Hi.  I am on the verge of purchasing a new 32-shaft Toika computer loom!!  I have 2 questions for the group.

1)  Eeva or Liisa?  I understand that they both now come in the 32-shaft option.  Webs only has the Eeva model in the store.  They suggested that the advantage of the Eeva is that the side is open for easy access.  Can anyone in the group discuss pros and cons of the two models?  When you purchased your Toika loom, did you choose Eeva or Liisa?  Why?

 

2)  The Toika website seems to suggest that the Liisa loom is the one to buy if you're thinking of adding drawloom attachments.  If I wanted to do drawloom weaving in the future, could I add attachments to the Eeva model, or only the Liisa?

 

Thanks!!!

Comments

ShawnC

I agree that the side opening is the way to go. I have health problems and really don't enjoy working on a loom I can't 'get in to'. I would think it would actually be easier to add a drawloom attachment to the Eeva, and of course getting into the loom becomes even more relevant. With the large frame of the Eeva it is also easier to do other 2 harness weaves (that don't require a drawloom) like skillbragd. (I have an Oxaback drawloom and 2 Varpas, 1 similar to the Eeva and the other to the Liisa).

Yvonne K

It looks like only the Eeva loom can accommodate 32 shafts. The Liisa needs to be specially modified.

The Liisa would be better to convert to a drawloom, the top cross beam at the back of the Eeva would get in the way. I have a Toika drawloom, made sometime in the 1970's, I think. It is a Liisa type loom with an extra long frame. Some photos are available on this link

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ausyk/

I think you would find it difficult to create a drawloom extension if you had 32 shafts at the front, but I gues you could remove some.

Yvonne K

It looks like only the Eeva loom can accommodate 32 shafts. The Liisa needs to be specially modified.

The Liisa would be better to convert to a drawloom, the top cross beam at the back of the Eeva would get in the way. I have a Toika drawloom, made sometime in the 1970's, I think. It is a Liisa type loom with an extra long frame. Some photos are available on this link

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ausyk/

I think you would find it difficult to create a drawloom extension if you had 32 shafts at the front, but I gues you could remove some.

danteen (not verified)

I recently got a 32 shaft Toika in the Eeva model. (convergence demo loom)  I Have a friend who got hers a few years ago and she has the Liisa frame so I can make some comments about that one.

 When I am warping my sectional beam, I hit my head on the upper cross piece at the back of the loom.   Needless to say, I don't like that.   Also, the depth behind the shafts is deeper on the Liisa, if I was tying on back there it would be helpful to have the other loom.  Initially, as I started to set up the warp and weave on it, I wondered if I should have gotten the Liisa.  I was not able to visualize the ramifications of those differences from the pictures  on the website.  I ordered the Eeva because it cost a little less and I thought it would function much the same as the Liisa.

I'm not sure about what it meant by the sides being more open on the Eeva.   There are still vertical side members that are in the way of some of the back shafts on the Eeva that makes them less easy to access.   I think there are some reinforcements made to the Liisa to carry the weight of the dobby controller at the top so not sure that is an issue.  At least on my friend's loom that was the case, however, they have redesigned the dobby box and it is lighter now.  You may wish to check out the dimensions of the footprint of each loom.

 

I have had the loom for only a month or so. (I have two other dobby looms that are AVL's and have been weaving since the 1970's).   I got the Toika for the countermarche action since I wanted to weave more with linen and do more rep.  It took a while to do some preliminaries before assembling it entirely.  I dyed heddles in 3 other colors besides white and felt that I had to sand all the heddle bars which had rough and splintery places.  If texsolve does not slide easily it is no fun to move heddles along.   That took a while because I had been ill when I first got the loom.

   After assembly, I warped it full width (47") for a  couple of throws with handspun.  And have been weaving on it now for a few yards.   It has taken some tweaking to the cords running from the dobby to the shafts, but I think I've gotten them all in the sweet spot now for the maximum shed.   I do like the loom, and whatever questions I had, since I had it shipped and assembled it myself, were quickly dealt with my someone at Webs.   Barbara, Art or Leslie.

For threading the loom, I sit on a very low (12" high) bench after I've taken off the front beam and knee beam and beater.  With 32 shafts that take up about 20" from front to back, it is hard to see to the back to thread.  It is like looking through a tunnel and is dark.  I wore a head lamp for some of the threading.  No light seems to come in from the top because the heddle bars are so close together.  I was doing straight draw blocks on sets of 4 shafts for these throws and so did not try to treadle the threading as I would for something more complicated.  So can't comment about whether that would have been easier.

It is not a production loom as the AVL is and doesn't have some of the features you find on the AVL.  But I'm happy with the worm gear for fine gradations of tension. Advancing and then tightening is all done from the front of the loom.   I don't think that feature is different on either of the looms.  And you can have a hanging beater on either one as well, which is what I chose.  It hangs canted backwards so you don't have to push it back to throw the shuttle.

 I am tall ( 5' 10") and like the vertical space I have to weave at the loom though I assume it is the same for both models.

If you have any other specific questions, let me know and I'll see if I can answer them or get my friend to answer them about the Liisa.   

 

besssz

Hello!

may i ask if Toika Eeva or AVL looms would you advise?

thanks!

besssz

Hello!

may i ask if Toika Eeva or AVL looms would you advise?

thanks!

NancyS

I just acquired a lovely used Toika Eeva. 8 shaft with the Woolhouse unit on the back to facilitate tie-ups. While this loom takes up 2/3 of my weaving room, I am thrilled with excitement with this new challenge. I have woven on a Baby Wolf (8 shaft) for years. Moving to a CM loom makes my brain twitch, but I think I am up to it. 

I have wound on a warp for a 4 shaft turned twill scarf. Will begin threading in the next few days. I welcome any and all suggestions for getting started with this loom!

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