tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53437072564726805272024-03-21T12:12:03.693-07:00Weaver's DelightHoping It's The Good Kind of CrazyLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-91903632344406213732011-01-16T17:27:00.000-08:002011-01-16T17:27:07.084-08:00More Details on Cylinder Filling MachineHere is some more info, for those who want to try to build their own. I will give the specs on mine, but it's possible dimensions varied with different "lots" of these.
Here is the machine and the cylinders and bat:
Here is the machine in use:
When in use, the cone on the side of the machine fits down into the top of one of the cylinders, standing in its holder. The overlap is small, Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-90565246543724089472010-12-28T19:01:00.000-08:002010-12-28T19:08:41.043-08:00Finding a Cylinder Filling MachineMelissa 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 cylinderLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-6563305570243800522010-09-29T16:41:00.000-07:002010-09-29T16:41:27.346-07:00The Wonderful WrenchOne of the best things about this old loom is the suprisingly beautiful multi-wrench that came with it. I imagine many of these got separated from their looms, but not this one:
It is a super handy little tool, and cuts way down on the tools required in order to tinker & adjust things.
I haven't had time to work at the loom at all since my last post, and I expect to be booked well into Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-10931915987342097862010-09-17T19:11:00.000-07:002010-09-17T19:11:56.080-07:00First Rug on LoomHere are the results of the first rug experiment:
It'll stay on the loom, since the warp is tensioned & working well. I will probably weave the entire warp and then remove the woven rugs & see how they look.
My 40" fabric tube made a rug that measures about 50" on the loom. With the 39" warp width (about 37" woven), that is a bit short. Especially since it will shrink once itLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-77561363905329019772010-09-12T16:11:00.000-07:002010-09-12T16:11:05.472-07:00More on Old YarnLou pointed out to me that he is still using Maysville carpet warp from the 80's with no problems. He's right, it's a great product and I've never had trouble with it. It's fair to say the problems Ive had with broken threads on this warp could be user error or a storage problem or something like that. I would never hesitate to buy Maysville warp. It's good stuff.
Thanks, Lou for pointing this Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-34388673445119192172010-09-12T01:25:00.000-07:002010-09-12T01:25:30.347-07:00Old YarnI have had a lot of broken threads on this warp so far. Far more than I would expect. I think it might be the age of the yarn. I think this yarn might be quite old.
Here is a box of yarn that came with the loom:
And here is what the yarn inside looks like:
I haven't used any from this box, but I have used several partially-used spools that came with the loom. Which means the yarn I put Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-82568223130558466302010-09-07T22:31:00.000-07:002010-09-07T22:31:15.442-07:00Selvedge Rollers
Called "Tension Rollers" in the manual, these fit onto the long rod that goes across just under the front beam. They look like this in use:
The device holds the roller itself - like a super-prickly little pine cone - against the underside of the cloth. The teeth on each roller are aimed toward the edge of the cloth, so that it always wants to pull the cloth out to its fullLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-89844345179949052752010-09-06T01:21:00.000-07:002010-09-06T01:21:35.036-07:00First Attempt at a Rag RugAfter trying some experiments, I settled on cutting up some 60" wide polyester fleece fabric bound for charity and seeing how it weaves up.
I used 2 colors, red and violet. I had about 40" of each. I trimmed off the selvedges from both, sewed the 2 fabrics up into a tube, and cut the tube into one long strip, using my Fraser rag cutter. I set the rag cutter blade 1/2" from Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-23391996685947895472010-09-03T12:57:00.000-07:002010-09-03T13:09:27.776-07:00Poetry in Motion, and SamplingAt last, the video I've been promising! Here is the Weaver's Delight in motion (972 K):
Ain't she a beaut!
I wonder if I'd seen a video like this before I bought the loom, would I have been more intrigued, or more intimidated?
In the end I'm glad I bought it, it's been a blast and it really seems like a versatile loom. After I try some rugs I will then try some fine wool cloth. That will be Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-80971119230270929952010-08-26T15:03:00.000-07:002010-08-26T15:03:09.977-07:00Great Pics Sent by Another WD OwnerA reader has sent me some very helpful pictures of modifications he has made to his two Weaver's Delight looms. I thought others would get a kick out of seeing his ideas.
First is his brilliant invention for trapping the lobe of the star wheel in order to get it into position for the next pick. His device uses a rolling-pin assembly that slides in a diagonal slot to catch the lobeLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-7514016195665170502010-08-22T20:08:00.000-07:002010-08-22T20:12:41.685-07:00Warping, continuedAs you weavers know, warping is a long process. Here is some more of it.
Yesterday I removed the front beam, cloth beam, and the rod just below the front beam, which will hold the selvedge rollers, so I could set a loom bench inside the front of the loom. I propped the shafts up on blocks so they were all at the same height, and I removed the top of the beater, and also the reed, for easy Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-64586091957426645732010-08-20T22:07:00.000-07:002010-08-20T22:10:47.741-07:00WarpingI've cleaned and oiled everything (I think), cleaned the reed (scrubbed it with a wire brush), and replaced several broken pegs on the sectional beam. I can't think of anything else I really must do before warping, so on to warping I go. I have no doubt that partway into the job I will think of something more that needs doing.
But it's good to get started. I used one of Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-43814185111065639792010-08-16T15:37:00.000-07:002010-08-16T15:37:06.743-07:00Part A, Rack B, and the Star WheelI've had some requests to show closely what shape these 2 parts are in, as they may be a factor in my frustration with the pitmen hitting the floor and having to push the beater against the shafts in order to move to the next pick. Here is the rack in the down position, when the beater is back:
And here is the rack in the up position, when the beater is forward:
The rack B and the part A thatLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-24756967481758494622010-08-15T21:28:00.000-07:002012-06-27T22:21:56.644-07:00Resources for Owners of Weaver's Delights (and other looms)There are a few hugely important resources available to owners of these looms. The first is Riverside Loomworks, where you can find both advice and parts. Here is a description owner Leslie Johnson provided for me to post here:
Riverside Loomworks – Newcomb loom repair parts
Riverside Loomworks is a home-based business in Eaton Rapids, Mich., that provides repair and replacement parts for Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-90566287969258718512010-08-14T15:33:00.000-07:002010-08-14T15:40:06.928-07:00Cloth Beam BrakeHere are some pictures of how the cloth beam brake & advance system goes together, for Cindy on the Rugtalk list, and anyone else who's interested:
From the inside of the loom, showing the upper pawl, which moves the cloth advance, and the lower pawl, which holds tension on the beam. You can also see lever "L", which goes toward the back of the loom (upper left in this picture) andLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-25776925314528653572010-08-14T00:33:00.000-07:002010-08-14T00:36:56.407-07:00Pitmen and BrakesPitmen
Leslie Johnson of Riverside Loomworks tells me those "Linkages" are called Pitmen. They are in the right place, attached to the Walking Beam (another new name!), and they are supposed to be tightened down hard. But when I tighten mine the loom becomes so stiff I can hardly use it, so I loosened them slightly for now. She and Annie both tell me that my bracket "A" and rack "B" cast iron Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-80772025947603999032010-08-11T22:52:00.000-07:002010-08-14T00:37:52.572-07:00Linkages (?)I'm not sure what to call these things, but I think they may need adjusting:
Here is what it looks like installed, it goes at the bottom of the wood crossbar underneath the star wheel/rack aseembly:
The problem I'm having is that when I push the beater back, I have to press it up against Shaft 1, and press Shaft 1 back a little bit (that can't be good, right?) in order to get the starLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-86418081139264835782010-08-08T17:44:00.000-07:002010-08-08T17:44:39.780-07:00Cleaning HeddlesI got up the courage to try cleaning the heddles in a vinegar soak. I was nervous because I know vinegar can accellerate rust if any is left on. But it's an acid, which means it can clean rust off as well. And it really works!
I soaked the first batch of heddles for a couple hours, then washed repeatedly with liquid castile soap (which is what I have next to the laundry room sink), until Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-81275693686587926152010-08-07T15:14:00.000-07:002010-08-08T15:59:57.359-07:00Cleaning and Lubrication (and a bit on cams)The manual (remember this is really old) suggests cleaning wood & metal parts with kerosene. I thought that sounded smelly and harsh, plus it's not something I have on hand or want to store, really. The manual suggests oiling everything with machine oil. By everything I mean EVERYTHING. Metal parts that rub on metal. Metal parts that rub on wood. Wood parts that rub on wood! Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5343707256472680527.post-36781352442658002652010-08-05T17:17:00.000-07:002010-08-07T15:41:17.018-07:00Getting StartedI bought a Newcomb Loom Company Weaver's Delight loom on August 1st, 2010, from the estate of a weaver who died in 2006. Her daughter was also a weaver at one time, so she is really familiar with looms. She and her husband were able to show us how the parts of this thing go together - which is not simple to figure out! Here it is assembled. In the background you can see 2 spool racks and the Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147102260516593440noreply@blogger.com12