Hi, there!

I've been weaving with my AVL production dobby since March, and have had a few down days due to joints coming unglued, etc. I'm preparing for a two-month weaving trip to remote southern Oregon where even getting to town to pick up FedEX shipments is a bit of a pain.

What spare parts do y'all keep on hand for quick replacement?

Blossom

Comments

laurafry

Extra cable and a sweger (spelling?) to compress the knurls - in case of cable breaks.  You can find the cable and tools at a wire rope type of industrial supplier and buy it buy the foot/yard and cut it to length yourself.

Cheers,

Laura

blossommerz (not verified)

Thanks for the reply, Laura.

Since I'm only using 8 of my 16 shafts, I've got a complete replacement set of the overhead cables. Are those the cables you need to replace or is it the (scary) treadling cables?

I've also read somewhere that the wire pieces that attach the harness springs to the lever blocks wear out pretty fast. Has that been your experience? I always oil them between beams and they don't look like they're wearing out to me...

laurafry

Hi Blossom,

Either the treadle cables and/or the shaft cables.  Always a good idea to have spares on hand.  No cable, no weaving.  :}

I started wearing out the wires after about 15 years of weaving, so I wouldn't worry too much about those yet.  But also a good idea to have spares on hand.  If all you need to do is grab a replacement, it's a 5 minute fix.  If you don't have a spare.....Doug makes them out of coat hanger wire or something of about the same grist.  He got a wire bender gizmo, made a template and makes up a couple of dozen or so.  When I get down to about 6 of them I ask him to make more.

Cheers,

Laura

villageweaver (not verified)

As well as the treadle cables, i most often replace the fly shuttle cable. I have the A-Series and I swear I've replaced each about a gazzilion times in about 5 years! The last set of treadle cables have actually lasted, so i think they improved something, thankfully! I think the fly shuttle cable is too short, and that's why i break that cable. Next time, I'm going to figure a way to lengthen it to see if get a longer life out of it.

blossommerz (not verified)

 Here's a blog post from Katherine Regier, a weaver up in Montana. It shows an AVL flyshuttle modification that lengthens your cable and makes for a more ergonomic weaving experience. Maybe it'll help you in several ways!

AVL Fly Shuttle Springs

Enjoy!

villageweaver (not verified)

Terrific! thank you for sending me her way. I have found you, blossommerz, to be an invaluable resource on just about everything weaving. Enjoying your blog!

Mary

blossommerz (not verified)

 Thanks, Mary.

You send me off to the loom with a smile on my face!

weaversouth (not verified)

springs, springs, springs

brake cables

wing nuts

so far, that's it.

NANCY C

blossommerz (not verified)

 Cool. Thanks! Thankfully, all the parts people have mentioned are things I can get at a regular hardware store. That's fantastic! There is a big hardware store just 45 minutes from the place I'm staying, so maybe I'm worrying about nothing.

Blossom

Silverwheelyarn (not verified)

I always have Tecsolve (sp?) string around since I have a big counter balance loom that likes to eat string.

laurafry

No, I don't think you're worrying about nothing.  I think you are planning ahead - planning for success.  And it doesn't matter how close the hardware store is if something breaks while it isn't open! ;)

Cheers,

Laura

toothdoc9 (not verified)

Hello all

We just got an avl 48 inch folding loom with compudobby III and an elift.

It would be helpful to know a source for the swager and the ball and other fittings.  I can find one at westmarine for 1/16 cable, but they do not have the balls or other fittings that are on the loom.

Thanks

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