Tweaking the Loom

Not too long ago my husband and I made a few adjustments to my loom. I have a 24shaft AVL. When I bought it used, it came with two one-yard warp beams even though it is not set up to handle two beams that size. Minor details like that do not slow down my creative husband. He modified the second beam to fit on the loom in the second position. We hooked up the break system for the second beam and I decided I needed to do a couple of test warps before tackling the project I had in mind that required both beams at the same time.

On the first warp I discovered I had two tensions for the new lower beam, locked up and none at all. For this first project I wove the warp off with virtually no tension. It was actually perfect for the wool jacket fabric I was creating.

But of course this brought the tensioning system to my husband’s attention. He decided he could modify the tensioning system to allow me to make fine adjustments to the tension and to be able to know exactly where to set it the next time I wanted that same tension. He made the modification for both beams and I put on a second warp. (The problem of that warp is a story in itself.)

The second warp was woven off under light tension and I felt I could start my project requiring two warp beams. I wound 15 yards on each beam and threaded the loom. My next task would be to adjust the tension the same on both beams. This I discovered was not easy. The warp on the old upper beam was so much tighter than the warp on the new lower beam. I know I tend to like my warps tight, but I cannot for the life of me remember if the warps on this loom have always been that tight.

After much fussing and fretting I ended up removing the heavy weights from the tensioning arms of the loom. That loosened up the tension on the warp beams and made it possible to evenly adjust the tension on the two beams. If I need more weight on the arms, I plan on putting the lead fishing lures my father made for deep sea fishing on the end of the bar. I have pairs of them in all sizes and they should make perfect small weights to tweak the tension on my loom from now on.

It sounds scary to make changes to your loom, but some times it has to be done to get the best results. Looms are tools after all and each of us uses them in a little different way.