On my loom there is a ratchet system... all very simple until it goes wrong.... the back Warp beam has a crank handle which is made up of a very large nut welded to a metal bar with a handle on the other end.. this nut attaches with the thread on the end of a metal rod which is part of the cog that attaches to the end of the beam, so that when the handle is turned it releases the ratchet holding the beam in place thus allowing the warp to be released and wound on at the front of the loom........ that is until today.....
The handle carried on winding, the tension on the ratchet was not released... So I took it off to check the thread, thinking that it had somehow stripped...... unlikely as the bar is in the way and acts as a stop... it wasn't that.. so I wound it back on and realised that it continued to wind pushing the bar away from the nut....... ah.. the weld between the bar and the nut had failed! It is under constant pressure, as it holds the tension in the warp threads, and the warp I'm using is almost the full width of the loom so the tension is huge...
I phoned Nigel to see who he knew who could help as he doesn't have any welding equipment himself... as it happens he is helping a friend with some building work in his spare time and Mark has all the kit........ he'll take it over after work later an I'll be able to weave again shortly...Thank you Mark...... you're a star!
Good really as I'm coming to the last couple of cushions and the end of this warp. I put on 12.50 meters weeks ago and have woven 14 cushions already with enough to do 2 or 3 more........ I'm due for a change and have just downloaded a weaving class to learn how to make "Rugs".... can't wait! more about that later!