Yesterday, I ran out of hooks while I was making a batch of drop spindles for a customer. So, I had to clean up the wood chips and bring out the wire and forming tools. Here is how I make my hooks.

1. Get out the roll of stainless steel wire
2. Straighten a couple feet of wire
3. Grind the burr off the tip that is made when you cut the wire
   • This is a little detail but I feel it is important for a high quality spindle. Nobody likes to have a burr on the tip of their hooks that catches on their fiber.
4. Form the hook
   • I like the shepherd crook shape. It is strong yet can be “tweaked” into position for centering the fiber
5. Flatten the hook
6. Cut off the hook
7. Repeat steps 3-6 as many times needed

In a future blog, I’ll write about “tweaking your hooks”.

Happy spinning!

Jim