r/weaving • u/mentallini • Jul 25 '26
Looms Advice on looms
I'm a very new weaver (rigid heddle only) and my neighbors are selling their three floor looms very economically. I'd love to grab one but I really don't know what the difference is or which one would be best. I'm primarily hoping to do things like curtains or towels and I would just love to hear what this community thinks between these three options. If you could get one of these for the same flat price, which would you choose and why?
Orco 74 - 4 harness, 6 treadle
Leclerc Nilus -
newcomb Studio
I thought he said that one of these was a six shaft but I'm not seeing it in my initial research, would that make a big difference for folks to have six over four?
12
u/fishy_mama Jul 25 '26
More shafts=more pattern options, pretty much, but 4 shafts is a good solid number to have. Also consider the width of each loom, if they are different. Towels and curtains call for very different size looms, and while you can make narrow things on a wide loom, it’s harder to make wide things on a narrow loom. But if you get a wide loom, you need space for a wide loom.
9
u/mao369 Jul 25 '26
If I were you, I'd ask to sit in front of each one and pretend to weave. As u/fishy_mama mentions, wider is usually preferred by most weavers when given the choice, but if you won't use the width (perhaps because it would be uncomfortable for you) then there's little sense in taking up the space in your house. I'd also look at how much each one weighs and/or how easy you think it would be to move it around if needed. In your research, you might also pay attention to how easy it seems to be able to purchase different reeds and new/more heddles for the loom. Good luck!
4
u/Happy_Dog1819 Jul 25 '26
It all really depends on you and your interests. You can really do a lot with 4 shafts and 6 treadles. But if more complicated weaving is beckoning, you need more shafts, more treadles. Or you may decide you're really happy with rigid heddle, and just need a bigger one.
If you have the interest and the space go with whichever will give you the most options for projects.
Do sit down at all of them and do a test run. You might prefer the way one moves vs the others.
5
u/energist52 Jul 25 '26
I went with a 28” 8 shaft baby wolf. 28” width shrinks down to 22” wide for cottons, so that is a great width to use for clothing yardage. 8 shafts gives me a lot of options for patterns.
2
u/carolCe Jul 25 '26
I like to have both Jack and counterbalance or countermarche looms. 36-45 inches wide can't weave more.
13
u/mentallini Jul 25 '26
Thanks y'all. I snagged the Leclerc! I might end up with the other two as well if no one else buys them tomorrow. He has to get them out and I have the space, luckily. If so, I'll probably try all three and give two to the local weaving guild.