FAQ
Regular store updates usually occur every Saturday at noon Central time, but also sometimes occur on weekday evenings. The home page will give the time of the next store update. Quantities are limited and the most popular spindles typically sell soon after they are posted. If you aren't able to get the spindle you wanted in a store update, there are some other ways to obtain one:
- Check the home page of this site periodically for items that may be available outside of the regular store updates.
- Purchase from The Woolery if they are in stock.
- Place a custom order if we are currently accepting them. See the Custom Orders page for more information.
- Attend a fiber festival such as the New York Sheep and Wool Festival where we are vending.
- Sign up for a chance to win a stalk free pass on Ravelry.
What is a whorl to shaft density ratio?
This number is included in the listing of spindles with a whorl. It is the ratio of the density of the wood from which the whorl is made to the density of the wood from which the shaft is made, and will range from approximately 0.5 to 2. A spindle with a higher number will tend to have a longer spin time but may be more difficult to flick or have a slower spin than a spindle with a lower number. The number can be used along with the weight of the spindle to give a relative idea how it will spin. For example, if you own two Teacups of a similar weight, but one has a ratio of 0.7 and one has a ratio of 1.2 and you prefer the 0.7, it may be best to seek Teacups closer to 0.7.
I'd like to purchase a spindle on your website but it says it's not available until a certain date and time. Why is that?
The items that say they are not available until a certain date and time will be available at the next regularly scheduled store update (unless they are chosen by the winner of that update's stalk free pass - see below). They are posted to the site ahead of time so everyone can see what will be available when the update goes live and lets them know when they need to be online to purchase the item because the most popular items sell as soon as they go live. If you click on an item and do not see an ADD TO CART button, that means the item is not yet active and you will need to reload the page (press F5) to see the button after the store update goes live.
Sometimes I see items that are reserved. How can I reserve an item?
Reserved items are almost always those selected by the winner of that update's stalk free pass. Stalk free passes allow the winner of the pass to select one item from the next store update to be reserved in his or her name and are currently given away by lottery. You can sign up by visiting the Woodland Woodworking group on Ravelry. Once in-stock items are posted to the website with the date of availability, they cannot be reserved unless the buyer has a stalk free pass. This is to be fair to those on the customs list. Thank you for understanding.
I logged on for the store update to get a spindle, but when I click the ADD TO CART button it says it's not available. Why not? Sometimes I don't get an ADD TO CART button at all - it just goes from available to sold out.
When a buyer clicks to purchase an item, it starts a 10-minute cart reserve to allow the buyer time to complete checkout through Paypal. As soon as a buyer adds the item to his or her cart, the next buyer(s) will receive a message that the item is no longer available. If the buyer is extremely fast through the Paypal checkout or you do not refresh your screen fast enough, it's possible you will never see an ADD TO CART button. Once payment is completed through Paypal, the item will be updated to show that it is sold out. At that time, the ADD TO CART button will be replaced with a greyed out SOLD OUT button.
Do you ship internationally? What are shipping costs? How long will it take to receive my order?
We do ship internationally. Shipping is typically $5 for orders shipped to U.S. destinations, $10 to Canada and $15 to all other countries for items that will fit into one box. If ordering multiple items that can be shipped together, shipping will be combined if possible. Orders are shipped USPS First Class unless otherwise requested, which takes between 2 and 5 business days domestically. You will receive tracking information once your order is shipped so you can track its progress. International orders can take 2 weeks or longer.
If your order is damaged or lost in shipping, please contact me. Orders shipped to U.S. locations that are lost in the mail are eligible for refunds after 30 days have elapsed since shipment. Because international orders take longer to be delivered and can sometimes get stuck in customs for long periods of time, refunds are available for lost international orders after 60 days have elapsed since shipment. In most cases, lost orders will be refunded rather than replaced.
Please be sure your address on file with Paypal is correct. You may be charged an additional shipping fee if a package is returned due to an incorrect address.
What is your policy on refunds and exchanges?
Our goal is for every Woodland Woodworking spindle (or any other product) in existence to be exceptional, whether it was purchased directly from us or elsewhere. All products are inspected and tested prior to being sold, so defects are exceptionally rare. However, if you have one of our products and it does not meet your expectations in any way, please contact us. Whether it is a bent or broken shaft, dented spinning tip, pet or child mishap, or anything else, I will work with you to find the most desirable and least costly solution to ensure you are satisfied. In many cases, repairs or replacements are done for no charge or for the cost of shipping.
I only want spindles made from sustainable woods. Are the woods you use sustainable?
Unfortunately, many of the most beautiful and exotic woods are rare and becoming increasingly so. I only purchase wood from reputable suppliers who obtain wood legally and are under strict regulations regarding the types and quantities of woods they're allowed to import. I also do not use species considered to be endangered on the IUCN red list or in Appendix I of the CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species) list. In general, these are the species most likely to go extinct in the relatively near future. However, both CITES and IUCN have several "levels" and include at lower levels many popular decorative woods such as cocobolo and zebrawood. If you are concerned with purchasing products made only from sustainable woods, I would encourage you to review the CITES and IUCN lists, which are available online. There is also a more user-friendly list of threatened and endangered woods over at the The Wood Database.
How do I care for my spindle?
On most spindles, the finish is a combination of walnut oil, carnauba wax, and shellac. The oil "pops the grain" (greatly enhancing the figure and chatoyancy in the wood) and the shellac and wax leave a durable and shiny yet natural-looking finish. To care for this type of finish, it is recommended to only wipe it with a clean, dry cloth. Do not apply other finishes such as polyurethane or any product containing a solvent (such as alcohol) over the existing finish. Please contact us if you have any problems with the finish on your spindle.
Although only well-seasoned wood is used for spindle shafts, large changes in heat or moisture can make the shaft warp. It is highly recommended to never leave a spindle in a hot place, such as in a car during the summer, or to get it wet. If possible, keep it in a relatively cool, dry place away from small children and pets. To achieve a fast spin, the shafts on our support spindles are quite thin, especially at the flicking tip, and can easily break if not properly cared for.
The spinning tip on my spindle is wearing down and it's not spinning like it used to. What can I do about it?
Only dense hardwoods and cyanoacrylate (CA) glue-reinforced woods are used for spinning tips to make them as durable as possible, and if properly cared for wooden spinning tips can last for years with no maintenance. However, wooden tips can eventually compress and/or wear down, which can cause the spindle to wobble. Ravelry has a helpful thread on the subject at the following link:
Spindle tip maintenance
If you are unable to modify the spinning tip yourself to achieve an acceptable spin, please contact us. In most cases you can ship the spindle to us and we will fix it (including re-hardening the tip with CA glue if applicable) and return it to you free of charge.
How can I leave feedback?
If you have any issues at all with any of our products, please contact me directly at [email protected] and I will work with you to remedy the issue. If you'd like to leave general feedback or see what others have to say about my work, there is a dedicated thread here and also a Woodland Woodworking group on Ravelry. Also, you can check out my inactive Etsy store to see feedback from previous customers.