Hello to all, and welcome new members! With some nice summer weather in the forecast, and a "stay at home" economy happening for many of us, this may be just the time to build some of those weaving equipment items we need. What do you have on your "work bench"? Or maybe an Idea ready for the drawing board? My own latest project, a small four harness floor loom (under 20") with some form of a draw loom feature for use on bands,samplers, and hand bags is currently rattling around in my head along with all the repair,and maintenance home projects that need attention. I'll turn to the drawing board soon to sort it all out. Please share your ideas, and projects with us all, and help to inspire other members to make that special piece of equipment they may now be ready to build. Regards, Frank.

Comments

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 16:20

WeaverDave (not verified)

Here's something I have been working on for many years.  I recently became a member of a machine shop in Philadelphia connected with Drexel University.  You become a member of the shop no different than a gym membership.  Only, instead of working out you get to use machine tools.

I used their industrial laser cutter to machine these parts.  These are what I call "Snap Heddles".  They are open top, bottom, and center.  No closed loops!  And above you will see the Kalimba Warping Beam.

My goal is to create a warping method that will allow anyone to warp a loom in about 1/5th the amount of time it currently takes.  Plus, you can make corrections! 

The method is - move the 2 Kalimba beams apart the length of your warp.  Measure out the warp placing the threads over the pegs, which are held in place by the foam rubber underneath.  When finished, attach the warp directly to the loom. 

Then, "Snap" on the heddles.  When that part is finished, you need to use a Comb rather than a Reed.  The Comb just dips into the warp instantly.  And, you can attach the Comb to your reed frame and use it just like a reed.

Here are some photos of the prototypes.

I was awarded a patent on the Kalimba Warping Beam and the Snap Heddles.  Hopefully, I can find someone who wants to buy this to manufacture it for handweavers.

So, what do you think?  ;) 

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 16:39

Badfaerie (not verified)

Wow, I feel kinda low-rent after that.

I'm working on refining my electric bobbin/spool winder. I want to make it a double end winder, but I'm having trouble finding off the shelf parts for the ends.

I also have the increasing urge to start building parts for my floor loom. I'm looking at a 16 shaft countermarch with a 48" weaving width. Poverty is preventing me from buying one, but I am pretty sure I can build one over time.

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 16:45

tien (not verified)

I'm not doing a DIY project, but I'm contemplating a Fireside Rotary Temple.  Since the clearance on my AVL WDL is extremely tight, I expect it will take quite a bit of fiddling to get it right.

Haven't decided whether to order yet, but since they are willing to refund my money if it doesn't fit, I rather think I'll order one soon.

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 17:56

kerstinfroberg

there is (well, was) a Swedish manufacturer of band looms with draw attachement. I have actually met one of these looms in person, but not woven on it. Dorothy has another one, she describes it here. As these very rare on the ground, maybe this is the time to try to market them (the idea, I mean)?

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 18:45

TheLoominary (not verified)

Hello Badfaerie, when I built my double spoolwinder I was able to purchase points from a fellow at e-bay who builds a nice simple winder for $125. You can contact him thru e-bay. Type in "electric bobbin winder". Select the one listed for $125, and contact this vendor "hollyhock hill farm" They were $5.00 each. If you know someone with a wood lathe they can be turned by hand from "1/2 aluminum bar stock, as does this vendor.Regards, Frank.

Wed, 06/15/2011 - 11:37

Badfaerie (not verified)

I've seen his winders on E-bay, never thought to see if I could get points from him.

A lathe is the one tool we don't have right now. There's one in the family, but it lives 40 miles away. I'm watching for one though. The problem is the man wants a metal lathe and I want a wood one and I'm afraid he's gonna mess up my wood lathe trying to turn steel on it.

Mon, 06/20/2011 - 17:37

Badfaerie (not verified)

Just an FYI, Hollyhock farms no longet sells the points separately.

My search continues...

Fri, 06/24/2011 - 17:29

steve104c (not verified)

For less than $1.00 each, around $50.00 total material cost, I'm building 65+ rag rug shuttles. I can have 10 sets of rugs cut and ready to weave at one time. Now I'll be able to have them ready on shuttles to weave continuously, one rug after another......Steve.                                                                       

 

 

 

Fri, 07/22/2011 - 22:57

marlenedg (not verified)

Well my project is simple,137 string heddles for my macomber. I have a templet made and have started them after a few adjustments. But I got sidetracted by making chocolate truffles. I would trade truffles for those neat snap heddles. Those are the way to go!

Marlene in Oregon where the sun is shinning!

Sat, 07/23/2011 - 16:24

steve104c (not verified)

 marienedg, I'll help you make as many heddles as you need for a handful of truffles. I think we need to start a bartering forum, because I will trade a service for someone else's service, like homemade truffles............Steve.

Fri, 08/05/2011 - 13:46

ammann58 (not verified)

I just used these for the first time on my home-made sectional warp beam. It will hold 52 spools total now, and if I take about 1/4" off the width of each spool, it will be able to hold 78. I don't have that many yet, but I am working up to it. The quickest warping job I ever did. I'll get a picture to post with this comment asap.

Sat, 07/30/2011 - 16:11

marlenedg (not verified)

OK it is getting serious. I want a bench. The step stool I am sitting on is just not getting it. My dh has agreed to build me one and he can do it. He is a bit slow but it will be worth it. Any ideas where I could find some plans for a bench? I hope we can find some wood like the macomber loom but we do have myrtle on the property and I might go for that too. Thanks Marlene
Sun, 07/31/2011 - 01:49

TheLoominary (not verified)

Hello Marlene. While I don't know of a set of loom bench plans, you can view a nice bench built at the "Macumber And Me" web site. It's in their " Older Posts", under Dec. 12 2009.You may also get some very useful info at the Glimakra USA site. Look under," Comfort At The Loom-Ergonomics. Just from a woodworkers view, Macumber has a very graceful castle style that could be incorporated into your bench design making it a nice match for your loom. perhaps you'll post us a photo of your new bench! Regards, Frank

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sun, 07/31/2011 - 02:24

apk5 (not verified)

Don't really have any big projects on the table just now, just the usual fixings and mendings my loom requires from time to time, as the shuttle-boxes aren't too sturdy.

At some point though I plan to build an electronically controlled Dobby system, using foot-power for the lifting of course. It doesn't seem to my mind to be too complex a problem. Some reasonably simple electronics and a simple computer program using arrays for programming. For me, the difficult part will be building the shafts as I am just terrible at wood/metal work. I need to take a course.

weaving, soldering, simple programming - no problem, carpentry? big problem, I only know how to cut FIRE wood

Andrew

Tue, 01/15/2013 - 20:57

ReedGuy

Waiting for an in-line clamp you guys talked about in another thread on tension box builds. Also, need a piece of spring wire to go across the front comb. I thought I had enough when I opened a box that was suppose to have 4 Monkey Hangers and it was missing one. >:(

Counter is from a busted hip chain. Made the 8 dent combs, I'll be getting a set of 16's from Leclerc when I get serious on sectional warping later on.

Video on the tension box

The sqeek in the video is my reel I tied onto to test the box.

Tue, 01/15/2013 - 19:11

TheLoominary (not verified)

Looks like it's coming along great. Thanks for posting the video too! Frank

Sat, 01/19/2013 - 22:21

ReedGuy

I'm also going to make a larger spool rack and I've been making these 3" long spools. I'd like to make about 80 for now. That's only 20' of dowel rod, hardly nothing. I have all the materials in the shop, so don't have to buy anything.

 

I cut my own dowels on my jig (5/8") and I cut the 1/4" thick circles (3") for the ends with the router and a circle template . I drill out the dowel in the press a little over 3/8" and will use 3/8" dowel rod when I make a larger spool rack for the sectional attachments I'm making. Seems like a lot of work, but I have lots of time to. Keep busy. :)

The pile keeps growing. I just work 3 or 4 hours a day at this. So far all the end circles are cut, and all the dowel is cut. I've assembled 24 now and in another hour of time spent I will have 12 more assembled. This includes sending the outter edges of the circles and around the centre hole a little with 220 grit. I don't make work out of this, just a little each day.

Mon, 01/28/2013 - 04:34

jennybellairs

My husband recently made an adjustable bench.  The seat rocks, but needs a bit of tweeking for it to be just right.

rocking bench

Jenny in Charlevoix the Beautiful

 

 

Mon, 01/28/2013 - 04:50

jennybellairs

I needed a tension box for sectional warping, but couldn't afford the cost of a commercially made one.  My husband Bob came up with one, and all we had to purchase were the reeds and other hardware.

tension box front

tension box back

Before making the tension box, Bob also made two floor stands for two table looms I have but seldom use. I think he enjoys the challenge of figuring out how to make them.  This is the second one with a changed design and is for my old Leclerc Jano.  I just finished a series of 10 towels on it, including the one in the photo.  Having treadles is great.

Jano stand front

Jenny in Charlevoix the Beautiful

Mon, 01/28/2013 - 11:02

ReedGuy

 Looks like your keeping Bob busy. But like any wood worker, I bet he enjoys the projects.

That's a beut of a stand for your table loom

I made 8 dent combs for my tension box to get me started. However, I will be getting some commercial 16 dent combs as well when I make my next thread order from CV (Leclerc). They are inexpensive.