I'm in New Zealand and our local supplier of Texsolv doesn't do kits, you can only buy the cord by the metre and the plugs by the bag.    I have a Bartlett 4-shaft countermarche floor loom which I've just set up for the first time and really want to make any changes in future a lot easier to do than using the existing tie ups.   I have aprons on the front and back beams, so don't need to get cord for that.

Also wondering whether the light or heavy cord is best.    Hopefully once I know how much I need I can work it all out, at the moment I know there's something wrong with the tie up, but can't work out what it is due to a lack of experience.    My table loom is definitely easier to set up, but I know once I get this worked out I'll be able to do so much more on the floor loom!

Thank you.

Comments

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 13:28

SallyE (not verified)

First, since there is something wrong with your tie up, you need to figure that out before you switch to Texsolve.   Otherwise, you risk cutting the wrong lengths, and since it is expensive, you want to cut it right the first time.   Get Joanne's book:

http://www.amazon.com/Tying-Countermarch-Loom-Joanne-Hall/dp/B002FJTC4E

Get the book and then make the tie up work with your existing chords.   After that, you can purchase the texsolve and switching will be easy.  You will be able to measure how much you need for a single shaft, and multiply times 4.

You don't need the heavy chord.   The regular chord was made for this and will work fine.  BTW, you can substitute golf tees for the arrow pegs in some cases - where they won't get caught on each other.   They are much easier to insert and remove, and a lot less expensive.

 

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 18:44

ReedGuy

I use the light cord myself. Use it on more than the tie-up, also used on my shaft bars, as beam cords and tie-on rods to even the warp ends at the breast beam. Never had one ever break. I started with Texsolv because I built the CM loom from the ground up. But I also followed advice from Joanne Hall and others on the workings of a CM loom. There is a lot of free advise on her Glamikra loom site.

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 20:01

sewsable

Thank you, that's a good start on what I need to do.   I ordered the book last night after finding it by accident, but it'll take a while to get here.   Luckily I have plenty to keep me busy while waiting.

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 20:16

kerstinfroberg

I think the "heavy" cord was meant to be used for the aprons, where fine-tuning is not so much of an issue. (Actually, on the Swedish web site, there is no mention of different weights) For tie-ups you would want to have the "short" version (heavy or lightweight - short eyes is the way to go) - IIRC the "short" cord has something like 1 cm between loops, while the "long" (beam cord? "heavy"?) has more like 2,5 - 3 cm between loops.

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 21:38

ReedGuy

I used Lundell's book where it talked about cords on the beams. And I'm pretty sure in there they did not use the heavier cord either. In fact showed pictures/drawings and the eyes were same as the tie-ups. I was told once they were too light, but that proved to be wrong. I look at it this way, it's like buying tires for a car. Stuff wears out over time. Toss it and get a new set when required. ;)

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 00:58

debmcclintock

When you measure allow a generous amount to wrap around the treadles and lamms. That makes it easier to adjust length if you can get a good grip on the cord to insert the peg. You can always trim.
Fri, 05/09/2014 - 06:46

sewsable

I've just done some rough measuring and without beam chords I appear to need approximately 51.6m (56.4 yards) of the texsolv cord; does that sound about right?   I'll probably add a little to that and get closer to 60m I think just to be safe but would like to know I'm not too far off before investing in it.