A young friend of mine (a high school senior)has asked me to help her build a spinning wheel as part of a school independent project. We are using a borrowed wheel as a model(http://www.ashford.co.nz/spinning/spinning-frameset.htm).
I have two questions that relate to the construction.
1. What is the best way to attach the large wheel to the metal axle so that when the axle turns the wheel turns with it? The central hub consists of two halves glued together with spokes that radiate to the outer wheel. There appears to be a rollpin that fits in a narrow routed groove that radiates across the diameter of the hub and presumably pierces the axle fixing it in place. Is there a simpler, reliable way to permanently attach the wheel to the axle?
2. The flyer portion of the wheel consists of a small wheel, about 3 inches in diameter and 7/16 inch in thickness. I will need to rout a V-shaped groove around the circumference of this small piece. What is the best way to safely rout or fashion a groove in a small wooden piece?
I apologize if the questions are confusing but would be happy to try and explain further if any one has thoughts on the subject. Unfortunately the only article on spinning wheel construction in Fine Woodworking is from the Summer of 1978, currently out of print.
Replies
It would be hard to come up with a simpler way of keying the axle into the wheel than the method you describe. Roll pins will fit well into even a poorly drilled hole, are very stiff, and it is easy to drill a hole into the shaft.
The best approach would be to drill the hole in the axle and drive in the pin, then cut the groove in the hub to enclose the pin. This way if the pin is a little off center or not quite square you can still get a good fit by making the groove in the hub to match the pin's alignment.
Make the hub for the wheel in two parts. The larger part would have the spokes let into it, and the groove for the pin. The smaller part would just be a cover plate that screwed onto the side of large hub to enclose pin. Made this way you won't have to glue up the hub around the axle, which will simplify the construction.
The classic way to cut a groove in the edge of the disc would be to do the work on a lathe. Lacking that, you could set up a bit like the bird's mouth bit, the one for 8 sided post construction, from Lee Valley and rout the groove in the side of a precut disc with a jig on a router table.
John White
Thank you so much for the advice. I guess the reason the company that made the wheel we are copying used the technique they did was that it was the best option. I think your suggestions make it a little easier to achieve ( I was envisioning trying to drive the roll pin down into the axle once the hub was glued together...not the easiest way to proceed). I do not have a lathe available. What kind of small part jig could one use on a router table to form a groove on the edge of a round disc?Once again, thanksKevin
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