Hackle-berry Finn
We now make hackles!
After quite a few requests for them we have found some space to build them. I am really pleased with how they turned out. We have again used Baz's great idea of bonding the pins into the hackle base using resin - it makes all the pins perfectly straight and aligned. They have an excellent cover to go over the pins so nothing gets pricked unnecessarily 
. I am also very pleased with the new clamps we have made for the hackle. Using our 'Selection of Cleverness' again, we did things like drill the holes as slight angles so the hackle is held more firmly onto tables. The clamp block is covered with rubber that helps hold the hackle tighter while protecting your table. The hackle has tiny rubber feet for the same reason.
Double Row Hackle Set
You might also notice the steps at the end of the hackle. They have been provided as a place to clamp the hackle with 'F' clamps if you prefer these to the Majacraft ones. As a nice little finishing touch, we laser engraved Majacraft on to the hackle base.
You can find the page on the main part of the web site here.
Until next time
Andy
Here comes a blogtastic day
After working hard out in the workshop for the last ... forever, I am back in the computer seat and am planning on posting lots of content today. Rob is out taking photos so keep your eyes open for more Majacraft goodies.
The first thing I have been wanting to share with you is the evolution of our flyers. For a long time we have been aware that the shape of the flyers affect the spinning in a considerable way. A flat or square flyer spinning at high speed creates a deal of wind turbulence and this requires work on the part of the spinner. To reduce the work required, we have changed the shape of the flyer bar to be more aerodynamically efficient and are very happy with the results. In our testing, the turbulence produced from one of our new flyers is much lower than anything we have come across. We think this innovation is going to be great if you are spinning fine or fast over a long periods.
Majacraft aerodynamic flyer
Bobbins, bobbins, bobbins
Hi there,
I have been on bobbin duty today turning lace and jumbo bobbins. Since working at Majacraft I have had to learn wood turning which has been a fun and valuable skill. I had done a bit of metal turning both at school and at an engineers in my 20's (Talon Engineering in the UK - the factory was through the fence from Westland Helicopters so was a fun place to work for someone who liked aircraft and helicopters).
Anyway, back to the story... I think our fibreglass and wood bobbins are really neat and as I was working I was thinking about their history. Rob (my brother) and I had the opportunity to go to the Bendigo Show in Australia a couple of years back now which was our first international trip for Majacraft. We met Wendy Dennis (Wendy Dennis-Handspinning Wool)and Philip and Jenny Dunn (from Virginia Farm Woolworks)which was a great experience. We talked with the Dunn's about our bobbins while there which gave us some new ideas to improve them.While on the train from Bendigo down to Adelaide, Rob and I worked out the design and how to build the new fibreglass bobbins on scraps of paper.
So if you have some of our wooden bobbins, you now know that the idea for them was born in a train on a sunny day in Australia!
Andy
The original Free Standing Skeiner
I thought you may have been interested in seeing some of the first prototypes of the wheels and tools we now build. While we do not have the prototypes for everything still (somehow they seem to get lost or canabilised), there are still quite a few in storage. I thought this one was "DONE" but when I put it to the others, they were not so keen on the design of the feet. It is still possible to see the evolution of where the skeiner ended up though. If you are interested in the wood, it is called 'Pacific Hardwood' which is actually resin injected pine. We experimented with Pacific Hardwood for quite a while as it had some great properties.
Prototype Free Standing Skeiner
I have spotted another couple of prototype wheels about so if you are interested, drop in some feedback and I will dig out the camera again.
Andy