Ok, I admit, I’ve found myself searching the house for things to use as spindle whorls (the weighty thing on spindles that helps them spin longer). I wanted a lighter spindle, but one with enough oomph to still spin. I found an old button and a unused cabinet knob. I used a drill bit on the drill press to make holes in each item.

Then I needed a new shaft, so I repurposed a steel mandrel, which was used to make glass beads at one point in its life. I ground one end of the mandrel to a point, and flattened the other end with hammer. I used the band saw to cut a notch in the flat end to make a hook. Then I filed and sanded and sanded and filed until the hook wouldn’t catch on fibers.

I smoothed the hook with fine steel wool, then tested the spindle by, wait for it, spinning the steel wool. Because… why not? I used the resulting yarn (wire? cable?) to further smooth the inside of the hook.

I then tested with cotton balls, which went MUCH better than the heavier supported spindle for me. I did have to go back and file and sand the hook again because, surprise, cotton is more delicate than steel wool.

I am going to continue to use a small rubber band to keep the whorl from slipping off the shaft, so that I can trade out whorls. The knob and shaft weigh in at 1.38 ounces, and the button and shaft are a lofty 0.81 ounces.