Hi, I am new to this group and hope someone here may have some knowledge about Loomcraft looms.  I recently acquired a really beautiful 8-shaft 42" wide loom, with an unusual feature.  Instead of the usual back beam for winding on, this loom has a wheel in back!  It looks sort of like a water wheel, minus the paddles. I've actually woven several things on it without any problems, but I just wonder if anyone has any advice or has worked with this sort of loom before.  I do insert sticks when I am winding the warp onto the wheel, but they seem to be held much less tightly than on a standard back beam.  I always wind back to front, just because that's how I learned.

If anyone has any experience with this type of loom, and/or any advice to offer, I'd love to hear it.  Thanks,

Sara in L.A. (no guild here)

Comments

Fri, 12/07/2012 - 02:14

Sara von Tresckow

You apparently have an open warp beam. They are found on many looms.

As long as your projects are turning out well, it is working - I'd pack more sticks into the beginning to make it a bit more stable.

Fri, 12/07/2012 - 17:50

saraweaves

I've never seen an open warp beam before, and even though I've searched the internet extensively, I haven't been able to find a loom that uses one!  Is there some particular rationale for this design?  Is it supposed to be better for some types of weave structures or techniques?  I just really wonder about the reason why a loom would be designed this way - not that I object to it, but I'm really curious.

Fri, 12/07/2012 - 18:16

gailc

My Fireside has an open beam - it allows me to have 2/3 yd per turn of the beam without a heavy solid beam.
Sat, 12/08/2012 - 00:44

Sara von Tresckow

You haven't searched widely enough - back in the day many jack looms and some of the old rug looms had those open beams. Most current looms have solid beams.

There is no advantage or disadvantage - just a difference.

New weavers tend to overintellectualize minor difference in loom or spinning wheel construction that have no real impact on the resulting projects.

Sat, 12/08/2012 - 17:09

saraweaves

Thanks so much, though I think it's worth mentioning that I have been weaving for many years, and have taken numerous classes, including several week-long sessions with very accomplished teachers.  Because there's no guild or group in L.A., I work alone much of the time and look to the internet for community and advice.  I'm far from a professional weaver, but I'm also far from new.  Perhaps making such assumptions and taking a condescending tone to questions might discourage people like me from asking them - which defeats the purpose of this entire website, don't you think?

Sun, 12/09/2012 - 05:55

TheLoominary (not verified)

Hello saraweaves. You're absolutely correct! Weavolution is here for all, newbie, as well as the accomplished weaver, and everyone in between. No one knows it all. Questions are the way to learn, and learning is is the best part of the journey. Sometimes people forget they had to learn something new once upon a time! Keep weaving, and keep asking! Frank 

Sat, 12/08/2012 - 18:29

gailc

I have not read any posts here that I would consider having a "condescending tone". Just because some answers are direct and do not use flowery expressions doesnt mean that the poster is not very experienced and trying to convey that knowledge. Being overly sensitive and demanding political correctness in every post is not productive either.
Sun, 12/09/2012 - 02:05

saraweaves

OK, I will make this post my last because I definitely don't want to get into a long exchange that devolves into something unpleasant.  I will merely say - Frank, thank you for your note, and yes, I will continue to ask questions!

Gail, I respectfully disagree with your note.  I most certainly am not demanding "political correctness," whatever that means in this context, nor am I being overly sensitive.  The statement:  "New weavers tend to overintellectualize minor difference in loom or spinning wheel construction that have no real impact on the resulting projects" is, in my view, very condescending, because it assumes facts not in evidence (that I am a "new weaver") and it implies that I don't know what I am talking about, or that my curiosity about my loom is somehow foolish.  I don't think I'm misreading that at all - you are right that it is a very direct statement, and there's not much room for misinterpretation!

That's it, I won't post any further on this thread, frankly I'm sorry I ever did.  I thought curiosity about one's tools would be something people here would generally respond to positively, but unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case.


Mon, 12/10/2012 - 03:58

Gwennie

Hi Sara!  I'm an Angelino born and bred but living in Texas now.  So sorry to hear that you don't have a guild.  They really are great  I have acquired a Loomcraft recently too and I hear you about the wheel.  I was a little taken aback the first time I wound on but I just soldiered on.  I've been winding on front to back and using firm brown paper with good success.  I'm just about done with my second project on the Loomcraft and the tension has been consistent for me with the paper.  I've had to get used to the brake and a few other things that are new to me on this loom but I'm enjoying it very much.  Mine is maple and a beauty. 

Tue, 12/11/2012 - 06:21

Weavin Steven

Hi Sara,

I have a Loomcraft. The back beam on most of these types of looms only has one limitation. If you're winding a long warp, it may not fit. If you look at the space between the warp beam and the loom, there's only so much yarn you can wind onto the beam (I'm talking about the small gap just beyond the rear-most shaft). I'm currently winding on a 21-yard warp of 10/3 yarn. I'm using kraft paper as packing. I've got most of the warp on but there's only a fraction of an inch left in that gap. I think anything longer wouldn't fit. I usually don't warp such a long amount of yarn, but wanted to give it a try. For smaller warps, it's not an issue.