So the wife wanted an electric spinning wheel for Christmas. But she's a tightwad like me. They run anywhere from $300-$1000! So we built one together. We bought a new sewing machine motor and foot pedal, some good hardwood, a new drive band, two ball bearings, and a few pieces of hardware. We used the flyer and spools off one of her other wheels because she liked that style. I think if I build another, I bet I could pick up a used sewing machine on an auction for next to nothing and salvage that motor. We built this one for under $100. I do have to do a little fine tuning, need to fabricate a better knob for the tension band, that's what the vice-grips are for. And maybe a touch bigger pulley to slow the flyer down. But not too bad for a prototype.
