S: When did you first start making spindles and how did you get started?
SK: A lady that I built a spinning wheel for approximately 20 years ago, stopped into the shop one day and asked if I thought I could make her a drop spindle. I told her I wasn't sure but I'd try - and that was 5 years ago. One of the things I decided right away was that my goal was to produce a spindle that would spin "forever" and be as balanced as possible.
S: You have beautiful laminated designs in your spindles. Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?
SK: I play around a lot with various designs. As I'm thinking or reading I'm generally trying to determine if a particular design would work for a spindle. Some design ideas come from bowls I made years ago, a picture I might've seen or something just plain pops into my head. At the same time I need to keep the limitations in mind - such as how much time and the types of woods that go into them before they become too expensive to make.
S: What is your favorite wood to work with?
SK: No one particular wood is my favorite as long as it makes a nice spindle. I like maple, however, it is a hard turning wood. I like working with both walnut and cherry because they are nice woods to turn.
S: Which are your most popular designs?
SK: One would have to be the cherry over walnut and the other would be the yellowheart/wenge zig zag (or as some refer to it as the Indian design).
S: What was your job before you became a spindlemaker?
SK: Installer/Repairman for a local telephone company
S: Do you spin?
SK: Let's just say, "I will forever be a beginner!"
S: Your email is Kundert Wheels, do you make spinning wheels as
well?
SK: I have not made a spinning wheel since the day I started making drop spindles. I was working full time and making the drop spindles in my "free" time. Since the drop spindles took off so well, I have not had the time to do both.
S: Tell us a little bit about where you live.
SK: I'm a Cheesehead and a Packer Backer, residing in Monroe, Wisconsin (which is located in the southern part of the state - about as close to the Illinois border as you can get).
S: Where can our readers buy your spindles?
SK: They can be bought directly off of my website at www.kundertspindles.com and I have many dealers that carry my spindles throughout the United States, as well as one in the U.K.
S: I love the new carved whorl spindles. Where can readers buy those?
SK: Due to the fact that these spindles are very labor intensive to make, they are only available through the Kundert Spindles website.
S: Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
SK: One of the biggest reasons I enjoy spindle making is the variety of woods and designs that are possible. I've been a woodworker and woodturner for the past 40 years. Although most of my time is devoted to spindle making, I have to admit I also enjoy making hand carved box calls for turkey hunting.
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