I recently got a counterbalance loom. It's not a specific brand, from what I was told by the previous owner, it's an Amish made loom, definitely hand built. It seems similar to some other pictures I've found online, but not exactly. I know it's been used somewhat recently, I just don't know what I'm missing to set it up. (I took weaving in college on a different type of loom, so I'm not super familiar with terms anymore and I honestly don't know what this specific loom should look like when it's set up properly. It has 6 treadles and I just want to set up a simple twill on it. I made a video, since that's probably easier to see what's going on with it than just photos. Any help would be appreciated. (sorry the video is a little shakey, youtube is trying to fix it.)

http://youtu.be/RkZWMhG5WNo

Comments

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 16:29

sandra.eberhar…

The Glimakra website has a lot of good tips for tying up counterbalance looms.  I think you need to shorten the cords holding the treadles up.  I also hear a lot of squealing and creaking when you push the treadles. I think some silicon spray on the pulleys could help.  Also, the warp is an integral part of the balance of a counterbalance loom, without a warp on it, it's very difficult to balance.  The heddle bars need to balances left and right as well as balanced with the lamms and treadles.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 16:31

sandra.eberhar…

Your loom is already tyed up for twill on treadles 1-4 and plain weave on 5 and 6.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 16:38

Sara von Tresckow

Laila Lundell's "Big Book of Weaving" has extensive material on counterbalance looms - well worth purchasing.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 17:10

amyers688

I've been reading a little on glimakra's site, but there's horses and all these other things on there that I don't have. A lot of it is over my head. I did order a book, and I'll probably end up getting a few more eventually. I'm just impatient waiting for them to come in the mail. I'll try shortening the cords on the treadles, maybe that'll help, but the treadles were hanging all loosey-goosey and weird to begin with. I don't think that'll solve that aspect of it, but we'll see what I can come up with. Thanks.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 17:23

Dawn McCarthy

if you need pulleys and horses I have 4 pairs of horses and a pair of flat pulleys for sale (all new), I find these work better than the rod and circle pulley system.  Put a a warp on and then set the shaft and treadles.

Dawn

 

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 19:30

amyers688

thanks for the offer, I'm trying to avoid spending more money on it though. I don't know what you mean by, "then set the shaft and treadles". I literally have not used a loom in years. :(

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 20:19

kerstinfroberg

No CB loom (that I have met) will "balance" without a warp in place, threaded and tied-on. They tend to behave like yours (but I admit I have no speakers connected, so if you said something important, I missed it).  I suggest, as have others, that you start with getting that warp threades, sleyed and tied-on. The evaluate the sheds, and go on from there.

Good luck!

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 20:41

Joanne Hall

Your loom will work just fine.  As has been suggested, put a warp on the loom and start weaving.  You can perfect the tie-up then.  The warp threads will hold the shafts in place.  And if they don't, the second file on our website will tell you what to do. 

Here is where you will find the information:

http://glimakrausa.com/learning-looms-weaving/

Contact me at this address if you don't understand something.

[email protected]

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 22:15

sandra.eberhar…

Your loom is complete.  You have pulleys and a roller instead of horses.  You may want to switch to horses after you use it for a while, but I have found that rollers make it easier to keep the heddle bars level.  What you need is to read and understand how counterbalance looms work.  If you put a warp on it and start using it, the books you get will make a lot more sense.  It looks like a really  nice, well made loom, and I think you will be happy with it; you've just got some things to figure out.  I really think Glimakra's website has better information on how these work and how to tie them up than any book I've seen.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 23:08

amyers688

Thanks everyone. :) I shortened the strings holding the treadles, and that seemed to help a lot. I'm going to put a warp on it probably tomorrow.

Tue, 02/05/2013 - 14:43

Penny Skelley (not verified)

I have an old (1938) Leclerc Fanny counterbalance loom, and yes, you have to have a warp on to balance things.

I know that I have to sometimes read things several different ways, before it sinks into my brain.  Leclerc has free books on their website that have a lot of info and specifics on using a counterbalance loom. If you go to the English portion of their website, on that first page and scroll all the way to the bottom, you'll find them for download: "Warp and Weave" and "I Weave You Weave." They are old typewritten manuals, but the information is still relavant to any type of counterbalance loom.