Has anyone ever used a sectional beam on a Loomcraft? If so, can you tell me about it? I've been trying to figure out a way to add sectional capabilities to my Loomcraft but have met with frustration. I don't know of other looms that have a back beam area configured like a Loomcraft, and therein lies the rub. The back of the Loomcraft is very close to parts of the existing back beam so that adding a sectional would be a super-tight fit. I'd like to be proven wrong though.

Comments

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 10:46

ReedGuy

Loomcraft warp beam

I do think your in for a challenge.

Can you make a replacement warp beam with smaller diameter, but with sectional rails to bring it up to 1 yard when wound? Make it octagon using a bird beak bit in a router. Very strong joint. Then will you have room for sectional wires? You can either buy the wires or get 1/8" SS rod and cut with bolt cutters, bend and insert into drilled holes. Those holes have to be drilled straight with a drill press. Hand drilling will make a mess of it.

The bits cannot be used free hand, so use a table or shaper.

http://www.leevalley.com    item #16J40.58

Another method is with a jointer, you have to figure outer width and angle of the edge joint.

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 13:13

Su Butler

I agree with ReedGuy - a smaller beam with sectional pegs is a good option, or installing an extender for the current beam and then adding sectional rakes.  The loom was designed to make threading easier from the back, and effort was taken to reduce the reach, which meant the beam had to be as close as possible to the castle.  This is an issue with the plain beam when you want to do lots of yardage.  I used my Loomcraft loom to weave 150 yards a month when I was a production weaver and I had to dress the loom three times to get that amount on the warp beam.  Good luck.

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 14:17

Dena (not verified)

I had a well worn Gilmore that I bought used that looks very similar in construction to the photos in reedguy's link (although I didn't see a good view from the back).  The brackets that held the back beam on had been replaced with longer ones.  I didn't do it myself, but it didn't look complicated.  I didn't know it had been done until I tried putting a long warp on a friend's similar loom and ran out of space.  The one thing they had neglected was putting a longer dog on the pawl and ratchet brake system so the brake release didn't work well.  After years of getting up and releasing the brake by hand, I finally figured out the problem, had a new and longer dog made and it worked well.
Fri, 12/06/2013 - 16:35

Weavin Steven

I appreciate your ideas, Reed Guy, but I was born without the DIY gene. At least when it comes to tools. My wife won't even let me use power tools!

A different option would be to use a warping mill for longer warps. Not as elegant, but my warps are 24 yards long. That's not unreasonable for a mill. I may do that if I can't figure out an easy solution for sectional. 

Fri, 12/06/2013 - 16:48

ReedGuy

Yes, the mill will certainly work.

But just this morning I had to make a smaller (shorter) temple than what I have to counter draw-in on my current project. The $60 for a new one, stays in my pocket. ;)

Good luck

Sun, 12/08/2013 - 02:46

Kristiek1

I have a Loomcraft 4 harness loom that's about 50 years old but solid as a rock.  I had to take the back warping beam off to store it for awhile and now I can't for the life of me figure out the brake on the warping beam.  The beam has metal pegs.  I just can't see how it works.  Almost like I'm missing a part or something.  Would anyone know if there is a publication out there that would tell me how to assemble it?  I'm a newbee weaver and I'm desperate to get this loom working.  Is this company still in business?  If so, would anyone have any contact info.  Would really appreciate any help you could give me.

Tue, 12/10/2013 - 13:12

Kiiki (not verified)

Weavin Steven, the Loomcraft brochure I have shows an 8-shaft with the sectional as a second warp beam. Here's a link to the file in my Dropbox, if you haven't seen it.

http://tinyurl.com/myjwdxt


Kristiek1: My warp beam sounds different from yours, but I have pictures of my brake on Flickr. Maybe something there will help:

http://tinyurl.com/m3yoxhh

Mon, 08/05/2019 - 03:25

Lindalufiber

Hi! Any chance your loomcraft documentation is still available? I have just inherited an 8 shaft!

Thanks, Linda 

Tue, 12/10/2013 - 16:09

Weavin Steven

Kliki, thanks for the links and photos. I thought I had performed a pretty extensive search for Loomcraft sectionals, but all I had to do was look at their manual! I have the same manual you do. I read the text and it looks like they made a sectional for both beams. However, I think those sectionals are very rare. I'll keep an eye out though, and if I ever find one, I'll let this board know.

Kristiek1, it sounds like you may actually have a sectional. It may assemble just like a plain beam, but am not sure. There was a recent post about the assembly here,hope this helps: 

http://www.weavolution.com/forum/weaving/help-needed-loomcraft-loom-19774