Loom Warp in Bulk

Warping a loom is the single biggest hassle of having and using a loom. Measuring out all the thread, threading it through the heddles and beater, it's just a big pain. No wonder so many looms get used only a couple of times and then donated to thrift stores.

So, to take out some of the hassle and get to the fun part: sell warp thread in reels, each reel available in width increments of, for instance, a half inch.

Let's say there's 12 threads to the inch on this loom. That half inch is made up of six threads all running parallel, wound onto the reel at the same time. The last foot or so of the reel is backed with adhesive tape to keep the threads in place and aligned. When threading, remove one thread at a time from the backing tape, feed it through the loom, and repeat as necessary.

Don't need the whole half inch? No sweat, the tape is perforated at each thread; peel off the threads you need and leave the rest attached and taped down. They'll idle around and around as you weave and not interfere. Wider widths are available, and more reels can be added, no problem.

The axle the reels run on is simply a stout steel square bar, and the square axle holes in the reels key snugly onto that to maintain tension. Different ratchet wheels and bearing ends are available to adapt the axle to your loom.

I couldn't find a category that seemed appropriate for this. I considered putting it under Nuclear Physics for irony's sake.