For over a quarter century, the Louët team in Holland has been researching, designing, experimenting, and consulting with you, the customer, to create a superior line of spinning wheels.
Louët wheels treadle lightly, are low maintenance and nearly adjustment free and can be modified with accessories for the expert spinner.
Louët wheels were originally geared towards spinning medium to heavy yarns. Although bobbins and flyers are available for spinning this type of yarn, the standard wheels have been redesigned to be more suitable for spinning fine to medium yarns. The orifice on the standard wheel is sufficiently large (12.5 mm or 1/2") as are the bobbins, (180-250 gr capacity), to allow you to create novelty yarns.
Wheels come equipped with a two bobbin lazy kate.
Technically all Louet models are the same. Each wheel has a single belt bobbin drive with an adjustable flyer brake to regulate the tension. The flexible belts are made of polyurethane and never have to be adjusted.
All wheels are packed and shipped partially assembled in a flat box. The required assembly consists quite simply of tightening two nuts for which tools and instructions are provided. The shipping weight is 17-18 lbs.
Ratios
All bobbins have a sheave with three settings on one side that can be
used to obtain three different spinning ratios. They are: 1:5.5 for
slow spinning and heavy yarn; 1:7.5 for medium yarn; and, 1:10.5 for
fast spinning and fine yarn. (S45 ratios are: 7:1, 12:1 and 20:1)
The fly wheels of all the standard models are 50 cm ( 20") in diameter (except for the S45 and new Victoria). They rotate on a maintenance free, lubricated for life ball bearing pack to ensure excellent spinning ability by allowing them to turn freely and quitely. The same maintenance free ball bearing is used at the footman connection. (Absolutely no lubrication is necessary for the bearings to work correctly)
The bobbins are some of the largest around holding 8 oz of fiber on most models allowing me to spin all day at a demonstration without having to change bobbins several times. Although there are special bobbins for bulky and lace spinning, I have found that it is possible to spin any weight on the standard bobbins that ship with the wheels. These wheels are also rugged. I take my older model S71 with me to monthly spinning meetings and demonstrations and shows on a regular basis. The base size and height on the regular wheels allows me to place it in the car on the seat and take it just about anywhere in any size US car that I have tried, from my older model Datsun sports car to my husbands newer model vehicles, my daughter's domestic compact car and my friend's SUV.I have the Victoria wheels in stock and they will ship from my store, all of the rest of the wheels will drop ship directly from Louet.
