Hello lovely group members. I finally figured out how to make a new topic. So, I have the opportunity to get a 20 shaft Oxaback with loads of goodies (2 warp beams-1 sectional, fly shuttle,  tons of texsolv and heddles, electric bobbin winder and on and on) for a reasonable, but not cheap, price. In order to do so, I will have to sell my varpas. I do love them, but realize that adding so many shafts to them is not really a reasonable option. I love fine threads and complex patterns, and have been thinking about adding a draw attachment to one of my looms. But even if I don't get around to that, the Oxaback opens up a world of possiblities. What would you do? I guess I've already decided to go for it, but just want folks to confirm my decision and share in my excitement!

 

Shawn

Comments

Wed, 04/15/2015 - 17:39

Missus T.

do it now and not in 5 years!

Jus' sayin.'

Wed, 04/15/2015 - 17:50

ShawnC

Ah, yes. Good point. I'm not getting any younger ;-) And not sure a deal like this will come along again real soon.

Wed, 04/15/2015 - 21:51

Sara von Tresckow

While I think Oxaback makes the finest looms out there, those 60" 20 shaft looms out there (there must have been a time when US weavers ordered them) are a bit of overkill. Even with the floating lams and ring system, tying up 20 shafts means 400 connections. With today's advances in computer assisted dobby technology, the Toika dobby head with 16 or 24 shafts would actually be a better choice for you. You get 16 or 24 squared minus 2 virtual treadles, not just 20. Either of your current looms would be a candidate to mount the Toika dobby head OR a draw attachment. 16 shafts on a dobby, with the virtual treadles is extremely capable.

And don't forget that the fly shuttle will add 2 feet to each side of the loom.

Wed, 04/15/2015 - 22:37

ShawnC

Also good points, though the loom is 'only' 50 inch weaving width. And I'm not sure how often I would use all 20 shafts. I've been thinking that it would be fun to have 10 on the loom and 10 in reserve, perhaps with another warp on, or maybe with long eyed heddles. I'm also, for some reason, more drawn to the idea of no mechanical assists. Partly because there is less to go wrong. One of the reasons I like the Scandinavian looms to begin with-their simplicity.

Thanks for your feedback, Sara!

Thu, 04/16/2015 - 01:49

sandra.eberhar…

I wasn't sure whether I would like using a computer driven loom; I sit in front of a computer all day and often don't want to look at one when I get home.  I love it, and I can't imagine trying to tie up 16 shafts, even on a jack loom (AVL).  I find that the laptop is just an assistant, and doesn't demand my attention the way it does at work.  This is a 30 year old loom, and everything (knock on wood) works extremely well.  I do have the mechanical dobby to this loom, but I don't think I would ever use it.  I don't know how old you are, but as you get older, tying up a lot of shafts becomes more difficult, and the computer control means that I can change tie ups in mid warp effortlessly.  It's just so versatile.  That said, if you think this is your heart's love, go for it.  That's what I did with the AVL, and I'm so glad I did.

Sat, 04/18/2015 - 18:37

MaryMartha

So, last year I'd finally saved up enough for my bog-standard 100 cm. 10-shaft Oxaback countermarche. At the last minute I got taken by shaft lust and seduced by favorable exchange rates - and switched to the 16 shaft version, which in turn meant extra depth and floating lamms.

The loom itself is a thing of beauty.  I now think this configuration was not the best choice for me.  Even with fewer shafts, the floating lamms make treadling noticably heavier.  The deficit is not huge.  The point -- which seems blindingly obvious in hindsight -- is that I weave with 4 or 8 shafts more or less continually, and 10 to 16 only occasionally.  So I pay that penalty on every warp. 

Also, there are lifting combinations on a table loom or computer loom that are not possible on a treadle loom, especially a countermarche, which can't always accomodate skeleton tie-ups.  Right now, your two varpas offer options - drawloom on one, computer on the other?  Do you really want to pin everything on a single loom?

If you do go for the Oxaback, what seems to work best is to center the shafts you do use, front to back, as well as side-to-side. When I had four shafts at the front of the countermarch, the treadling was really heavy.  Moving them all the way to the back helped with treadling, but the shafts would fall as soon as I started taking weight off a treadle.  Hanging shafts from the midpoint of the countermarch out seems to work best.

Sun, 04/19/2015 - 17:05

ShawnC

Thanks so much for the thoughtful posts. A recent family emergency means this purchase is not in my future. Sigh. So perhaps all for the best,

 

Shawn