5
Operation
1. Bring the black knob to the Off position
2. Install the Hank on a Swift. Make sure it is properly installed so that the thread will not
get stuck during winding
3. Get the thread through the Wool Guide and jam it into the two slits at the top of the
spindle
4. Turn the black knob so that the rotation speed is 50%
5. Make sure the spool is stable, then progressively increase the speed to the desired value.
Higher the rotation speed, tighter will be the cake.
6. If the hank gets jammed in the Swift during the winding, the belt that is driving the
mechanism inside the device will slip and the rotation will stop, so you have some time
to bring back the black knob to the Off position before addressing the issue with the yarn.
Please note that the motor will not stop by itself.
Spare Green Round Belts
Within the enclosure of The Caker, the DC motor drives the winding mechanism through a green
round belt. This belt wears with use and might snap after a while, which is why two spare belts
are provided with The Caker.
We estimate the belt’s life span to be about a year for daily use and up to 5 years for less frequent
use. If needed, more spare belts will be available on our website for a modest price.
We are currently working on instructions to show how to replace the belt, which will be sent by
email as soon as possible. All you will need is a 3mm Hexagonal Key, which is provided with The
Caker, and a Philips screw driver, which is not provided but quite common.
Winding issues
Thread Tension issues
It is possible that the thread falls from the cake during winding, causing a “yarn barf”. This is not
caused by a mechanical issue of the caker, but rather by a thread tension issue: the tension of
the wool thread may be either too high or too inconsistent. It is expected that this happens from
time to time and it is not necessarily an issue. However, if the thread falls repeatedly from the
cake when winding the same hank, then a bit of experimentation will be required from you in
order to correct the situation. This section aims to help you do that.
The first thing to check is the rotation resistance of your swift. If it rotates with a significant
resistance once the hank is installed, there will be a high tension in the thread during winding.
This tension will pull the thread out of the cake and it will fall either on the top or bottom. You
can reduce the rotation resistance of your swift by avoiding tightening too much the hank or by
lubricating the rotation mechanism. If your swift is old and is hard to rotate, then the best
solution may be to replace it with a more recent one.