Old is New: 3D Printing Parts for a Canadian Production Wheel

Instead of finding a lathe and taking a stab at making replacement parts for the 19th century Canadian production spinning wheel Kit picked up last year, I figured I’d take a stab trying to make the parts on the Lulzbot.  Normally, for a typical wheel that’s around now it’s just a 20 dollar or so purchase to pick up bobbins, but these wheels were never built to any real standard.  So after an hour with a caliper, I’ve come up with this bobbing and the tapered drive pulley.

New Parts Old and New Drive Pulley Comparison Bobbin Comparison

 

I still need to smooth the ABS and bond the bobbin together (it is designed as a center shaft and two end pieces.)  Once it’s all done I plan to put up the STLs on my github.  Having not actually measured another wheel in person I don’t know exactly how different they are, but hopefully it’ll help someone in the future.

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houstin Written by:

9 Comments

  1. Kathleen Brady
    August 18
    Reply

    i recently bought two Canadian production wheels, I would like to enquire about extra bobbins, etc. thank you kb

    • houstin
      September 8
      Reply

      I’ve not actually thought about making them for sale, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to make more. Shoot me an email, houstin [at] lichtwald.com

  2. Carolynn
    October 15
    Reply

    would you be willing to share the STL files. THANK YOU.

  3. DebLP
    February 15
    Reply

    I am looking for a way to make copies of my old spinning wheel bobbins

    • houstin
      February 16
      Reply

      What kind of wheel do you have? So far each one that I’ve made copies for I’ve had to sit and draft up by hand, but maybe yours will have something in common with what I’ve done so far.

  4. Angela
    April 10
    Reply

    I have a Ashford Tradational spinning wheel and looking for an 3-D Jumbo Flyer for it. Have you made a flyer or have any suggestions?

    • houstin
      April 11
      Reply

      I haven’t, at least not for a traddy. I did print a flyer for one. The local hardware store has small screw hooks, so I designed pilot holes into the STL, and then with a heat gun, heated it up and pushed it onto the axle.

  5. Beth
    October 6
    Reply

    Do you have the stl files available yet? I just purchased a CPW, and would like to print extra bobbins.

    • houstin
      November 13
      Reply

      I uploaded them to thingiverse here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2913465

      I will warn you though, CPWs were made by hand before the era of interchangeable parts. Odds are that the bobbins I made will not fit your wheel.

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