A small update on the eSpinner and a tip for those who want a “remote” for their wheels.
When I built this wheel, I chose a 2.1mmx5.5mm plug. The input power is 12vdc and the tip of the connector is positive. This is a pretty standard setup and it allows me to use an off the shelf battery pack that’s pretty commonly used on many electric spinning wheels. Continue reading Here I go again! eSpinner remote hack and a few improvements
My overarching goal has always been making useful things useful again. That’s whether I’m fixing sewing machines, doing woodwork/woodturning, refurbishing spinning equipment or creating something in CAD from scratch.
I talked about 3d printers in a previous post and how they’re maybe not what people think they are, yet. That’s not to say they’re not ready to bring new life to things.
Every once in a while when I’m knitting on my antique sock knitting machine, I pull the bum off a cylinder needle. They’re basically latch hooks but with a foot or protrusion that the cams in the machine push up or down. Continue reading Future Starts Slow
Some of you may have noticed I have updated Archaic Arcane’s banner at the top of the site. I’ve put it on a rotation with the old banner, so here it is again if you see the old one above.
This came about finally due to a project I’m working on right now but realistically, I’ve been wanting an actual logo for almost 10 years.
I let it marinate in my mind and would periodically think about it but nothing really spoke to me. Then at the beginning of July, I began a collaboration project. I can’t say much about it until later in the month but one of the things they asked for was a copy of my logo in PNG format and a transparent background.
Whoops! I guess I better make one? They’re going to want business cards too, aren’t they? Oh boy. Nothing like a little pressure to spur some action! Continue reading Pushing Forward Back – or something like that
Happy 2022 everyone!
For the second year in a row, I think most of us were pretty happy to see the back end of the past year. It was a challenging year here.
I do like these year in review posts – even if they don’t tend to be that popular. They help me to see that I wasn’t idle after all. It seems like the winter can be a hard time to change years. It’s dark and cold (up here anyway!) and what the heck did I even accomplish anyway?
What indeed.
There were more blog posts than usual Continue reading Just This Side of Sane – 2021 Wrap Up
The other day, I posted about a DIY singled ended electric bobbin winder. In November – couple of months after I built that first prototype – I found 4 used End Feed Shuttles (EFS) which suddenly made the single ended winder a little less ideal.
By responding a little too slowly, I just missed out on a used double ended electric winder from the same seller. Having missed out on that , I decided to start plotting a way to modify my winder into a double ended bobbin winder. Naturally, winter in central Alberta isn’t an ideal time to be trying to go outside into the unheated garage to woodwork, so the project got put on hold until January – which is still not an ideal time for wood destructor shed projects! January is when I started my next weaving project (the one I talked about in the last post.) That project showed me that while the current winder could wind pirns, I didn’t enjoy it (I mean, as much as you’d ever enjoy winding bobbins/pirns?)
Once again, the point my mind was stuck on was the mandrel portion of the winder. Additionally, it needed to be very smooth turning – which is why Continue reading A DIY electric weaving bobbin winder – Act 2 – Double Ended Winder
Well. 2020 is over, to the relief of most of the world, I’d think. In reality, this annual post almost didn’t happen. It wasn’t until I went back through the photos on my phone that I saw I wasn’t quite as idle as I’d thought. I mean, I took almost 4000 pictures… I had to have done some things, right?
I was pretty sure I’d done nothing this year but between getting to know 2 new kittens, refurbishing a loom, finishing a spinning wheel, prepping Continue reading Better Days Are Coming Now – 2020 Year End Wrap up
I know a few people who read this blog are weavers or spinners who rewind their spinning bobbins before plying and feel like I do that electric weaving bobbin winders in Canada are a little pricey – so I did an experiment this summer. How much would it cost me if I built one? At first, I opted for the single ended winder. It looked simpler to build and I didn’t have pirns that needed the support on both ends. I’ll call this prototype #1.
The part that had me stumped for a while was the metal mandrel that the bobbins fit on. Continue reading A DIY electric weaving bobbin winder – a tale in two acts – Act 1
When last we talked, the world was a way different place. I had hoped 2020 would be a kinder gentler year for all of us. How are you all doing?
Strangely – for this introvert, it’s still is a less stressful year but that’s because my fur kids are such a huge part of my life and 2019 was pretty stressful that way. 2020 started with new furry companions in the house. Continue reading Well, That happened! – 2020 Jan – May (and Shop) Update
Well, I put this post off for a little longer than I should have – but I had what I think is were understandable reasons mixed with a little procrastination.
In mid-December of 2018, Stormi began spending almost all of her time in the bedroom which meant more time for me in the bedroom taking care of her. That put some projects and some of my usual stress relievers on hold because I wouldn’t leave her alone for more than a few hours at a time . Continue reading 2019 Year End Wrap up, part 2 – everything else
This highlights reel / wrap up is a little later than I planned. It’s also far longer than I’d planned – so I’m breaking it up into parts 1 and 2. Today’s will cover the Sewing Machine related stuff and tomorrow’s will be the rest of the year in review.
In January, I moved all free help to the AA Vintage Sewing Machines Study Facebook group. I did this because so many people would ask for help but leave incorrect contact information, or I’d respond and never hear back at all. This way, a group of us can draw on our collective experiences and help Continue reading 2019 Year End Wrap up – part 1: sewing machines
