Hello to all, and especially you lucky Dryad Vertical Loom owners. I would like to ask those folks who own ,or have information for these unique looms if they would help me in gathering any information we can in order that I may build a smaller version of the Dryad. It would be for a weaving width of about 16". I would ask that if anyone is willing to send me any photos, and general measurements of their looms such as, footprint, height, rail, and frame thickness. Also how harness's are disassembled, and their height to determine what Texsolv to use, as well as reed heigth. Any measurement of anything on this loom, and especially any photo's would be of great help for this project.You can contact me through Weavo, and I'll provide my e-mail to make sending,and managing photo's easier. Also,please tell me what you like about your loom ,or even better, what you would change about it! Thanks in advance, Regards, Frank
A friend found a listing for a Dryad upright loom on her work for sale list. She told me about it last weekend, when I saw the price and the loom that is was, I said I'd take it. Assuming it hasn't already sold, I'll send you any information you want once I have it home and put together!
Thanks Erica, that will be great. Frank
I will be buying the Dryad. It's coming from Wales and I'm in Norfolk. I will pick it up in a few weeks time. But as I'm moving in June, I may not get it together until July/August. I apologize that it won't be sooner!
Cheers,
Erica
Hi Erica. Congrats on your new Dryad loom.Thanks, and not to worry, I wouldn't be starting anything on this loom until next year. Plenty of time to gather information.Frank
Hi, I was browsing along here and saw your post.I have in my workshop an upright Harris rug/tapestry loom. its about 7 feet tall with smallish footprint.Quite often see the Dryads for sale and have seen them IRL but I think my Harris is a lot better. It is made from a good dark solid mahogany of the kind you dont find anymore, has 2 sliding horizontal shafts metal heddles, just above standing head height which are released by pulling a string just above and working the 2 foot pedals. The beater bar is released with a trigger mechanism which causes it to unhook and it drops down with the reed which is 6 dpi, it is possible to attach more weight to it but I find it more than enough on its own. Good to work at standing up, the weaving width is about 26 inches. I have used it for rugs and tapestry.My only complaint is that I have to climb, stand on a chair up to dress it at the top and now with my getting on in years find this a bit of a drag, and i now have a Macomber and a large Varpa loom which take up lots of room I am thinking of selling the Harris on at some time, anyone interested? I am in the Midlands UK.
It is really well constructed, you can place a template drawing at the back to work your tapestry from. I attach a string to release the upper pawl and use a stick to flip it back with, you then wind on with the wheel at the side. All bolted and pegged together, easy to assemble. The Dryads seem quite flimsy in comparison.
HI Erica....While I have no experience with the Harris upright loom, I do own a Dryad and am very happy with it. Crazylace commented the Dryad was "flimsy" in comparison to the Harris, but I must say that is a work I have never associated with my Dryad upright loom! Mine is a workhorse - very solid, 2 shafts controlled by treadles, heavy beater that is held in place by springs for easy return and for holding a reed in place. Ratchets and pawls are substantial and the loom, since is does not come apart for transport, is solid and true. I am sure you will love your new-to-you Dryad. I tried to put a photo of mine here, but once again I am unable to add photos to my posts. If you care to see two photos of my loom you can see them at my website at www.subudesigns.com Click on Gallery, then on Tapestry and the first two pics are my loom.
my loom has a height of 69" and a foot print of 31" deep by 42" wide.
there is 38.5" between the top and bottom bar.
the shaft holder is 13" from the top bar and is 4" tall. the bottom of the reed holder is 4" from the bottom of the shaft holder, which is in turn about 18" from the bottom bar.
the reed-holder is held up by springs on either side and slides on rails. if the loom has been sitting in a shed for a while the rails can get a little swollen and main took some oil and a bit of time in a warm room to start moving smoothly.
The warp goes over the top bar and onto the warp beam. I have banged nails into here as it makes a raddle and keeps the warp spaced during weaving.
There are about 210 heddles in total, i forget, and the reed is spaced at 3 dents per inch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55345518@N04
with any luck that should be a link to my photostream, i have taken some pictures of the loom, they'll be the 15 most recent assuming you access this soon enough. i've called one of them dryad, in case you don't access this post for some time.
i don't know if that link'll work. sometimes these things don't
any more information, i'll be happy to help, take measurements, whatever
Thanks, Andrew, lots of information and photo's here for me. I see you have been busy with rugs on your Dryad loom. Since I have a heavy loom for my rugs, in my German 54" Harald Marquardsen CM, I'll be building a smaller version of your Dryad for tapestry work. Thanks for taking your time for the measurements and photo's. Frank.
Would anyone know if I can replace the (old and weak) string heddles on my Dryad 2 shaft upright floor loom with Texsolv? It seems to measure 11" but I am worried that I should not make an expensive mistake as the wooden frames are quite chunky. Any advice on UK suppliers of the correct Texsolv heddles would be welcome.
frank herring and sons are good, I was using them as of last year. They sell all sorts of weaving supplies. If you can't get texsolv to fit, you could always just get cotton heddle string (makes excellent ragrug warp too) and make up a wee jig to make some more heddles.
I spent half a week doing that for my other loom last year, I don't recommend it ;)
Thanks Andrew, I think woollylamb was the one looking for heddles though. Frank.
Frank Herring and sons (who also make a very nice-looking spinning wheel)
Ah-haa! now I see! Thanks all. Frank
Woollylamb, Yes Texsolv heddles will fit your Dryad. I replaced my heddles and they fit good..................Steve.
