Now that I've got my Varpa set up, it appears that the woman I bought it from (and the woman she bought it from?) never used it.  For example, there was no rod lashed on to either apron.  The Texsolv heddles had not been cut at top or bottom.

Anyway, here's my question.  It's clear that all frame parts have been oiled, which is great.  It's also clear that neither heddle bars, lamms, or jacks have ever been oiled.  Should they be?  If not oil, is there something I should put on them?

Thanks!

Peg

Comments

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 17:26

Sara von Tresckow

No, the jacks, lams, etc. are NOT to be oiled. That is just the way such looms are built and meant to operate.

Also - the lady who owned the loom might have been, as I am, a proponent of NOT cutting the Texsolv heddles. On looms with 8 or fewer shafts it can be an advantage to leave them connected. when you've threaded one heddle, the next pulls up with no fuss. When threading with 4 threads at a time on 4 shafts, this works like an automatic heddle dispenser.

Not sure about the rods for the aprons, they could have "gone missing", but otherwise, the previous owners were NOT unknowledgeable and the loom could easily have been used as it is in proper condition for you to begin weaving - the loom is as it was meant to be.

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 19:35

Peg.Cherre (not verified)

Thanks for the info, Sara.  All good to know.

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 19:39

Claudia Segal (not verified)

I have a Glimakra Standard and wonder if the brakes need oiling on occassion.  I have owned it for 3 years and the previous owner bought it new.  I haven't seen anything about this in either Laila Lundell's book or any of the books written by Joanne Hall.

Claudia

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 21:52

kerstinfroberg

What are "brakes"? I know that some G. looms have (had?) a different incarnation when sold on the Am market. Do Am Glimåkras have some other kind of "brake" than the Swe standard ratchet-and-pawl? (If not: no, ratchet-and-pawl need no oiling, ever)

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 23:34

Sara von Tresckow

Kerstin,

I've never seen anything but standard ratchet and pawl on CM looms over here. 

Because the rising shed looms sometimes have parts that need lubrication, the thinking transfers over to the classic European looms, which really only need a good dusting once in a while and last a century.

Wed, 09/19/2012 - 09:48

ReedGuy

The only thing I would do, as far as lubricating, is rub some wax on the steel rods to hold the lamms, jacks and treadles and rub wax on the roller shafts when setting it up. Depending on the metal used in the steel rods, the wax can prevent corrosion, since wood is hygroscopic.