Tuesday, January 29, 2019

A few reproduction looms on my work benches.

My shops re-open on February 1st even though it is still pretty darn cold.  We will see how it goes.  But while my shop was closed of course I did work when the whether permitted and even though today is super cold I managed to get this walnut treadle complete cut out.  This picture is before I routed all the parts but you get the picture.  With this loom this close to finished I can work on it when I get the chance so she'll be done sooner than I expected.  I also got a Maple top all glued up and ready to cut, so there's that!



And I also have 3 of the reproduction box looms all cut out and am putting a finish on the body parts now.  I have already completed the heddles and they have a finish on them but those are a bit of a surprise.  I used a reproduction design this time for the heddles and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Here is the first coat of poly on the body parts.  Cherry, Walnut and Paduak are the woods I chose for these.



Thursday, January 24, 2019

A new 2 Treadle loom started

So this one is going to be All walnut including the legs but will have accents in either Wenge (which I'm hoping for) if they ever get 1x in stock again, or yellow-heart or maple (which would be a great contrast).  I had considered all walnut and that is still floating in my head.
So this is the glue up of the walnut, you have to imagine it with a shiny finish which will deepen the color and pattern of the wood.  But here are some examples.  I'd love to hear what you think.





Handywoman 2 Treadle Reproduction Loom finally complete!

So here she is...all finished, well, I have a few touch ups to do but she's pretty much ready to go.
The next one will be walnut and wenge (if I can get 1x8 wenge stock from my supplier, if not I'm thinking of walnut and yellowheart or butternut.
This one, I did not get the take up rod slot centered and I didn't notice it till it was pretty much too late without having to make that assembly again.  I ran a test and it doesn't affect the weaving so It's just going to be who this girl is rather than spend another week on her.  These take a very long time to make and I'm ready to move on from her....
Anyway here she is in all her purple majesty.





















Monday, January 21, 2019

Getting close....

So the treadle loom is nearing completion.  I have a few more parts to get the finish on.  I am limited to space for putting finish on items so it is time consuming.  Mostly it's just the pegs and the pawls that need the finish.  Today I'll get the loom strung up so tomorrow I can do a test weave.  The treadles are different on this loom so wish me luck that I've got it right! 



Friday, January 18, 2019

New Treadle loom will be done soon!!!

Finish is on all the the loom parts. Running the heddles and tools today and putting first coat of finish on the heddles. :) getting really close now. :)





Monday, January 7, 2019

Final dry fit on Treadle Loom

The legs are all complete and set so today I did the final dry fit on all the major body parts.  Lots more to do but these parts will now start getting a finish. 





Sunday, January 6, 2019

More progress made on the Cherry and Purpleheart 2 Treadle Loom

ll parts are sanded now and a few more made so all that is left to make are the heddles and tools. I'm gluing up the leg assemblies today. Yesterday my son visited as he normally does on Saturday. :) (Yes, I'm a lucky mom :) ) I did run the warp cage reel parts yesterday morning so those are done and I rand the take up rod and the warp cage rod today. I built her again before I did the leg glue ups and all looks good. Once the legs are good and dry tomorrow I'll do one more build and check that all is good. I need to sand the leg assemblies a bit then I will get started on getting a finish on her. While I'm doing the finish I will run the heddles and tools and get them ready. This one is close to done.
I did also get a walnut top glued up so the next one will be all walnut. I may do some parts in another wood but I haven't decided yet. I'll have to see what I can get.



Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Treadle Tape Loom Update 3





Today I was able to do a ruff assembly check.  All looks good and tomorrow I will sand all the parts and get the threads in the bottom of the top assembly parts.  If all goes well then I will be able to start the finish on these parts.  Next up will be the warp cage and take up rod assemblies and the heddles and tools.  Since there isn't much room for me to put a finish on all the parts at once these parts will get their finish after the first parts are complete.  Anyway that's the update.  :)