I'm on my first warp on my new WDL. I tied this warp on by laying the threads onto the sandpaper beam, which worked great and I'm weaving away at my sample. That said, I couldn't quite figure out how to get the threads off of the sandpaper beam and onto the cloth storage rod once a bit had been woven in the beginning so I'm allowing the cloth to wrap around the sandpaper beam for this short warp.

I'm sure I'm missing something simple. Do I need to allow enough loom waste to reach the cloth storage beam from the very start (i.e., drape the threads over the sandpaper beam, having them hang over long enough to tie on)? When I tried to bring the cloth storage rod up over the sandpaper beam to tie on in the very beginning, the Texsolv cords got caught on the sandpaper and caused all kinds of tension havoc, so I'm guessing that's not right. Any advice from AVL owners out there? This sandpaper beam is a new experience for me. Thanks!

Comments

kerstinfroberg

My loom (a PDL) came with a cloth apron. It sometimes slips on the sandpaper at the beginning, but keeping attention helps with that.

If you have texsolv, perhaps it would work to just advance it so that the apron rod is just clear of the sandpaper beam before starting to weave? I have not seen a WDL, and the pictures are too small to see details, but that could make the starting thrums manageable?

laurafry

I tried just wrapping the beginning around the sandpaper beam and found it too much of a hassle.  Tying onto the apron and allowing that to carry the start to the cloth storage system works so much better for me.  :)

cheers,

Laura

knittervention (not verified)

The WDL comes with cords and a tie on rod. I don't know if I could get an apron or not. The cords are Texsolv and catch on the sandpaper something awful. When you tie on the apron, does the apron glide across the sandpaper or does it catch also?

Heather

kerstinfroberg

It (whatever "it" is) *should* catch - the tension is held between sandpaper beam and warp beam. Which is why it is an (albeit small) problem when the apron slips...

laurafry

Mostly the apron will 'hold' on the sandpaper beam, but just in case I've gotten into the habit of just rolling the warp forward until the threads are on the sandpaper beam.  It increases loom waste a little, but since the warps on my AVL are generally in excess of 10 yards I don't mind.

cheers,

Laura

knittervention (not verified)

hoping that the cords would catch on the beam. And they did, sort of. Then the cords slipped and tension went awry. I think I'll play with it a bit more given your suggestions and see if I can't find the ideal spot to tie on. Thanks for the help!

Heather

Bonnie Inouye (not verified)

You wrote, "I couldn't quite figure out how to get the threads off of the sandpaper beam and onto the cloth storage rod once a bit had been woven in the beginning"

You need to weave more than a bit before moving it to the cloth storage beam. It is likely to be something more than 36" and less than 60" but I don't have a workshop AVL to measure. When you have enough to make it reach the cloth storage beam, you just release the tension using the same part that you use to wind forward. Then you unwrap the woven cloth from the sandpaper beam. When you reach the end of this short warp, pretend you have more and watch how you unwind the warp from the sandpaper beam. You can do this before cutting any warp.

Bonnie

debmcclintock

I put cardboard tubes (from paper towels) over the sandpaper and tie on to the cloth beam on my 24 inch WDL. Once my cloth clears the sand paper I pull off the cardboard tubes and allow the sandpaper to do its thing (which it does beautifully). Not sure if this would work for your loom configeration but it works great for me.

weaver-dyer (not verified)

I got tired of the Texsolv cords slipping and fraying on the sandpaper beam on my WDL.  I made an apron out of heavy muslin.  Not wanting to permanently attach it to the cloth storage beam, I made it long enough to wrap several times around the beam. I attached some cloth loops at the other end and slip the tie-on bar through the loops.  Works great!

The circumference of the sandpaper beam on the WDL is much smaller than that of the larger AVL looms.  As a result, it does not grip the yarns as well.  However, it does a great job of holding the tension when used in conjunction with the cloth storage beam.

Janet

 

 

 

 

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