Merlin Tree Snowflake!

I've been looking at Merlin Tree's snowflakes since before I even started spinning. I stalk the site, looking for a "buy" button. I've searched the internets, looking for anyone selling theirs. No luck. And then, last week, someone posted in Rav Spindler's group thread that Spunky Eclectic had just updated her new products. And there it was. And now it's mine...

Isn't it gorgeous?

Well, except for the horrible hook.

A clunky cup hook, without the wider flashing.

I neglected to check out the hook in pics

but I'd expect something better on a "nicer" (pricier) spindle.

(comparing with one of my spindles)

I gave it a spin. The wide, rimmed-weighted whorl gives it a decent long spin--though slower than I expected. But it had a whole lotta wobble. I switched out the hook for one of my eye screws, tweaked it a bit and it's better, still some wobble though. I think it has to do with the thickness of the whorl edge (the ring is a good inch, maybe a bit more, can't find a tape measure), the excess of shaft above the whorl and maybe not enough length below to counterbalance. The shaft is also a little bowed (if it ever loosens up, I think I'll just replace it). I had to take some fine steel wool to the bottom inside edge of the ring because it was catching my fiber as I wound on.

Damn. I'm disappointed in the spin. For comparison, I got out my Kundert and my second spindle and neither spins all that great. The Kundert is balanced better but it's even slower and the shape of the shaft doesn't feel good in my hands. The mosaic's whorl is warped, it's not very balanced and it's so light it kind of jumps around. Have I been spoiled so much by my own spindles or have I completely adjusted my spinning to fit my own spindles? Maybe some of both.

I'm not disappointed that I bought the snowflake though. It looks lovely in the vase with my Kundert, the mosaic and a couple of my earliest attempts that don't spin all that well.