I continue my Frankenstein method of using drop spindles. The shaft is from a Turkish style drop spindle that I made, the whorl is a wooden toy wheel because it was lighter than the arms of the Turkish spindle, and the support is from my original experiments and made from the base of two aluminum cans. Why? Why do I keep piecing and parting? Well, because I want to walk and spin. However it is cold outside and my cat wanted a lap. Drop spinning in my recliner so my very long cat has enough lap room was awkward, then I remembered that cotton spinners use a supported spindle set up, so I dug out the aluminum can contraption. I did not care for supported spinning in the beginning, but it was just the trick this time.

I am able to mix and match because of the shape of the shaft. It tapers sharply to a point at the bottom, which allows it to spin in a rounded support, and has a long taper from the base to the top, which allows the accommodation of various hole sizes in whorls. As a bonus, the cop of spun yarn slides up and off the shaft, without having to rewind!

So, if you are new to drop spindle spinning and want the flexibility to try different methods, I recommend looking closely at the shaft of prospective spindles. Or making your own.