Help!  I have sold almost all my unused or rarely used looms and am buying a new one next spring.  I may try to wait to try looms out at Convergence but Louet is not going to be there so that puts a damper on it  for me.

I want a countermarch loom because they are easier for me to treadle.  I can't handle more than 8 shafts due to bad hips and bad knees.  I currently own and use a Glimakra Standard 130 cm (47") and have been looking seriously at the Louet Delta.  It has many features similar to the Glimakra.  But, that's just it.  Why buy a new loom that is almost exactly the same as the loom (40 years old) that I currently own.  Both have rear mounted treadles, both are about the same height from the floor to the breast beam (36-37").  The Delta has a floating breast beam which is supposed to be a great feature.  And, the Delta has a built in raddle.

Any suggestions for a countermarch loom?  I owned an 8 shaft Tools of the Trade which I loved but lifting more than 2 shafts when treadling was impossible.  I was in pain whenever I wove.  I sold that loom years ago and replaced it with the Standard which I am pretty happy with, BTW.

Claudia

Comments

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 13:25

jlread (not verified)

Do you really need a new loom>>>>>>

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 15:30

Claudia Segal (not verified)

Affordability If I found a used one that could work
Thu, 12/12/2013 - 16:39

sally orgren

Weave Techies may be able to help.

And ask the companies you are considering if there is an owner in your region, so you can contact that weaver and try out the loom before buying. 

S

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 17:31

Claudia Segal (not verified)

That's. what I am wondering. I'm looking at the Lourt Delta but its similar to the Standard. My standard has some problems related to being so old. Pieces keep falling off. I have 10 commissions which will occupy the standard for several months. I want Nother loom to take a break and weave a few fun things.
Thu, 12/12/2013 - 20:29

mneligh

Besides fixing the standard, are there features you want that the standard doesn't have?  For example, how wide does it need to be?

Have you considered the Schacht Cranbrook, or something from AVL?

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 20:51

Claudia Segal (not verified)

I had full use of a Cranbrook for 2 years and didn't enjoy weaving on it. The AVL is a jack loom and way too noisy and expensive for me. Other suggestions? I would love a Toika compu dobby but $9200 is way out of budget. I'm trying to keep this below $5500. That's my ceiling. I see lots of AVL problems on several weaving boards and on FB. I'm not real encouraged and I know a couple of people who have taken the course and still have problems weaving on the loom. Not encouraging. I would love to have a 51" loom. Claudia
Thu, 12/12/2013 - 21:42

ReedGuy

Claudia, what seems to be falling off the Standard?

I guess the best suggestion here is to try some loom models before buying. It seems so far many looms suggested you have eliminated. So basically your back as square one. Plus many suggestions are going to be just owner biased anyway. ;)

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 22:19

Claudia Segal (not verified)

Hi Reed GuyThat's exactly what I am hoping for, everyone's opinion of their loom and others they have tried. I want to hear from others what they like and what they want from a new loom. I'm still on the fence. I have had 2 looms for so long that i am feeling the loss of my Julia and, at the same time, wanting something in new, nice condition. As for the Standard, little things have worn out like the pin that held the bar that held the lower lamms. It was just old and broke in the middle of my project. It was easy enough to replace. Also, I need 2 more treadles for when I have 8 shafts on I'd like to have 10 treadles. In addition, I have misplaced my extra heddles and now need to buy another 2-400 heddles for when I use 8 shafts. I sold the Julia because I was never able to get the tie up on the treadles when I was using 8 shafts. The loom and I never got along and even when I did get it tied up things would go haywire for no good reason. For instance, I had the shafts all set and the texsolv slipped off the end on 3 shafts and getting it just right was a big challenge. It's a very sensitive loom. I want a loom that is good to go. The Loouet I wove on was easy to weave with and looked fairly easy to do the tie up. Whew, that's the long of it.
Thu, 12/12/2013 - 22:28

ReedGuy

I know what your up against. But it just seems like all the 'what chainsaw should I buy' questions I've read over the last 12 years on the Forestry Forum.

I hope you figure out the right loom, but opnions are many and varied for each and every loom (err chain saw). ;)

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 22:43

ReedGuy

With your Julia, are there holes on the shaft ends? Those are for a strand of yarn the length of the shaft to be tied at the ends to stop heddles from slipping off. Lundel's book shows this. Just bow knot the yarn on the ends, quickly undone if heddles need adding. I think with the Julia, loom depth is at play. If you have 8 shafts on it I think there are shed challenges. And always there are challenges when tying the cords on the front shafts so that there more slack to them then the back four.

I just added 2 more treadles to my home made loom, which is like a Standard. I needed them to weave the ground cloth with 8 shaft overshot. I see no need to expand further. I don't want to sit and tie cords for hours, I want to weave. ;)

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 23:03

mneligh

Does power assist in lifting negate the jack loom disadvantage?  I thought it might on an AVL, although I don't like the idea for myself.  How about a Toika or Oxaback or Leclerc NilusII? 

Thu, 12/12/2013 - 23:03

mneligh

Does power assist in lifting negate the jack loom disadvantage?  I thought it might on an AVL, although I don't like the idea for myself.  How about a Toika or Oxaback or Leclerc NilusII? 

Fri, 12/13/2013 - 03:18

Sara von Tresckow

There is a bit of a disadvantage on any loom with a rising shed - that slight looseness in the shed floor prohibits certain firm fabrics.

While the e-lift makes lifting easier, the rising shed is still a rising shed.

Fri, 12/13/2013 - 10:39

MaryMartha

Claudia, there is news that Glimakra is returning the 100 cm. standard to production (and discontinuing the Ideal).  So a brand new Glimakra Standard to replace your old one may soon be a possibility.  For my money, an Ulla Cyrus would have the added advantage of shaped treadles and above-the-treadle tie-up.  Both are more-or-less in your price range.

Sorry, just re-read and realized you are looking for a second loom.  Oxaback Lilla, perhaps? 

 

 

Fri, 12/13/2013 - 12:02

Dawn McCarthy

Mary Martha makes a great recomendation for the Lilla, it is a wonderful loom, large scale features in a more compact format.  The back folds in but still very sturdy - delightful to weave on and a great price for a new loom with the bench.  I found the horizontal cm balanced easily.  I wrote about this loom on my blog.  Highly recommend it and Sara V was extremely helpful when buying.

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