Trouble In Paradise: When Spinning Wheels Break

Six months ago I bought my very first spinning wheel. I say it's my first because recent events have made it clear that there WILL be a second wheel in my future...

When I bought it, my wheel was used, which was just fine by me. That meant it was cheaper than a new wheel, and the lovely lady who sold it to me helped me learn how to use it (along with a brilliant man the next booth over). 

It's an Ashford Traveller and all around a nice little wheel. I did notice some "chattiness" on the flyer, but when I replaced the original flyer with a jumbo flyer, that problem was solved. 

I had a great time spinning - I managed to break the Spinzilla "monster mile" after having only a few months' experience. But I took a break - after all, spinning my own yarn meant my yarn stash was growing faster than I could knit with it!

Coming back to my wheel was a joy. Until it wasn't. 

The dog was sitting with me on the couch, and I was spinning away while we watched Star Wars. Now, this dog is the kind of dog who actually watches tv, and exciting things are the.most.exciting.thing.ever! When this happens, he just has to jump off the couch to get a better look. 

Except this time, he didn't just jump. He leapt over me - and my wheel - knocking the wheel over.

Now, this isn't the first time the dog has knocked over my wheel. It's not even the first time I've knocked over my wheel. I put the flyer back on, and thought everything was fine. I was a bit tired of spinning that night anyways, so I put the wheel away.

The next morning, everything was all wrong. 

Every time I treadled, there was a sickening scratching noise. The bar that connects the footmen had been flattened out in the fall.

Worried that banging the metal back out might break the bar or the footmen, my husband suggested that "surgery" was the only way to go.

Tears might have been shed. Someone might have uttered the words "disfiguring my precious wheel."
​
I insisted that any "surgery" on the wheel must be discreet and leave minimal scarring. Here's what we ended up with:

The cuts allow the bar to pass between the footmen without any scratching or friction. This makes the wheel turn as smoothly as it did pre-accident. 

He even stained the areas where he cut out wood to better hide the cuts. And he knows a new wheel is in the future.

So, dear readers, any suggestions on which wheel to choose next time? Something sturdy, perhaps?