As a new spinner, I was nervous about spending so much on a wheel that I wasn't sure how I would feel about. More specifically, I wasn't sure whether my spinning skills (or lack of skills honestly) were good enough to even really reap the benefits of such an amazing wheel. Boy was I wrong - this wheel has turned me into not only someone who is spinning obsessed (and is now planning to carry fiber in my shop because I can't stop spinning), but someone who brings me wheel with me everywhere!
Love my new miniSpinner Pro. I am 100% newbie and am spinning singles. Eager to start some plying once my bobbins are full.
This is actually my third pro! Sold my second one to a good friend who really wanted one but couldn’t afford the full price. There’s absolutely no better way to spin fiber! Never let anybody tell you that your feet have to be involved in spinning good yarn, ha ha!
Я в восторге от этого spinnera Pro, всё просто замечательно сделано и вдохновляет на домашнее творчество. Огромное спасибо мастерам за его производство. Удачи в вашем бизнесе.
best money I've spent in a long time. this has saved my old knees from getting worse. I love this spinner.
Many years ago I had an Ashford wheel that came in a kit for $75 (to give you an idea how very long ago it was!). Many long miles of yarn later, I got rid of it. My life was going in other directions and my trusty wheel was collecting dust and taking up space. Since then, I've continued my spinning addiction on a variety of spindles because they're fun, portable and don't take up much space. I was happy with my slowly growing spindle collection. I never shopped or wished for a wheel. Then one day, perhaps on a spinning group on Ravelry, I caught my first glimpse of this little beauty. It was instant love! Now I have my very own and it's been a real game changer. I still love my spindles very much. I still take them with me and spin on the go. And honestly? When I pack this baby up with all the bells and whistles and extra batteries and lots of fiber, it takes up about as much space as a wheel! But it's worth it! I've been wanting to deep dive into the study of different fleeces and the qualities of different breeds of sheep. I want to study via socks. Spinning yarn for socks that is springy, fine, and strong takes a very long time on spindles. I might be dead before I get three pairs finished! The part that really drags is plying. I am now spinning 4-ply cabled yarn for socks. My learning has accelerated exponentially. Plying is a pleasure now, and oh so fast, and my spinning has improved in just a short time. The spinner is really a nice little machine - quiet and steady and smooth. Well thought out. I have had no problems with it in the almost 4 months I've had it so I can't speak to the fabulous customer service. Every little snag and snafu that came up was addressed in the small, simple user guide you can download now. I really love this little spinner. If you shop around, you can find cheaper ones but that's exactly what they are... cheaper. This is a joy to spin on.
This spinner is a dream come true. I recently had to cancel a long planned trip to Europe due to sciatica. I allowed myself this purchase as a "consolation prize." I have been spinning lying on my back, the only position that doesn't hurt. I have been spinning fine singles for three-ply fingering weight. I also bought the WooLee Winder flyer so I would not have to sit up to adjust the yarn guide as I went. I feared that I would not be able to spin fine enough for my particular style but with the infinite speed and tension controls, I have been extremely happy with what this spinner can do. I never thought I would purchase an e-spinner. Now I wonder how I went so long without one. I am looking forward to a road trip this summer that will include my new "friend" who has yet to reveal his name to me. As a former woodworker, I appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship in this exceptional piece of design expertise.
The hansen mini spinner pro is a real work of art .
He is such a powerful workhorse and it is
a great plesure to work with him.
I am so happy to purchase this little engine.
I sold 3 wheel to get this e-spinner. I truly love it. Worth every dime. I got the once with the lace flyer. I have never used a lace flyer and my cotton spins beautifully on it. My friends think I am crazy to spendin
Spinning is much easier and care free with this new engine. I love the torque at slower speeds. It is super quiet and totally consistent -- it does not slow down as you fill up the bobbin. What a great spinning experience.
This spinner is everything I expected it to be from all of the excellent reviews online. It's beautiful to look at, quiet as a mouse and so easy to control the speed and tension. I am a beginning spinner but I am already seeing great improvement in my consistency.
I know improvements in technology seem to be unending and unstoppable, but it's getting hard to believe you can improve on the Hansen miniSpinner Pro! I love the 'muscle' button, but also love the, "I e-spin because I'm smarter than you!" After years of being ridiculed and sneered at by other (traditional) spinners, the mS Pro has my friends' jaws dropping. Maybe we're just getting old and tired, but e-spinning with the Pro is so effortless, and the motor's power is amazing! Oh, you'll come out with a new mS that's got the Pro beat someday, but take your time; I've got many years before this one wears out!
I shopped for several months to pick out just the right espinner. The Hansen Pro is it! Its quiet but powerful motor makes spinning a breeze. After a long day at work on my feet, it's great to come home, put my feet up and spin beautiful yarns without the need to treadle.
Recently purchased the hmspro and really enjoy working with it. Have absolutely no comlaints it is whisper quiet and is a pure pleasure to work with. So far I am spinning rather fine yarns, pure plucked angora carefully saved from1989 when I last had rabbits, also some samoyed shed fur mixed wth wool and some angora bond blend and all is turning out just fine. A trip down memory lane, sort of. Frankly I would rather spin than knit so not sure who will reap the rewards of my efforts as I sure will not live long enough to spin and knit all my hoarding fibre! But with my great new spinner I will enjoy trying!
I really appreciate the orifice reducer too for the fine yarn and have not had to double over the yarn hooks or make any special tricks for the fine yarn on the jumbo flier and spools so far but I must say it would be fun to try the lace flier to compare the differences.
I have not tried heavier wt yarn yet but look forward to that too as I have much blended and carded spinning rolls awaiting since late 1990 when my hobby had to be put in storage so I am really thrilled to beable to spin again before I croak! I am 73 , with multiple health issues including arthritis so this spinner is perfect as I can very quietly spin while relaxing in my recliner, no foot work and no hand, knee , back or hip pain, it is great!
Thank you so much for this gem of a spinner.
Until I got my first e-spinner, I spun on spindles only. I have physical limitations that mean that I can't use a treadle wheel. I was happy with spindles but did wish I could work more quickly. Then I read about e-wheels, and decided to give them a try.
I bought my first e-wheel to figure out if I liked spinning on something other than a spindle. I discovered that I did, and that I liked finishing projects in less time. (I still use spindles to tweak plying inconsistencies and balance, but I love e-spinning.) My issues with my old e-wheel were noise and not enough range in low end for consistent bulky and super bulky yarn (I had to fiddle with take-up and speed quite a bit, especially after the second ounce). I saved up to buy the a mini-spinner, and when the Pro was introduced, saved a bit longer to buy the Pro.
I don't have enough words for how happy I am with my Pro (but I'll give it a try). It is *very* quiet. Lots of folks will tell you that it is great it going fast for fine singles and it is, but it is also superb at lower speeds for thick singes. In the two weeks I've had it, I've haven't encountered a problem with any combination of speed and take-up, whether I'm working on bulky singles and super bulky 4-plys, or doing the singles and plying a 5-ply DK weight yarn. It is easy to change the orifice reducers and changing twist direction is simple. I like the option to use the pedal in either the deadman or tap-on/tap-off mode, as there are times when I have to use my hands to tap-on and not my feet. The Pro's usability is excellent. My one issue is keeping the brake band out of the latch when I change bobbins, but that is a fairly minor thing, given the overall excellence of the Pro.
Thank you so much for making the Pro!
I was waiting for the faster wheel to come out and am glad that I made this purchase. I am able to spin very fine yarn and the machine keeps up with me, with a bit of room to spare. I have spun several thousand yards of yarn now and can say I am happy with my Hanson pro. Just finished up spinning 4 ounces of paco-vicuna resulting in over 1000 yards of 2 ply. I've also spun cashmere, silk/cashmere, qiviut, angora rabbit, and mink, and this wheel suits my purpose well. plumcrazyfiberart.com recommends this wheel.
Wow, this little guy spins like butter! It's almost completely silent, and incredibly smooth. From the minute I pulled it out of the tiny box it came in it worked perfectly. These wonderful people have created a tiny masterpiece for the spinning world, and now I own one! Included with the wheel came a good size amount of fiber to spin and that was beautiful as well.
I still LOVE my traditional spinning wheels, but this is a perfect and fun addition to my wheel collection. When I grow up, I think I'll buy one in a fancy wood.
Thank you Hansen Craft for my little-tiny-spinning-present. I'm one of the cool kids now.
I got my new MiniSpinner Pro a month ago and have had NO problems with it. I have spun miles of yarn already and have improved my consistency and speed with this spinner. While I still enjoy my Saxony, I use the MiniSpinner Pro to ply. It gives me better balanced yarn because I can sit a distance away and even my ply as I go. I am very happy I got this Espinner. I looked for a long time at all the different models I could find online before settling on Hansen Craft. It's pretty and compact and powerful. If you want a big lot of yarn, you can do that too. I just finished a light worsted weight two ply and got over 600 yards on my bobbin. That's about as much as I want to wind on my niddy noddy! Feel the burn!!!
Fabulous spinner the only thing missing is a hook or nob to attach the fiber when I take a break.
Thank you very much.
With a mental adjustment and a few simple physical adjustments you should be prepared for the ride of a lifetime.
I bought the Pro because I thought it would better replicate the work I do on my 30" Saxony. I'm used to spinning very fast and I generally spin long draw, both supported and unsupported. Since I got my "wheel" -- and I think it is worthy of the name wheel -- I have done a good of worsted and woolen spinning. The results have been delightful.
I don't use a Woollee Winder, so I can't comment on the effect it would have on using the wheel. The benefits of a WW are obvious, but the downside of using one gets in the way of my personal spinning style. I like having an ability to be completely in control of the tension/speed/balance of the wheel which allows me to spin big and small without even thinking about it--I adjust the wheel and spin the way I always do. I can get exactly the size yarn I want on the miniSpinner Pro without having to think about what I'm doing.
First of all, the quietness of the machine is enough to make me want to sing. Which I often do when I'm spinning--alone! I can also listen to books without any problem. I haven't tried it while watching Netflix, but I'm sure it will be no problem. If you haven't tried spinning without looking at your hands, this machine will provide you with the perfect occasion for starting. This works better with worsted spinning. The wonderful thing about doing it on the miniSpinner Pro is that you can start out with the machine going as slowly as you like while you get used to it! The trick with spinning without eyes is just trusting that your roving or top will decide itself how to flow through your hands. Let your fingers sliding back decide themselves when they should stop.
Being able to crank the speed up really high is fun... That said, to my way of thinking, the point of doing that would not be to spin a lot of yarn fast, but rather to spin lace and cobweb. They are both easy to do on the Pro, and depending on your body's natural inclination when drafting, you should have no problem whatsoever at substantially slower speeds. I would encourage anyone starting out with the Pro to spin at nine o'clock on the speed dial. I am an experienced spinner who can spin at production level, and I would not use this machine faster than one o'clock, and that only on rare occasion. I find I am spinning at 11:15. I'm serious. If the dial were larger I would probably be telling you down to the exact minute, but I find that imperceptible movements of the dial make noticeable differences in the result.
By playing with the speed and VERY LIGHT, almost nonexistent, brake tension you can get the balance for your hands and yarn size. I run my strand through the second yarn guide (so that it goes through both sides) before letting it wind on the bobbin. This creates a bit more drag, and by doing it I found a perfect balance of pull and twist for my hands. But it is unlikely that most of you would want to do this.
I have over the past years developed some physical challenges to spinning. I have pronounced neuropathy in my feet and hands as a result of a blood disorder. I also have some serious spinal problems. The combination has made spinning at my production wheel almost impossible. With the beautiful little miniSpinner I can find really comfortable positions to work in. I can also set up a tension/speed that completely takes the strain off of my hands. It has made spinning for long periods of time possible again.
I was used to quick stops on my treadle wheel because I would use my feet to stop the spin. It took me a few minutes to get used to the slow stop on the miniSpinner, but now I love it. The trick is simply to keep spinning until the wheel has completely stopped so that you don't build up twist. Likewise, start spinning as soon as you hit the start button or pedal.
Here's the most unexpected thing about my miniSpinner Pro. I find myself delighting in the machine itself. All the time. Like you do with any beautifully handcrafted wheel. I'm not talking about ornament here, although they can be lovely. I'm talking about all the little details that support a wheel's ability to almost do the spinning itself. These reveal themselves constantly to you on the miniSpinner. The threading O's (hooks) are set up in a way that makes moving them so easy! Every time I stop to do it I am grateful for the thought that went into them. And how easy it is to change a bobbin! The loveliness of the flier shape charms me. While oiling my Saxony has become a ritual--and I do like rituals--not oiling this wheel is a moment, every time, of grace. I try to stop a second and use the time to breathe deeply and take stock of the present moment. For just a minute. And then move on to the business of spinning.
The torque and regulated speed make plying--for me--much more consistent! I didn't even think about it. (I assume most people are much more consistent in their plying than I ever have been.)
Because of the way I work I bought a number of extra bobbins and I'm thrilled I did. I thought at first that I would have liked a larger core on the lace bobbins, but I've found I don't need it as long as I don't succumb to the temptation to completely fill the bobbin. If this doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it. It's the kind of technical stuff some of us like to talk about to make us feel like we are "special."
What about the money? I can only tell you I paid a lot more for my Norm Hall Wheel and I like this one way more. I once owned 300 Icelandic sheep and did years of production spinning, and I have spent a lot of time in classes (when I wasn't haying or milking the sheep), and I can tell you that the craftsmanship of this wheel, the intelligence and art that have gone into it, are world class. It should not be compared with other electric spinners. It should be compared to Hall or Amos or wheel made by great crafstmen. Most would consider paying much more for a fine wheel reasonable. This wheel is in league with really fine wheels.
I've been following Hansencraft ever since the V1 made it's debut but I continued to watch and wait as the company grew. With the introduction of the Pro, the great online discussions with Kevin and some of my V1/V2 friends, and a complete review of all the Pro specifications on the website and Ravelry comments of the whole Hansencraft line, it finally pushed me into deciding that I needed the Pro.
I ordered the Pro on a Monday morning and it arrived Wednesday morning. I was spinning before lunch time and quickly decided that the Pro is perfect for me. I was very impressed with 2 days delivery time and I couldn't be happier. I ordered mine with the lace flyer as I wanted to experience the Pro at it's fullest capacity first (love it) and I'm already planning to add the standard fyler next. I've been making short test runs of lace to find my "sweet spot" and now I'm ready to work on sampling for fingering and DK weights. The Pro is exceeding my expectations as of now and the only thing that would make the Pro bundle perfect would be if it included a battery pack.
