Setup tips for Ashford 32-inch 8-shaft table loom

[@debbieconrad6616]

Added tip: there's a skinny strip of wood that goes across the front of the castle at the bottom. They tell you there's a choice between installing it at the very bottom, or about 5 inches up from that. They say it will help "level" your threads if it's in the higher position. It does level your threads, but it also raises them too high, which closes your shed quite a bit. I reinstalled mine in the lower position and everything lines up better.

[@PamelaMcGurk]

Oh my goodness. Your tip at minute 8.35 explains why its rubbing!!! Thank you.

[@healthcarefails]

It's always those tiny details that get us, isn't it? I'm glad it helped!

[@manonbourque4717]

Great tips! I'm new and have my very fist loom, the same Ashford table loom! I made all the error that you talk!! Now I could repair it. Tank you.

[@healthcarefails]

Certain mistakes are just a rite of passage, nearly all of us make them. I love making mistakes because it is one of the best learning tools ever. Enjoy your new loom!

[@spunawound3917]

Thank you for this! I'm going to be assembling my 8 shaft Ashford as soon as it arrives and am a little nervous I'll get it wrong. Your video is a big help.

[@healthcarefails]

How exciting! I'm glad this helped a little.

[@sonjanordahl3158]

Really good tips. I just learned that you could use a reed that is longer than 32". I have a 48" floor loom and it came with a 6-dent reed. I dressed my Ashford table loom and with-in 6 picks I knew I needed a different reed. For the fun of it I tried the 48" reed, and it works! you can't fold up the loom and you have wings sticking out both sides. But it does work. So, if you have a longer reed and don't have the $$$$ to buy a new one to fit your table loom you can make do. I will be buying a reed to fit my Ashford, but not until after Christman.

[@healthcarefails]

Fantastic to know! I don't have any other size reeds, but you're right. There is nothing on the sides of the reed channel that would cause an obstruction, so using a longer reed would definitely work. I bet the other viewers will appreciate this tip!

[@elizabethglickel5289]

Thank you for this! I am in the market for this table loom and can use all the tips I can get!

[@healthcarefails]

Is this your first loom? I've been happy with my purchase. Glad the video was helpful!

[@elizabethglickel5289]

@@healthcarefails I have a Rigid Heddle loom right now, I will be purchasing the Ashford Table loom after the Holidays.

[@healthcarefails]

​@@elizabethglickel5289 I started with a rigid heddle loom myself. After doing an 8-shaft pinwheel design using only pickup sticks on the RHL (took quite a bit of time), it was definitely time for an 8-shaft table loom. Love both looms. The RHL is far more portable and great for smaller projects with fewer shafts, but the 8-shaft table loom is now the go-to for bath towels. Double-width weaving for throw blankets and bath sheets are on the horizon. Always so many projects and so little time. These adventures are meant to be shared...more videos to come!

[@sonjanordahl3158]

I love mine.

[@kamalanorris307]

I just purchased this loom as a step up from a 16” rigid heddle loom. So I have a LOT to figure out. Will be watching for your video on adding the shuttle race.

[@healthcarefails]

Congrats on your new loom! I'll be doing a new warp this weekend and can capture some video of the boat shuttle run in use. It should be uploaded early next week. The mod is so simple to do!

[@ГалинаДьячкова-г1в]

Где можно купить такой станок? Я живу в России.

[@healthcarefails]

@@ГалинаДьячкова-г1в Question: Where can I buy such a machine? I live in Russia. Answer: The machine is an Ashford 8-shaft 32-inch table loom. I'm sorry, I don't know which companies have these available for shipping to Russia.

[@ingridstroud8616]

Beautiful ❤️ love your work 🥰

[@healthcarefails]

Thank you, Ingrid!

[@alicemcdaniel4092]

Great tips! thank you. I have this same loom and just did a full width warp for the first time last week. Do you use a stick shuttle or a boat shuttle?

[@healthcarefails]

You're welcome, and congratulations on your first full warp! Right now, I'm using stick shuttles due to lack of the run. Without the boat shuttle run (the rail the shuttle travels across), there is almost instantaneous submarining of the boat shuttle. The loom will be outfitted soon with a boat shuttle run though (video to come), and then the boat shuttle will get much more use.

[@sandraeasthope3010]

Tip ... Extra Heddles .... disperse them between the heddles your using for each shaft ... that way there is no bunching at the ends and when you disperse them among the heddles your using it does not affect your pattern.

[@healthcarefails]

Absolutely! Another warp is going on the loom right now, and the extra heddles are getting spread out evenly across the heddle frame. The extra heddles interspersed also make it easier to correct any small warp pattern errors, since extra heddles are available relatively close by.

[@sandraeasthope3010]

@@healthcarefails yes I disperse them every 10 to 15 active heddles. If I make a mistake it's easy to fix for me. I find it's really helpful doing full loom double weave.

[@healthcarefails]

Love this tip! I have spliced in heddles in the past to correct a heddle threading error. Between these two techniques, most mistakes should be easily fixable.

[@ГалинаДьячкова-г1в]

Где можно купить такой станок? Я живу в России.

[@healthcarefails]

Question: Where can I buy such a machine? I live in Russia. Answer: The machine is an Ashford 8-shaft 32-inch table loom. I'm sorry, I don't know which companies have these available for shipping to Russia.