I found a carpenter that will make me a double shuttle that will hold 5 inch bobbins. I called quite a few places looking for a double 5 and couldn't find one. If anyone knows where you can get  a double 5 shuttle, or the metal pieces that hold the bobbins in place for the carpenter to use, i'd appreciate it. Thank you. 

Comments

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 00:25

sandra.eberhar…

I have used double shuttles and found them a royal pain. In particular, plastic bobbins, although they seem to be easier to use than paper pirns, tend to over rotate, spilling too much weft that has to be adjusted.  I like  to wind two threads on one pirn running one thread through cone of the second when  I want to use a double thread for weft.  If you do decide to go with a double shuttle, I recommend Bluster Bay and 4" paper pirns.  If your weft is heavy enough that this is impractical, you may want to consider a rug shuttle.  You can wind as many threads at a time as you want on a rug or ski shuttle.

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 12:52

Lainey

 Don't you have problems with difference in take up with 2 threads on one pirn?  I know what you're saying about the the plastic bobbins overrotating, but you can correct it (a pain indeed!)  but with 2 threads wound on one pirn, one thread will travel slightly further than  other - don't you then have a problem you can't correct?  especially as you get near the end as the difference adds up?  I don't understand what you mean: "I like  to wind two threads on one pirn running one thread through cone of the second when  I want to use a double thread for weft." Perhaps that makes the difference?

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 17:38

sally orgren

Lainey,

Google "doubling stand" to see what Big White Sofa Dog is referring to. Winding two threads onto a single bobbin, quill, or pirn with this method allows an outer thread to gently twist around the inner (core) thread. The core thread is coming up through the cone of the outer thread.

My preferred method would be to use a doubling stand, or throwing two separate shuttles, so the wefts lay side by side in the shed.

Using a double bobbin shuttle is okay if you don't mind the wefts randomly twisting around each other in the shed, and sometimes, if the shuttle handling isn't quite right, one bobbin "outpaces" the other, perhaps because there is a bit of backspin at different rates between the two plastic bobbins.

I find carpenters who are weavers are better at making gear than general woodworkers. There are small but important details to note when making weaving gear. Changing one thing might adversely effect something else that hadn't been considered.

Also, it helps to have a lot of shuttle examples, so you can figure out what aspects of a particular shuttle you like. How easy (or not) the bobbin loads, where the bobbin sits in relation to the depth of the shuttle, and the size and shape of the yarn feed are pretty critical in my book, not to mention shuttle length, tip shape, and weight.

Good luck!
Sat, 09/02/2017 - 00:09

sandra.eberhar…

The difference in take up that you describe does not exist.  Both threads come as one from the pirn. I do use end feed shuttles, so I don't deal with rotating bobbins or pirns.  The doubling stand that Sally mentions is indeed what I use; mine is made of a cardboard box with a hole in the Bottom, placed upside down with one cone in the box and one on top.