I purchased this LeClerc Colonia I  loom used 2 years ago, and have made all the adjustments, replacements and renovations.

However this problem has not been solved. The beater is not square, the left side does not rest on the wooden peg, it is 1/4 " off.

This does not affect any narrow weavings, however a wider warp of appr. 30" + weaves on a slant.

Does anyone know how to straighten the beater ?

Thanks, Silke

Comments

Sat, 11/17/2012 - 20:54

flyingshuttle

I think I had the same problem with my 45 inch LeClerc Colonial as well. The problem is that the beater over such a width is not solid enough to deliver a rigid beat. Although it sounds as though yours might have become warped as well. I have little rubber rests for my beater, against the castle, which helps rest it, at least looking straight (I can send a pic if it helps). But I think at the end of the day it isn't fantastically important, you can beat straight if the difference is only quarter of an inch. The main thing I had to do was to change my technique for beating and use two hands each time I beat something over 30 ins wide. You get used to quite quickly! Good luck.      

Sun, 12/30/2012 - 01:32

Del (not verified)

I have an old LeClerc counterbalance (only 40 cm wide) and the beater wobbled all over the place. I glued laths the length of the frame (it is not a folding loom) that keep the beater from moving horizontally.  ( In my opinion, Le Clercs are rather notorious for wobbly beaters; and I do think they should be square. ) I'll take photos, if you need. And you MUST always grab your beater in the centre. Old beaters often had an inlay or a small carving to mark the exact centre.

Tue, 01/01/2013 - 16:58

Liese (not verified)

perhaps if you screw on a sturdy cabinet handle that spanned 12" or more  along with adding 1x2  the entire length you would stiffen up the beater sufficently.  I have a Fanny that I just bought with a wobbly (certainly in comparison to the Glimakra)  beater and if I find squareness is an issue this is my plan. I'll probably round over the exposed edges & counter sink the screws for a nicer finish. Although as I consider this perhaps the racking isn't so much the beater but the bottom attachment bolt area, in which case it seems the stiffening needs to happen on the verticals, perhaps glueing/srewing additional pieces to the uprights.  Perhaps you can clamp some pieces to your uprights to see if it takes out the racking...I'm off to try it myself. 

Thu, 01/03/2013 - 01:48

sequel (not verified)

Is your beater set up as overhead, or pivoting from the base of the loom? 

I have an early, like maybe the 2nd one made in 1978, Colonial in our teaching studio.  We've never been able to use the beater in the lower position.  The holes for mounting the beater are not lined up with the mounting holes in the base of the loom.  We've never had a problem with the beater hung overhead - good thing!