you happy a good 10-30 years and by that time, you'll have your spinning style settled down enough to know what wheel you want to upgrade to.
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