Muntu Stitches

I thought I’d write up a quick review on my wheel since we’ve been spending lots of time together. So far, so good!

Specifications: Double treadle wheel and scotch tension. Materials are solid pine, plywood and MDF with a cream wash finish. Most Majacrafts have a delta flyer but it is interchangeable for the regular fine flyer. Weight is 11 lbs, orifice height is adjustable 27-29″. Wheel diameter is 12.6″. Ratios are 4.5, 7, 10, 12.8 and 14.5. 3 plastic bobbins are included. I received 2 extra bobbins because there was a special for the month of September.

Strengths:

Portability: The Pioneer wheel is portable and light weight. While it may not be a travel wheel like the Little Gem, it is easy to pick up and carry for short distances and transport in the car.

Versatile: It is a versatile wheel with 5 ratios, so you can spin yarns from fine to bulky. The bobbins and flyers are also interchangeable with all the other Majacrafts which is a big plus. The bobbins are also quite big. I am actually able to ply with it, although it does get uncomfortably full at the end, it fits a lot! I can fit a bulky 4oz weight yarns. I love how it’s easy to change the bobbin and set up to start spinning in between. The staff also rotates but does not fold down like the Suzie.

Useability: This wheel is very easy to treadle. I have no problem starting and stopping. The treadle action is very solid and smooth like the rest of the Majacraft wheels. The bearings are sealed, so no oiling is necessary. I love the delta flyer! As a beginner spinner, I felt this saved me from a lot of hassle but I was looking for a wheel with this type of flyer from the beginning anyway. I also really like the moveable flyer compared to hooks.

Easy assembly: The Pioneer was pretty easy to assemble and it took me about an hour. I’m no good at the Ikea-like assemblies and I managed to do it. The instructions that came with the wheel were clear and straightforward.

Price: The price is great also, especially if you want a Majacraft but don’t want to pay what their other wheels cost. It has the same engineering as the other wheels and uses the same accessories. What more can you ask for?

Customer service: Majacrafts have always been known for their excellent customer service. I emailed them with a question during the assembly and received an answer from them in less than 24 hours! Their website says to expect an answer in 48 hours but the turn around time was great, plus they were extremely helpful.

Weaknesses:

It did not come with a lot of accessories. I am hoping to get the wild flyer kit soon, and a tensioned lazy kate in the future. I am currently just doing the shoebox lazy kate which works fine for me in the meantime. I did get two extra bobbins (for a total of 5) but it was from a special deal they were having during the first month of introducing the wheel.

Look: The overall design of the wheel is VERY basic. It looks like a stripped down Suzie wheel, so if you want something pretty like the Rose, you might be look elsewhere. It’s definitely function over design. The wheel is made of a combo of plywood, MDF and solid pine, so unlike the other Majacraft wheels with their pretty Rimu wood, it’s not as fancy. When I first saw photos, I thought the treadles were huge and sort of looked like awkward duck feet but it has grown on me. I personally love the Pioneer’s looks. I like the simple and modern styling of the wheel.

Brand new: It’s a new wheel and only time will tell in regards to its performance and how it stacks up against other wheels in the same category. In it’s second month of release, it’s still a newcomer and unknown how it will stand over time.

Overall:
I felt like I was repeating myself in this review like the other reviews (on Ravelry) I’ve read of the Majacraft wheels but that is testimony as to how great this wheel is despite its simple stylings. It still has the same technology and feel of the other wheels but with a better price that opens it up to people who are new to spinning and thinking of buying. It’s a bit more expensive than most of the starter wheels like the Ashford Kiwi, Kromski and Frickes but it has the reputation and excellent design to back it up and make it a realistic consideration.

As a beginner spinner, it was really easy to start spinning right away. It didn’t take me too long figure out how to adjust the wheel to spin the type of yarns I wanted. I have been able to spin from dk to bulky weight yarns easily.

I also feel like this wheel will be one that I can keep for a very long time without feeling the need to upgrade because all the accessories are interchangeable.

I’m very happy with my Pioneer as my first and possibly only wheel. I feel like it’s in between a true travel wheel and one that only remains at home. It’s truly a versatile wheel. During my research, I had never considered a Majacraft simply because of it’s price but with the introduction of the Pioneer, I was able to seriously give it another look.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pm and is filed under Spinning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.