I just bought a 30-dent reed, which is too fine to get a standard reed hook through without bending the reeds. So I made my own:
These are made out of 10 mil brass (.01 inch thick) and were pretty easy t o make. I sketched out the shape of the tool on a sheet of 10 mil brass, adding 1/3" or so on the sides, cut it out with my junk scissors, and then folded over the edges to make the handles stiffer and more hand-friendly. A light sanding to remove the rough edges, and presto! It was done.
The gadget at the top, in case you were wondering, is to push threads through the reed, rather than pulling. I got a lot of advice to push very fine threads through the reed rather than pulling them with a hook, so I made up this tool to do the pushing.
I did find that the scissors warped the brass on the inner part of the hook, but nothing that couldn't be solved by pressing it flat with the back end of the pair of scissors (you could use anything smooth, but that was what I had handy.
I don't know that I'd bother making my own reed hook unless I had a fine reed, but this works very nicely in my 30-dent reed. It does tend to bend under light pressure, but it's easy to bend it back.
Just thought I'd share!
Nice job!
Thin brass is good for something that thin.
I've used plastic debit cards cut to shape, but would be very thick compared to the brass sheet.
Have a good day!
Thanks for sharing a very useful trick of the trade. I'll certainly keep that in mind.
I've used a piece of shaped laminated paper before now as a reed hook. I'll definitely have to try thin brass if I come across some.
We carry precision reed hooks - check the web site
www.woolgatherers.com/catalog.htm
look under Threading and reed hooks
These are like a paring knife, grab the threads so that they don't slip away, and are excellent for anyone with visual impairment as they work by touch as well as by sight.
Right now we have the normal sized ones, but can order the fine one that goes easily into a 30 dent reed.
I've been using my set since 1980 and wouldn't try anything else.
Gently pounding metal with a nylon mallet (normally for wire jewellery) will stiffen it. But hammering wire over wire tends to break one of the wires, so slow and gentle. I plan to check out what I can bend into shape from my jewellery wire and then pound it flat for a heddle hook. I found a DMC needle threading device that came in handy when none of my hand-friendly hooks would fit the holes of the Schacht 12-dpi rigid heddle. www.dmc.com/mjRS/1/image/USA/Accessories/Pic/Needle_Trrader.copy.jpg
look at old butter knives at the flea market.....you can find a thin one with a handle and gentle file a slot in the end and you have a thin sturdy sley "knife" for your reed.
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I too made a hook. I used a piece of metal reinforcing strap used in wood framing of houses. I cut a short angled slot at one end with a hacksaw and deburred it with a folded piece of emery paper and a small file. I took some kitchen drawer liner (perforated foamy type) and wrapped then taped over that to made a soft handle. I turned out the perfect width for the #12 reed.
Deb, that is a wonderful Idea! I love really beautiful tools!
I used to have a normal wee reed hook but now I have a different method of reed-sleying I need a longer hook, so I make mine out of fencing wire. Works fine with a 12 dent reed. If i had to do anything finer I guess I'd have to do something similar to this.
* edit * I've just remembered that the weave tech at college makes reed hooks out of broken wire heddles. Just snip off the eyelet and curver back the wire with a pair of pliers and the guide circle bit acts as a handle
Hi Tien,
Nice hook and a good solution for fine reeds. I would fold up the handle end to make a shorter and thicker handle. I find that if the hook is long and sticks out under my hand, it can get caught on other threads. If it is short, the sleying goes faster.
Joanne
