Paradise Fibers Best Lazy Kate - Tensioned, bobbins not included

This lazy kate comes nicely finished and is very solid. It holds the tension well on the yarns to be plied and works great. There are more expensive ones on the market--I haven't used anything else--but this one works very well and the price was right. It doesn't come with instructions--I looked at the picture but couldn't figure out what to do with the string (a photo from the back would have helped). Also the eyehooks were a bit tight to put in, but I inserted one of the steel rods into the eye of the hook for leverage and got it in. Then I called Paradise Fibers to see what to do with the string. Put the small eye hook in the small hole on the left. Attach one end of the spring to it. Tie the string to the other end of the spring. Tie the other end of the string to the black screw device (key?)on the right, not too tight. Put the steel rods in and put 2 or 3 bobbins on them. Place the string in the whorls behind the bobbins and adjust tension by turning the black key. That's it!

Oh! I have so longed for a tensioned Lazy Kate that didn't involve shoeboxes or rubber bands! But the prices of those things - CRAZY! Then I discovered this one. The design is simplistic and perfect! I also thought something was amiss when I found no assembly instructions - but with the straightforward design it was easy to figure out. Now plying is a BREEZE!

Yes, I was confused when there was no instructions or diagrams, but I was really easy to figure out. Like others, I just needed to look at the picture online.

As far as being hard to put together, I just used a little spinner's ingenuity and I was good to go. After I started the 3 brass by hand I put the steel rods thru them and used the leverage to screw them in. I threaded the string thru the black knob by lightly spinning the string clockwise as I was gently pushing it. That kept the string from blooming.

I'm very happy with this lazy kate.

Yes, I was confused when there was no instructions or diagrams, but I was really easy to figure out. Like others, I just needed to look at the picture online.

As far as being hard to put together, I just used a little spinner's ingenuity and I was good to go. After I started the 3 brass by hand I put the steel rods thru them and used the leverage to screw them in. I threaded the string thru the black knob by lightly spinning the string clockwise as I was gently pushing it. That kept the string from blooming.

I'm very happy with this lazy kate.

Fast shipping and price good. No instructions as mentioned in other review(s) but looked at picture. Puts together fast. A little hard to screw in the 3 hooks with hands no longer 20 years young-- but do-able. the tension string is kinda crazy since impossible to put thru the eye of the tension knob. Will try fishing wire next and report back on how all this works out. Give it 4 stars since I"m cautiously optimistic.

The design is great, but for the slight issue noted above. Have stashed the metal posts in a little bag attached to the base so they don't wander when the kate is idle.

This lazy kate works well and it is nice that you can slide the bobbins on and off from the top for a quick change. The tension adjustment also allows you to adjust the bobbins for your comfort.
My only complaint is that it comes nearly completely unassembled (the base only had the "Paradise Fibers" block and the plastic inserts for the three shafts preinstalled) and without any instructions. For the price, I did expect more assembly or at least a copy of some instructions. Taking a good look at the zoomed in photo will confirm if you did it correctly, though.
My kate was chipped during shipping, but I don't expect this is always the case since mine was packed with a wheel.
This tool will make your plying easier!

This fits both bobbins from my regular flyer and my jumbo flyer. It feeds my singles evenly and no tangled mess. Why didn't I get this sooner?

The lazy kate is great, no more guilt tripping partner and going crazy trying to tension the wheel. Wish I bought it years ago. I get the job done so much faster.