I recently bought a loom identical to this http://weavolution.com/loom/no9 and would like to change the hemp strings and possibly heddles to texsolv as I'm tired of the knots coming undone during weaving.

However, I would like to make sure I get the correct size heddles (the texsolv website states Lervad uses 10 cm longer heddles than what's currently on the loom) and use the optimal distances between lamms etc. when I set it up, to not wast miles of cord while experimenting (at the moment I'm having trouble with getting a proper shed on the leftmost treadle for some reason, while the others hardly ever have to be adjusted)

I've seen the loom #9 also with a hanging beater, the manual for that may be different, so I'm hoping for help with the one that has a low beater, a pdf manual would be awesome. It seems these looms have made their way around the world, so perhaps somebody has been more careful to preserve this info?

Comments

Tue, 07/29/2014 - 07:59

ppinto

I've already asked in a Danish forum with no responses.

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 01:51

Su Butler

Janet Meany runs the Loom Manual Library.  You can contact her to see if she has a copy of the manual you need.  She will photocopy it for a nominal fee and send it to you.  You can contact her at [email protected]

 

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 05:56

ppinto

I'm told she only does American looms?

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 14:32

Sara von Tresckow

The Lervad #9 is not the model referred to in the Texsolv charts. I have my old catalog (lived in N. Germany 1971 to 1990 and almost became a dealer) and it recommends heddles 220mm in length (string). You can look at the Texsolv heddle chart to pick something similar.

Looms back then came with assembly instructions only, and since yours is together except for a better tieup, you'd not get a lot of new information. European loom makers assume that the weaver will take instruction and/or purchase books.

I'm not entirely sure that your loom is the #9 Lervad as the pieces in my old catalog do not match the profiles used on the loom pictured on Weavolution. The catalog I have is from the late 1970's and the beater hangs. In any case, on looms this small, you usually cannot change the beater mounting. 

To make a tieup kit, you need to measure and set up two shafts so that they work as desired. Then cut a set of Texsolv cords in that length. In 1981, my loom from Finland came with no tieup - I worked in this manner to get the Texsolv cords the correct length.

On narrow CM looms, it is quite normal for the left treadle to pivot differently from the right one. It is because the treadles come too close to the sides of the frame. This is why CM looms have treadles close together and in the center of the loom. You may need to play with adjusting the lams not being parallel to the floor because of the small size. The good part is that once you get things working, you don't need to troubleshoot again.

If your loom is really the Lervad #9, it was a modification of their rigid heddle loom. I looked long and hard and went with the Kircher rigid heddle (could be had with a sinking shed four shaft attachment) because of pricing. This was common at the time as full sized floor looms were unaffordable for most weavers.

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 14:48

ppinto

Thank you for your input! Very useful indeed.

It appears the loom was made with a standing beater first and a later model with the hanging beater, as I know people with both versions - only none of them have the original pamphlet. I have the manual for a number 7, and while it has a nice drawing of all the measurements from jacks all the way down, it's not the same size. So I was hoping for a similar drawing available for mine.

However, since I asked here I've come across two people with the same loom and they use 22 cm heddles, so I believe you are right! :) There are homemade string heddles on now that are slightly shorter, but they stretch with use, so that's another reason I've been looking to change the whole setup.

loom

 

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 15:20

Joanne Hall

If your breast beam height is less than 34 inches, I suggest the 9 1/2 inch length at the most.  The 220 Sara mentioned is the 8 5/8 inch length and that would be good if the breast beam height is less than 32 inches. 

joanne at glimakrausa.com

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 15:32

ppinto

There is no actual breast beam as you can see, as Sara mentioned it's basically like their rigid heddle looms (of which I also have one) with an added stand, treadles and castle.

It's definitely lower than 32". More like 30". Great to have a rule like that to refer to!

My current heddles were 18 cm, but they have stretched with use, so now 20 cm. Homemade seine twine (came with the loom).

But it's a fine little beginner loom for little space and money, I've had to back it into that little nook under a slanted ceiling for my loom room.

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 21:16

cindycarp

I also have this same Lervad loom (pictured above), and I am changing the string heddles to texsolv.  Thanks for all your discussion about the length.  I am assuming that the 22cm will work.  I do have a question, though.  I read that the longer the heddle, the larger the shed.  Would the next length work? or be too long, since the front beam is 30" high??

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 21:34

ppinto

I get a shed of nearly the whole reed with 18 cm heddles, so I don't think you'd gain anything with longer heddles. Also, a very large shed is harder on the warp threads the shorter the distance is between front and back beam, the reason larger looms use longer heddles is because the triangles forming the sheds are longer and so need to be deeper, does that make sense?

Everyone I've talked to use 22 cm for this loom, in fact I just ordered the same, but have a project on, so didn't switch them yet.

Wed, 02/04/2015 - 23:26

cindycarp

Thanks.  I will let you know if I have any trouble.

Tue, 05/31/2016 - 22:58

Idawalters

Lervad loom, 30", came with 2 rollers, 4 horses, no harnesses, no heddles, no lamms. Has 6 treadles. Any size help for heddles and lamms?

Wed, 06/01/2016 - 02:36

Joanne Hall

If you don't find a manual, there are counterbalance tie-up instructions on the Glimakra website.  Click on Learning about Looms, then basic loom info.

Joanne

Wed, 06/01/2016 - 03:49

ppinto

Lervad made many looms, which model do you have? (perhaps insert a photo) The small folding ones use 22 cm heddles (green ties on the texsolv)

They are usually countermarch, do you have the two metal rods above each other for lamms? If it's the same, I'll go measure mine.