I have inserted eye wire heddles on my 22" 8H Harrisville. I just put a 20/2 tencel warp on, threaded for a combined draft and sett at 40epi for the twill sections and and 35 epi for the Bronson sections) and I'm having trouble with threads breaking in the heddles. When I went through my treadling sequence looking carefully at the heddles I can see that the raised heddles are catching the at-rest threads where the lower heddle bar twists. I have woven with 20/2 rayon sett at 40 epi on this loom in the past and did not have this problem, so I don't know if this is being caused by the threading sequence, or if there is something else going on.  In the worst case, if I can't solve this issue, I will have to buy new heddles.  I have looked for 10.5" flat steel heddles and can't find them, and I know HD only sells the inserted eye heddles.  I don't particularly like texsolv heddles, but I could use them lacking another alternative.  I had to add additional weight to my harnesses to accomodate the inserted eye heddles, so that part wouldn't be a problem.  Has anyone else had this problem with ends catching when using inserted eye heddles?  Any solutions?  Thanks for any help!  Susan

Comments

Wed, 04/03/2013 - 12:37

sequel (not verified)

at-rest threads where the lower heddle bar twists

Is this the point on the heddle where the tab of wire is welded at the twist?  Or do you have a few heddles that are threaded from the wrong direction, or mounted in the wrong direction? That will surely break warps.

If all the heddles are mounted and threaded correctly, maybe you need to adjust the height of the shafts so the shed is not so wide that the warp threads meet the heddle bar openings on the alternate heddles.  Weaving no more than 1" (for 20/2 Tencel) before advancing the warp will cut down on the amount of time any one warp is in contact with any heddle that may have rough spots..