I make all of my drop spindles and whorls and have tried many different variations. The one pictured here has a 6mm dowel for the shaft which I have tapered at both ends. I cheated a little and used a pencil sharpener to get the equal slopes and finished with a knife. The whorl is unfired clay. I don’t have a kiln or access to one but am hoping I can do some pit firing at some point.