Dorset looms

here is a question for everyone. How much should a dorset cost? I have seen them on the net 20" 4/4 from $350 to $700 and more. I know condition has alot to do with it. And maybe the area u live in. I am really want to get a dorset just not sure what a good price is. I am in Michigan. What do u all think???

Greetings!  I came home with a Dorset loom yesterday!!  While spending a week in our previous hometown (now 5 hours of driving time away), I visited a longtime fiber-friend.  Near the end of out time together, she invited me to see a loom she had and that she needed to find a new home for to make room in a shared workspace.  She showed me the loom, knowing I had some interest in learning to weave.  So, I am borrowing this little beauty. 

I read Learning to Weave a few years ago, which this same friend sent to me, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I remembered.  The mechanics of it all just makes sense.   And doubly-fortunately, it is already warped with others' learning on it (it was used as a demonstration loom for years) so I can play and not put this off until I research, plan, purchase and generally overthink the whole thing!  Which I love to do as well but that tends to make new hobbies take a loooong time to root.

So, after arriving home last night with the loom, I did a google search before bed and found you all.  Tips, techniques, resources, etc., will be things I am after and will likely google first and ask once I need some final advice instead of blasting you  fire-hose-style with broad questions!  I do know that I will need to borrow a warping board and a sleying tool, at minimum, to start from scratch once I finish playing on the existing warp.  I have a 'local' (over an hour away) weaving guild I am a member of and they are generous and knowledgable.  Fortunate, I am!

I look forward to learning to weave and reading and learning online here.

Nancy

Busy year and finally ready to warp the Dorset for myself.  I think.  I wish my friend was closer to assist and expedite this.  I will be perusing this site for ideas for first projects and to determine what I need to borrow or buy to set me up for success.  I must not have checked the box to let me know when there were responses/comments so sorry I missed out along the way. Happy New Year!

Hi everybody.  I'm new to Dorsets and to these forums; I created a Group Post but don't see it here so I'm not sure where it went.  So I'll repeat my question here - sorry for the repetition.  I have a question about my new - to me - Dorset loom, which I love!  It is so cute.  There is a stick attached to the back beam by two removable screws and springy things - what is it??  I originally thought that this might be the missing apron rod but it's too wide for that.  Anybody have any thoughts about what it is?  

Thanks all! 

 - Jennifer

I have a 4 harness Dorset.  Does anyone know how to get the treadles and harnesses to line up as in: 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 4/4.  My loom came backwards as in: from left to right 4,3,2,1.  Thank you.

I have a 4 harness Dorset.  Does anyone know how to get the treadles to line up with the harnesses to line up as in: 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, 4/4.  My loom came backwards as in from left to right: 4, 3, 2, 1.  We tried to rectify this and ended up with criss crossed ties going from treadles to harnesses.  Thank you!

There has been some confusion on my part as to whether or not my email was sent. So, just in case it was not, here goes again:

About 10 years ago I purchased my Dorset ($400), unaware that it had an odd quirk. On 1/27/13, Maribeth wrote that her Dorset's treadles line up, left to right, 4,3,2,1.  So did mine with the exception that 3 and 2 were also switched.  So, mine lined up left to right, 4,2,3,1.  My husband untied the cords from the treadles, removed the section of wood with the pulleys that the cords go through and turned it 90 degrees which,from left to right, lined up treadle 1 with heddle 1 and treadle 4 with heddle 4. That left treadle 2 lined up with heddle 3 and treadle 3 lined up with heddle 2.  I asked several experienced weavers in my guild about the problem and just got blank looks and head shaking. No one had ever had experience with this predicament.  So, I tried switching the threadings for heddles 2 and 3 and it works!  The loom can be used as if it is a 1,1/2,2/3,3/4,4 tie up.  The only problem is that my Dorset continues to baffle weavers at workshops if they notice that the 2 & 3 treadles are lifting 3 & 2 heddles.If Maribeth's loom is constructed the same as mine, and she can turn that section of wood 90 degrees, by untying the cords, she should have a "normal" Dorset.  Stamped on the top beam of my loom is "By F.C. WOOD". Does anyone have any suggestions about finding information about him and his manufacturing process?  I would dearly like to know why the loom was constructed in this manner or if he was just having a bad day.  -Phyllis

I've used the direct tie up ones at workshops off and on. Loved the loom! Does anyone know if the company ever make looms that weren't direct tie ups? 

Hi,

Just joining this group as I am awaiting my Dorsett looms, yep, more than one.  I need to know if there are any manuals for the Dorsett looms.

Thanks

Joan

Hi,

My weaving teacher told me this tie-up is called a "walking tie-up" and is great for treadling twill. You will initially place two feet on each of the, say, 1 and 2 treadles, then move your left foot to the number 4, for 14, then move your right foot to the 3, for 34, and then your left to the 2, for 23. It's very rhythmic! I learned on a loom tied up, from the left, 2,4,3,1, so I "walked" 14, 12, 23, 34, and so on. 

Hope this helped.

Sherrill (ridgewoodweaver) [email protected]

Hi Jennmargot,

I answer this question sometime back but have not seen it anywhere so thought I would reply again.

That strip of wood that is attached to the back beam is removable and you can take it off and put your warp under it and therefore when you fold up your loom the warp threads stay in place where they were .  At least that is what I have been told.

Hope this helps.

Joan

I just posted a dorset loom by FC Wood in the For sale forum. It has a 21" wide work area and needs a reed. Please contact me if anyone is interested. It was refurbished about 5 years ago and hasn't been used since the refurbishing.

Hi:  I just got a "steal" I feel, on a folding Dorset loom, 24-26" with 4 harnesses & 4 peddles.  She was originally asking $300 but told me if I wanted it for $200 she'd let me have it for that.  She included some extra needle eye heddles, some booklets, bobbins and a shuttle and hook.  She told me all that was ever woven on it was a couple sample pieces and 2 rugs, and she claims it is all there and all original.  I haven't done any weaving in decades, and never owned my own loom, but I'm thrilled.  Hope you find as good a deal as what I did.  

Hi:  I just got a "steal" I feel, on a folding Dorset loom, 24-26" with 4 harnesses & 4 peddles.  She was originally asking $300 but told me if I wanted it for $200 she'd let me have it for that.  She included some extra needle eye heddles, some booklets, bobbins and a shuttle and hook.  She told me all that was ever woven on it was a couple sample pieces and 2 rugs, and she claims it is all there and all original.  I haven't done any weaving in decades, and never owned my own loom, but I'm thrilled.  Hope you find as good a deal as what I did.  

I am the granddaughter of FC Wood, the maker of the Dorset Looms.  I was gifted a loom by my grandfather as a teenager and have never even taken it out of the box.  I have little knowledge of the looms, other than what I learned watching my grandfather make these in his shop.  It seems to be a 20" standing loom.  I am selling this for $500 and am located in Portland Maine.  If anyone has any questions, please contact me.

Oh, how sad that you will not use it.  I would love to have it, but I already have 2 Dorset looms.  One of which is the 20".

I am totally sure that someone will be happy to buy it from you.

Joan

Please let me know if you hear of anyone wishing to sell a Dorset loom. I'm looking and looking for one!!

As far as I can find out, there is no manual specifically for the Dorset.  You can use the Wolf Pup Lite, I think that is the name, for information as they are very similar.  As far as cleaning it, I just follow the regular dusting and keeping the rust off.  Sorry, I can't help any better.

Joan

I am in SE Michigan with a 20" Dorset loom for sale. It's a 4-harness folding floor loom. Reeds:  6 and 10-dent. Email with inquiries. I can send pictures if you're inteested. Asking:  $500. Shipping not included.

Ruth W.

We had a housefire in March and my Macomber was destroyed, but my Dorset was salvageable. It had major soot and water damage which was removed with simple green and a power wash. It needs restoration, the wood is now clean but the finish is destroyed. I want to take it apart and clean the rusty metal pieces, buy new heddles, but I am looking for suggestions on what to use and how to refinish this precious loom. Any ideas will be appreciated. Has anyone ever tackled this project before?

I got my Dorset over 30 years ago at an auction in Cambridge, MA when a large yarn store went out of business. The top of the castle is stamped  "1  09" in the upper left corner. In the middle is "DORSET LOOM" and in the lower right corner "BY F.C. WOOD".   I'm just wondering if there's any way of knowing how old it is.  And if anyone has good experience refreshing the finish on theirs, I'd love to know what you used. Thanks!

I got my Dorset over 30 years ago at an auction in Cambridge, MA when a large yarn store went out of business. The top of the castle is stamped  "1  09" in the upper left corner. In the middle is "DORSET LOOM" and in the lower right corner "BY F.C. WOOD".   I'm just wondering if there's any way of knowing how old it is.  And if anyone has good experience refreshing the finish on theirs, I'd love to know what you used. Thanks!

I know many people use Danish oil, Tung oil, or wax to finish looms, rather than something like a polyurethane. I haven't done anything like that myself, so I have no experience to offer as to what is best. I am so sorry for your losses, and I hope that this salvage operation goes well for you!