#of my two wheels I can't believe the CPW is less temperamental than than this one

[skylarkspinner]

Did some wheel maintenance today, remains to be seen if I'll get my daily TdF spin in.

This wheel has some quirks that while she can spin, it's kind of annoying. Main thing was the back leather bearing (what I'm holding in the picture). It was a replacement for the original I got with the wheel, but the leather's too flimsy, so I'm trying just a leather cord that's tied into place. Fingers crossed it'll make things smoother until I can get a new, stronger leather bearing made.

Also tried some Howard's Feed & Wax on the wooden tensioning screw & the base of the mother of all. The whole wheel's covered in a substance that the Howard's doesn't penetrate (considering if it'd be worth it to strip & refinish it) but the areas of exposed wood are VERY dry. Feeding it in those spots did wonders. The tension's always been sticky and creaky, but now it's smooth and totally silent. Awesome for now, but I've heard paraffin wax suggested for wood-on-wood parts of antique wheels and want to give that a shot for long term protection.