I'm in the midst of designing a loom for myself and was hoping to equip it with a sticky cloth advance roller, but I'm having a terrible time finding information about the various beam covering options-- what materials are in use, and what materials are best for what types of projects?

Allen Fannin (Handloom Weaving Technology, 1979) lists sandpaper, perforated metal, felt, and cork as possible coverings and stresses the importance of matching the covering to the project, but gives no further details on the coverings or guidance on matching them to projects. What grits of sandpaper are used, in what abrasives and what backing? What gauge of metal, and what kind of perforation? Synthetic or natural felt, and how thick, and how dense? What size and roughness of cork? I've heard from other sources that sandpaper works on 'most' projects, and perforated metal is good for thicker, fluffier fabrics. My weaving interests are a bit eclectic, but the things of most interest at the moment are dress-weight wools and blanket weight fabrics in wool and cotton. Further down the road I’d like to try my hand at fine linen and possibly silk. What sort of coverings would match these sorts of projects?

 

Comments

Sat, 11/14/2015 - 02:48

Nakia

I can't help you one least bit, but I am curious as to what more experienced weavers will say to this one. I'm not exactly following you on these various "beam" coverings. Hope someone can answer your questions. Smile

Sat, 11/14/2015 - 09:02

Karren K. Brito

I say sand paperish because it doesn't look quite like sand paper and the texture, sand, doesn't come off.  I don't know if it propietary or if you can get it from AVL.

The purpose of the grippy surface on the front beam is to hold the cloth.  You can cut off the cloth after it goes around the front beam.  The tension in the loom only goes from back beam to front beam, NOT the cloth beam as in most of our looms.  This has two advantages; one the packing on the cloth beam does not effect the tension, and two, you can cut any of the woven cloth off when ever you want.  So if you weave a cloth that is thicker on one side  or spot  it doesn't cause any tension problem.  If you want to put on a long warp and weave a sample with the first bit of the warp, cut it off (after it goes around the beam), and to finish it and see if it as you wanted, then you can just continue to weave with out tieing on again.  Or you can weave 3 of 10 rugs and cut them off and just continue on your merry way.

The big drawback is the sand paper  can sand paper your arms while you are weaving.  If you weave less than full width on the loom, some of the sand paper is exposed and it can scratch your forearms as you weave. I just wrap strips of sheeting over the exposed sand paper to protect my arms. 

Sat, 11/14/2015 - 14:03

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

You can check out the AVL website and look at what they have. They sell the "sandpaper" wrapper plus now, I have it, a thicker beam covering, kind of like a soft quilted sponge-like wrapping. As good as the AVL "sandpaper" is it will not be very good with long yardages of a slick yarn notably rayon chenille. Rather than grabbing and holding the warp until it is rolled or advanced to the rear cloth beam, 100% rayon chenille will cause the "sandpaper" beam to spin around. At one time AVL sold the cheese grater wrapping but that is almost dangerous on your arms. If you want an additional wrapping on top of the "sandpaper" or emery cloth, whatever it is, Rubbermade shelf liner works very well. It can be found in different widths and a smart person with the right kind of saw could cut it into 70 degree angled ribbons to tack onto the beam. You can then easily remove it. On my 40" FDL I just have the sandpaper but I tape sections of the Rubbermaid stuff to protect my arms on narrow warps. I do any slick yarns on my 60" PDL and I did buy the AVL quilted wrapping for that loom. 

Sun, 11/15/2015 - 02:11

LynnLooms

Yep! All those advantages are exactly why I was looking at sticky beams in the first place, instead of going with the much easier to build smooth, fixed breast beam. I think I have my dimensions right to keep my arms clear of the beam, but as you said, one can always wrap the exposed parts.

The AVL coverings may be manufactured specifically for them to their specs, but they do sell three different cover materials. They're all sold by beam length though-- there are no dimensions given for the strip itself. Since I don't actually know the dimensions of AVL's beam, I've got no idea which size would fit the beam on my loom. I suppose an email to AVL would be the best way to find out...

Sun, 11/15/2015 - 02:18

LynnLooms

Does the sandpaper fail to grip on smooth slick fabrics (like a fine silk) or just on pile? And when you say shelf liner, do you mean this stuff [link] or something else?

ETA: Is that link working? Should be this: http://www.janitorjunction.com/858324/0000790444028776/12IN_BLK_ULTRA_GRIP_LINER_/

Sun, 11/15/2015 - 03:11

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

I have done a lot of weaving with silk and smooth spun rayon and never had a problem with the regular "sandpaper" or whatever it is. I bet it would be fine with cotton chenille but rayon chenille is its own beast. Rayon is stretchy and then it is not and 100% rayon chenille is notorius for getting the sett right, the quality of the yarn, binder material, and measuring. I can get away with a scarf length and maybe up to 10 yards and then the woven cloth just does not stick to the beam and it all goes to pot. At one time, and I still do because I prefer the way I looks, I was doing shawls and scarves with the smooth spun rayon or cotton and then the rayon chenille as weft. Don't know where you live but rubberized shelf liner is ubiquitous in hardware store, i.e., Home Depot, Lowes. Your link has the right stuff. It comes in different thicknesses, colors, etc. 

Sun, 11/15/2015 - 03:11

MMs-and-OOs-Ha…

I have done a lot of weaving with silk and smooth spun rayon and never had a problem with the regular "sandpaper" or whatever it is. I bet it would be fine with cotton chenille but rayon chenille is its own beast. Rayon is stretchy and then it is not and 100% rayon chenille is notorius for getting the sett right, the quality of the yarn, binder material, and measuring. I can get away with a scarf length and maybe up to 10 yards and then the woven cloth just does not stick to the beam and it all goes to pot. At one time, and I still do because I prefer the way I looks, I was doing shawls and scarves with the smooth spun rayon or cotton and then the rayon chenille as weft. Don't know where you live but rubberized shelf liner is ubiquitous in hardware store, i.e., Home Depot, Lowes. Your link has the right stuff. It comes in different thicknesses, colors, etc.