Interchangeable Schacht spinning wheel whorls for adjusting the spinning ratio on Schacht Sidekick, Ladybug, Flatiron and Matchless spinning wheels. Medium and Fast Speed whorls are supplied as standard with every Schacht spinning wheel.
What is a Whorl and How Does it Work?
Schacht spinning wheel whorls allow you to change the spinning ratio of your wheel, giving you greater control over the amount of twist added to your yarn. Lower ratios (slow whorls) are suited to spinning thicker yarns with less twist, while higher ratios make it easier to produce fine, high-twist yarns for lace, weaving and other delicate projects.
A whorl determines the number of times the flyer and bobbin rotate in relation to each turn of the drive wheel. This relationship is expressed as a spinning ratio (see chart below). Larger, slower whorls produce lower spinning ratios, while smaller, faster whorls produce higher spinning ratios.
Schacht spinning wheel whorl diameters (measured across the widest part of the rear of the whorl):
- Extra Slow Speed: 5 3/4″ (not for use on Schacht Sidekick spinning wheel)
- Slow Speed: 4 1/4″
- Medium Speed: 3″
- Fast Speed: 2 1/4″
- High Speed and Super High Speed: 1 7/8″ – these whorls have the same diameter but the Super High Speed has deeper grooves. A High Speed Bobbin is required for spinning with High Speed and Super High Speed Whorls in double drive (High Speed Bobbins are not required for Scotch tension mode).
Each Schacht whorl has two grooves for the drive band, providing two possible spinning ratios:
| Flatiron | Ladybug | Matchless | Sidekick | |
| Extra Slow Whorl | 4.6:1 and 5.2:1 | 3.2:1 and 3.6:1 | 4:1 and 4.5:1 | N/A |
| Slow Whorl | 6.8:1 and 8.5:1 | 4.7:1 and 5.5:1 | 6:1 and 7.5:1 | 4:1 and 4.8:1 |
| Medium Whorl | 10.4:1 and 12.4:1 | 6.5:1 and 8.0:1 | 9:1 and 10.5:1 | 5.7:1 and 6.8:1 |
| Fast Whorl | 15:1 and 17.4:1 | 9.0:1 and 10.5:1 | 12.6:1 and 15:1 | 8.0:1 and 9.0:1 |
| High Speed Whorl | 20:1 and 25.2:1 | 11.5:1 and 14:1 | 17:1 and 20:1 | 10.0:1 and 12.0:1 |
| Super High Speed Whorl | 21.2:1 and 26.1:1 | 12.0:1 and 14.5:1 | 18:1 and 21:1 | 11.0:1 and 13.0:1 |
