Drop Spindles
and
Custom Woodturning
Last updated on
July 2, 2010
Copyright 2010 True Creations
(585) 377-9389
jim@truecreations.biz
19 Random Knolls Drive, Penfield, NY 14526-1958
Kick Spindle
Here is a little background on how our Kick Spindle came to be.  At the end of
2007, some members of our local spinning guild came to me and asked if I could
design and build a good kick spindle.  They were not happy with the current
offerings available on the market.  They felt that what was currently available was
too clunky, too small, too unstable, and most importantly, did not spin at a high
enough rpm or long enough to provide for a long draw.

We looked at everything currently available and researched old designs and
photographs.  I fired up my CAD system and set out to design a kick spindle that
not only would be beautiful but would spin at a high rpm.  A couple of prototypes
were made and the end result was my personal spindle which I so creatively
named “My Kick Spindle”.

Besides making drop spindles and other tools for spinners, I am a member of the
American Association of Woodturners. 'My Kick Spindle" was chosen to be one of
the 41 pieces chosen for the AAW's 'Turned for Use II" competition and tour.
Needless to say, we are excited about having our spindle accepted into this
prestigious show.  Here is the link to an online version of the catalog:  http://www.
woodturner.org/gallery/.  Click on the catalog image to see all the wonderful
craftsmanship.

So at the urging of my spinning guild members, we have decided to go into full
production and make our kick spindle available to the marketplace. That way I
would get another one to use too!

The True Creations Kick Spindle was designed to meet the following criteria:
Now you can own a piece of functional art with a
True Creations' Kick Spindle!
To have a True Creations Kick Spindle made just for
you, contact us at:
        email:              jim@truecreations.biz
       telephone:       585-377-9389
Design Feature
 How it is met
It has to be beautiful!
 North American Cherry with a hand rubbed
Tung Oil Finish. Each part is hand turned
except for the swing arm and base.
It has to provide a high rpm
 You kick your foot across the lower section
of the spindle shaft, not the flywheel,
resulting in a high rpm.
It has to provide for a long
draw
 The shaft is set into two precision bearings.  
With a good kick or two, the flywheel mass
provides a great spin with enough momentum
to obtain a long draw before the spindle stops.
It has to fold down flat
 The design allows the whorl, spindle and
flywheel to be easily removed and
disassembled.  The rest folds down flat.
It has to be easy to carry
 We put a carrying handle right into the base.
It has to be completely
handmade
 We make every component except for the
two precision bearings.
I’m often asked what’s the little white button on the swing arm base?  It is a
Tagua Nut; also known as vegetable ivory.  It comes from the hard seed of South
American Palm trees. The reason for it is that we are from Rochester, NY.  
Rochester was one of the world’s largest consumers of Tagua Nuts starting in the
1880’s.  Tagua Nuts were used to make buttons.  So as long as we can get them,
we’ll add Tagua Nut as a decoration to our kick spindles.  Hopefully, every time
you button a garment you made from the fiber you spun on our Kick Spindle,
you'll think about this little nut.

Please keep in touch with us.  If you have any suggestions or see anything that
needs improvement, by all means let us know.  All our products are designed,
developed and improved by the partnership we have formed with our customers.

Please tell your friends about our Kick Spindle. We would love to help them spin
with unique efficiency in addition to great fun and portability.

Happy Spinning!

Jim Echter