Hi,
I have fallen in love with the look of the Kromski Polonaise and was planning on buying one soon but was recently told (second hand) that it was not a good wheel to buy. No details about "why not" were available and I haven't found any negative reviews on the internet, at least to date. Am I missing something important? I have a Schacht Ladybug that I bought several years ago when I learned to spin and it's a very nice wheel but I'd really prefer a more traditional looking wheel. That said, Kromski wheels are in my price range while nearly all of the other Saxony wheels out there are far and away out of my price range. I'm not planning to sell my Ladybug - it's very portable and that's handy. I just really really love the look of the Polonaise...
Thanks for sharing your collective wisdom!
HI - I bought one last year. I love it. It is not only beautiful, but a workhorse. I have the clear finish and I put it together alone. I think it's fabulous, and I have almost 30 years of spinning experience.
Deb
I bought an unfinished Kromski Polonaise a few years ago & absolutely love it! I finished it with Danish oil. It's a larger wheel, which is tricky to take to spinning get-togethers, so I bought the smallest Kromski Mazurka (which is no longer being made) as my wheel to take to spinning events. Both wheels are absolutely gorgeous with lots of attention to detail. Pretty much all of the Kromski spinning wheels are double drive with a built-in Scotch tension option. The bobbins are larger than the traditional Ashford bobbins so they hold more yarn, and even the lazy Kates are beautiful!
Go for it!!
I also fell in love with the traditional "look" of the Kromski Polonaise and purchased the clear finish wheel a year and a half ago (before I knew how to spin). It is beautiful and well made with excellent craftsmanship.
I was torn between wanting to make "art/bulky" yarn and considering the Majacraft Aura or making traditional yarns and going with the Kromski. I am not sorry for my decision at all. I had no trouble transferring my beginner skills, to my new wheel ... such freedom and speed, with little effort. I was taught to spin and draft with a Navajo spindle or park and spin. My yarn has gotten finer and finer and I recently spun a cashmere thread, which I will ply.
I naturally use a long draw and my bobbin fills-up fast, which I am grateful for, as I have very little time to spin. I was not attracked to the short-draw or inch worm drafting technique, just my personal choice.
One of the other commentors mentioned a bit of difficulty travelling with the Polonaise and I came up with a solution when I needed to attend a class. I did not glue in the back leg when I assembled my wheel, so that I can remove it. I used an old guitar strap, about 5' to 6' long and attach it to the tension adjustment knob, located at the end where you find the mother-of-all and the other end I attach to one of the wheel knobs, then I sling it over my shoulder like my purse strap and put the extra back leg piece in my purse. It's very easy to manage and with the leg off, it fits into my back seat with extra care.
I know you will enjoy this wheel, if you decide to purchase.
Tina
Well, I couldn't find a bad review or opinion anywhere (except for that one shop owner!) so I went ahead and ordered an unfinished Polonaise. It's now on a table in my basement, in pieces, in the process of being finished. I am soooooo slow at that but it will be worth it. Eventually. ;-) I did put it together and try treadling on it before taking it apart again to finish and was really impressed at how smooth the treadling was and how easy it was to start and stop the wheel. Now I just have to get my act together and finally get the finishing done and the wheel in action...
Your suggestion for travel with the wheel is super - thanks!
Denise
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