Melissa has posted a comment asking where to find a Cylinder Filling Machine. I think it's a great question, so I'm bumping it up here as a new post:
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Melissa said...
Someone has gifted me a weavers delight loom, and I have found your blog a great help. I have never worked a loom before so this is all new to me!
I do have a question for you. My loom did not come with the cylinder loading machine, so do you suppose I can load them by hand? And, have you seen any of the loaders for sale?
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Here is the reply I posted:
Hi Melissa,
What a fantastic gift! Congratulations on your new WD. I'm glad the blog is of some use.
I can think of 2 places to look for the cylinder loading machine:
One is Leslie at Riverside Loomworks, where you can buy parts:
rivloom@sbcglobal.net
The other is to join the RugTalk group on Yahoo Groups and ask there if anyone has a spare:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rugtalk/
RugTalk is a great group of experienced rugweavers helping each other (and newbies like me).
Laura
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I forgot to answer part of her question, so here's the rest: I haven't tried filling the cylinders by hand, but I suppose it can be done. Find a stick to beat the rags in with, and then try stuffing them in and beating them down. The goal is to beat them down firmly into flat layers as you go. If you can find a way to feed them from above, as the filling machine does, that will go faster. If you are handy you could probably build something yourself for filling cylinders.
The machine is fast though, so it'd be worth finding one if building one doesn't sound appealing.
Does anyone have other ideas or suggestions for her? If so, please add a comment.
Laura, Thanks so much for the info! My husband is very handy so maybe I can talk him into building me one. I will also join the yahoo group, as I'm sure I'll have questions along the way.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Melissa! If you need dimensions or close-ups of parts of the device, let me know.
ReplyDeleteLaura
Hi Laura, Maybe I will take you up on the close-up pictures of the filling machine. My husband seems up for the challenge, so I just mainly need a picture of the wheels from both sides, and any other angle you think might help. Maybe a rough measurement of the wheels would help too, if you don't mind. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteWill do. I will put up a new post in the next couple of days, with pics & dimensions at key points. Thanks for the inspiration.
Laura
HEY-THERE-LAURA-----------Just got back from visiting my bro & family in CA for a month w/o a pc, so lotsa catchup go'n on here.As all-ways, you were very adequate in your help to Melissa & her ' HANDY-MAN ' should do OK!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSO GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have a filling machine but I find it faster not to use it and just fill the shuttles by hand and small wooden dowel.
ReplyDeleteSEE YOUR NAME ON RUGTALK, AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHOPE-ALLS-WELL-W/-Y'ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!