There has been some discussion recently about using fishing swivels to take out unwanted twist. I solve that problem in a different way, by using a warp weighted loom. I have put a photo of my set up in a new album called "Steve's album".
I do a fair bit of Japanese braiding (kumihimo). The loom I am using in the photo is actually a small takadai (Japanese braiding frame) which I made. I am using it back to front. The finished band passes over a beam and onto a take up roller. The warp from each table is attached to a kumihimo bobbin. I use 70gram or 100gram bobbins depending on the number of tablets / thickness of warp threads. The warp threads pass over a raddle at the back, which serves as a warp spreader and also keeps the bobbins reasonably spaced. This arrangement allows for very fast and easy removal of unwanted twist. The kumihimo bobbins will hold very long warps. I am interested in the 3-1 twill type pattern braids (I am making a simple lettered band in the photo). An issue with this type of band is that take up varies on each tablet - greater on continuously turned border tablets, less in the pattern area. Not so good on a circular warp - but no issue on my warp weighted arrangement. Is anyone else in this group using a warp weighted loom? You will notice in my picture that I am using a weighted beater that I made. I have added a picture to my album. It acts both as a beater and also holds open the shed when inserting the weft. I based the beater on pictures in Peter Collingwood's book. My beater, which has internal steel weights, weighs around 150grams. Unfortunately, Peter did not give info about the weight of the traditional beaters he pictured - does anyone have any idea what they would typically weight? Probably more than mine, as they had lead weights. Steve
