jon_weavetools

About me

Weaving Since

woodworking since 1965; involved with making weaving tools since 1996

Kinds of weaving

see above

Pets? Kids?

deer and turkeys that hang around our yard; one daughter just graduated from UCLA

Favorite Color

cyan

State/Province

Minnesota

About me

I’m a semi-retired computer professional and a long-time woodworker specializing in fine woodworking. That includes the usual tables, desks, cabinets, shelves, valences, trim work, restoration work, decorative boxes, weaving shuttles, and ergonomic wing nut tools. I’ve also delved into metal working and carbonfiber composite construction.

I got into shuttle building 15 years ago, building 2 shuttles for my weaver-wife as gifts. Then some weavers from a local quild happened to see them several years ago, and asked if I could make more. Early in 2009, I started researching shuttles, reviewing shuttles available from the large vendors and private woodworkers, and interviewing professional weavers about their preferences and likes and dislikes with old and new shuttles.
Quality shuttles are in many ways more challenging to build than standard pieces of furniture because of their small size and finer tolerances in construction. If they don’t work well and slow down the work, weavers generally don’t put up with them very long, and they end up on the back shelf. I’m not a weaver, but closely associated with and a member of the Weaver’s Guild of MN (and the Woodworker’s Guild of MN).
I’ve since made many boat shuttles for 4” bobbins, and a few custom ones for 6”. Shuttles are all highly contoured and finished using combinations of layered walnut, cherry and maple, and high corrosion-resistant stainless steel rods.
There have been frustrations along the way, but shuttle-making has overall been an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I’ve also started looking into making the Swedish or Damask style quill shuttles.