Weekly Spindle Review ~ Tabachek Russian

Maker: Ed Tabachek
Weight: 37 g /  1 1/4 oz
Length: 11" Shaft  
Style: Russian
Woods: Zebrawood



The sample I spun was comprised of Merino, mill ends and angelina from CrochetbyKa in the colourway "Snow Day".  


I purchased this spindle at the Manitoba Fibre Festival last year and I was very happy to see Tabachek spindles for sale once again.  Despite my iffy feelings on Russian spindle, this one really called to me.  As you can see the wood is really quite eye catching and I thought it was really unique, not to mention I didn't have a Tabachek Russian in my collection and I HAD to have one.  

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The groove at the base of the spindle was a nice touch because I was able to tie off my beginning yarn to make it a little easier to start.   Little things like this that make my life easier are always a bonus.  The decorative grooves along the shaft and the bulb are very straight and you can see that a steady and careful hand was used. 

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 These concentric circles are a signature of Tabachek spindles.

Ed usually uses very unique woods in his spindles. Whether you love natural grained woods or colourful combinations you can find both with Tabackek.  He is very good at choosing combos that work well together.

The length is just perfect, it's comfortable to spin while sitting.  You can pack on quite a bit of fibre without feeling like you have too much to handle.  The shaft doesn't feel like it is so thin it will snap on you but I would be careful when traveling with it or throwing it in your bag without a hard case around it.  

The tip has been tapered enough to make spinning off its point pretty easy.  It's not so sharp that bits of the tip will break off and you don't risk stabbing yourself.  Again, I would still be careful when packing it, and make sure you have protective tubing around the tip - but mostly that is just a good habit to get into with any spindle. 


The wood has quite a beautiful shine to it and when tilted in the correct lighting you can really see it.  It's a nice contrast against the dark grain.  There are also very tiny holes in the wood that make it look like a walnut shell.  I like that.  

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I found there is a bit of a wobble on it when it is bare but once I had some fibre on it the wobble disappeared.  The shape of the bulb at the base of the spindle seems to be the right size for the length of the shaft.  The tip spins smoothly on both wooden and pottery bowls.  


This spindle is lightweight, but still feels dense enough so you don't have to worry about it going flying from your lap when you give it a good spin.  Depending on your fibre preparation, you could definitely spin a very fine yarn on this spindle.  

Spindle rating:
Length of spin: 7.8 seconds (average of three tests)
Fibre storage ability: Quite good
Looks: Very stunning
Overall Rating: 8.5/10


If you love to knit lace shawls and you love to spin your own yarn then consider a Tabachek Russian.  You would be able to pack on a decent amount of yardage without feeling overloaded.  I can guarantee that you will have people walking by asking to see both your work and the beauty of the spindle.  Another reason I bought this spindle is because I walked by a woman spinning on hers and I stopped to ask her what her opinion was on his Russian style spindles.  She said she loved them and then looked at me matter-of-factly and said "they're the best".

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