Gilmore is made just a couple of hours from me in Stockton. Go to www.gilmorelooms.com for info and pictures and feel free to call them. They're very friendly and take the time to talk and answer questions. I think that they have really good prices on stainless steel reeds too. I think that they are a very well respected loom and know several weavers that have them.
I have a 58" Gilmore in my collection of three loom. The other two are Leclerc (my 38" is my workhorse and the 45" 12-harness, which I've never used and probably should go to a new home). I prefer the Leclerc braking system over the Gilmore. But, you get used to the difference.
The technique I use with the Leclerc is to hold the brake treddle down while advancing the warp until I get about 4" to the breast beam. It uses a spring type braking system - its best way I can describe it. Then, let off the brake and continue advancing the warp until taunt, usually another 1". I don't want to get closer than 2" to the breast beam because otherwise the wood on the beater bar will smack against the breast beam and I won't be able to get my weft threads into place.
With the Gilmore, it uses, well... like a ratchet as its brake. So, when I step on the brake treddle to release, it wants to unwind the warp too fast and then I end up having to wind the extra back onto the back onto the sectional beam. I've found that if I leave the tension a little soft, it doesn't release so fast. Or, I'll release a little bit of the finished cloth to soften the tension and then release the brake. When I release the brake, I just give it a quick tap. It usually unwinds just enough. Or, as I advance it and I see that I have a little more room, before the warp gets tight, I'll give the brake another quick tap - just one or two notches on the ratchet, while the tension is still loose, and that will get me to where I need to be.
I never have learned how to warp from back to front with the sectional beam. I always warp from the front to the back. So, that part would be worth learning, but sure seems to me like it takes more time to warp the loom. Perhaps it makes a difference when using fine yarns, but I weave on 6 and 8 dent reeds exclusively with my hand spun yarns and occasionally use my 10 dent on my finer alpaca yarns. I decided early on that I'm not patient enough to weave with anything finer than that.
So, where does your friend live that she was able to find this at a garage sale??
Gabrielle Menn, www.fanfarefarms.com Fleece, handspinning, weaving, finished products & gifts. Investment quality alpaca and natural colored sheep.
Friend bought it because it seemed like a good loom but really doesn't know anything about that make of loom. I don't either. has anyone used a Gilmore?
Any info would be appreciated. She is excited but not sure if she should be. She will be taking lessons soon and doesn't know wether to be proud or embarassed about her "find".
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