 With this type of loom, the threads (in normal position)
rest at the bottom of the reed on the shuttle race.If a treadle tied to shafts number two and
three is pushed down, the jacks will raise these shafts, while all the others remain in
the resting position. This kind of shed can be very large or small depending on the
pressure there is on the warp threads and how many threads there are. For example, it is
much easier to obtain a clean shed with a 36" loom that has 20 threads per inch than
with a 60" loom with 40 threads per inch. The more threads and tension you have the
more difficult it will be to raise the shafts.
Advantages:
- You may have more than 4 shafts (8, 12, 16)
- Threading is easy
- Loom assembly is easy
- You can change from 4 to 8 shafts at any time
Disadvantages:
- More tension on the warp requires more effort to raise the shafts, it may reduce
the size of the shed
- In some threading with 8 or more shafts, some shafts tend to float even if they
are not pushed up. This can be improved by adding springs to the treadles or weight to the
shafts but may make raising the shafts even more difficult |
