As I posed earlier, I have switched to end feed shuttles.  And since I was having some issues with submarining (shuttle flying off the end onto the floor),  I built an extension to the sides of my beater.   These extension are removable and have a stop at the end with a couple of layers of leather to catch the shuttle if I "miss."

Anyway, as I was weaving, I started thinking that these beater extensions were about half of a fly shuttle mechanism, and maybe I could just build the rest of it.   Then I started to think about what I was weaving, which has a floating selvage, and realized that you can't use a floating selvage with a fly shuttle mechanism.    First, is this correct?

And if it is, and you are weaving a twill, what do you do with the edges?   Do you add some tabby like structure to each side?   And what if you don't want tabby at the edges?   Besides, to really do a tabby, wouldn't you need to sacrifice two shafts to it?  And even then, depending on the treddling sequence, it might not really work.   So what DO you do?

I must be not understanding something here, so someone please enlighten me.

 

Comments

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 02:33

Sara von Tresckow

Yup, you are correct that floating selvedges do not work with a fly shuttle.

When weaving twills and other structures that do not always "catch" - you need to plan the fabric such that there are enough "caught threads" to make a viable edge or plan a basket weave or similar construction for your selvedge. Basket weave is preferable to plain weave as the takeup will be closer to what you have with the twill. 

A little bit of work, but you get the advantage of the fly shuttle.

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 02:44

SallyE (not verified)

I can see why a basket weave edge would work better than tabby for a twill edge.   Thanks!

 

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 23:00

Joanne Hall

Or, you can just start weaving and if the end warp thread is not caught, just eliminate that one thread.  And with fine threads, a thread not caught on the edge is not a big problem.

Joanne

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 00:41

sandra.eberhar…

I use floating selvedges with both of my fly shuttle looms.  I weight them to l lie on the shuttle race, and I attach cords or pipe cleaners from the selvedge threads to the pull cords for the shuttle.  When I pull the handle, it raises the selvedge thread closest to the shuttle, and the shuttle passes over the thread on the far side.  On the Kebec, it allows me to put several passes of rug wool in one shed.  

youyou

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 01:15

SallyE (not verified)

Ok, this took some imagining, but I think I get it.   The side that gets pulled by the handle, also raises the selvage thread allowing the shuttle to pass under it.  Brilliant!

 

 

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 09:10

ReedGuy

Yes, knowing how the flyshuttle mechanism works here, I would say that was an excellent modification bigwhitesofadog.

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 14:43

sandra.eberhar…

Thank you!  I really like twills, some with very long floats that need fulling to stabilize.  I really like the neatness of floating selvedges and was determined to make it work with my fly shuttles.  It can take some tinkering.  The floaters are weighted between the loom and warp beam, and have cords holding them to the outside of the loom to keep them from interfering with the threaded ends.  I use S-hooks on all my control cords so I can set them once and forget.   I use water bottles for weights.  Once set, this setup has performed flawlessly for the 20 yards of the 30 yard towel warp on now.

Fri, 05/17/2013 - 15:50

ReedGuy

Sometimes, problem solving by brain storming gets the job done. Always a way, just have to think on it sometimes. :)