I'm getting real tired of cramping my six-foot tall body into looms not designed for long-legged folks like me. One of the loms I'm interested in is the David. I tried the Megado and it had plenty of clearance for my legs in relation to the front and cloth beams. My knees did not hit anything during the treadling process. However it's spendy. The Louet David, while still up there in price but less than half of the cost of a Megado, appears to use the same overall frame design for the sides and beams. Does anyone know if this is true? Any tall weavers out there that can weigh in on this or have experience with looms that fit?

The David interests me because I've been told it has easier treadling than a non-cantilevered system. I've heard it compares to a counterbalance or even lighter treadling.

Comments

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 15:52

sandra.eberhar…

You can get loom feet from Glimakra, or just put blocks under the feet.  Shacht had kits to extend the height of their looms.  What do you mean by "non-cantilevered"?

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 20:04

Weavin Steven

Maybe I don't understand the concept of raising the loom. The distance between the breast beam and cloth beam will still be the same no matter how high I raise the loom.

Maybe it's a tall person thing?

Raising the bench doesn't help either.

The Louet David has a cantilevered system. (Actually it's called a cam system according to Paradise Fibers and the video I watched.) When you depress a treadle, there's a slight initial exertion and then the cam system takes over and there's no pressure to depress the treadles. Here's a video, start at 2:55 for the part I'm talking about.

 

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 20:33

Weavin Steven

Forgot to post the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi3anJh0QQk

 

Sat, 11/04/2017 - 22:57

Nanefire

Measure the loom you have and don't like from breast beam to treadle level, then contact Louet directly and ask them to measure the David for you, or a weaving shop that stocks them and has a demo on the floor; I, too, have been interested in the David but have had a very hard time finding one to see in the flesh. So I'd call Louet and I'd bet they could give you the dimension, then you can compare it to what you find unsatisfactory.

Sun, 11/05/2017 - 00:20

sandra.eberhar…

I understand your frustration with loom sizing.  I had a Baby Wolf, which is a very popular loom that works well and finally sold it after trying for several years to be comfortable working at it. Weaving is by nature a repetative motion activity and if it's not comfortable, it's awful  My very favorite loom was made about 1750 by an excellent carpenter for someone just my size.  It's a very large loom, but fits my 5'4" frame nicely. Looms are not hard to modify.  You can raise the loom, as previously stated, you can splice or replace the frame members to make the breast beam farther from the center of the loom.  You can relocate or remove the knee beam.  I suggest you do a mock up with some sticks and duct tape to find what your best dimensions are.  Then find something close.  The Louet David that I looked at was a jack loom with  a sinking shed. If you are looking at jack looms, you may want to contact Bruce Niemi at Kessinech looms.  He does custom work and makes beautiful jack looms.

Sun, 11/05/2017 - 16:55

Gone

I'm with you on the long legs syndrome - also long arms.

I have a Toika Liisa that initially had me frustrated until I took the bench OUT of the locator holes and backed it off a bit. Now I can weave without touching anything - albeit a bit of reaching, but not uncomfortable.

I think ultimately size v spendy will be your final decision. Look for a good deal on a big loom - but try it out first. 

I can't prove it, but I suspect looms are designed either by or for heavier people under 6' tall. ;-)

Mon, 11/06/2017 - 00:28

sandra.eberhar…

I suspect loom designers use themselves or (in the case of big companies) some sort of average for their dimensions.  I suggested Kessinech because Bruce Niemi is a pretty big guy.  If anyone could make a loom to fit a tall person, he would be the one.  Interestingly, I took the attached bench off my AVL and replaced it with an adjustable chair because it was placed for someone much taller than I am.

Mon, 11/27/2017 - 13:28

mneligh

I have long legs and while I love the portabilitity of my Baby Wolf, my knees hit the cloth beam if my feet are on the treadles.

On my Macomber (B series, not the portable),  though, I have plenty of room.

I would try all looms before buying.