What is the best material to use when building your own weaving jigs? And where do you fine it?

Thanks to Mick, I've made a few jigs. I used "Fun Foam" from WalMart/Michaels, glued-up. Works pretty good but wondered it there was something better.

Thanks for any advise.

Stan

Again Mick had given me some pics to get some ideas from. After cutting up a wetsuit, an eva grip (with not much luck). I found the perfect thing while sitting at work in front of the computer. One of those quarter inch thick high density foam mouse pads, not the real soft ones. Cut into strips works great, I just over did how many threads the loom held, that has been fixed now, and works great.

What about that foam poster board stuff? It's probably about 1/4" thick and is pretty stiff.

Nathan

I've tried cardboard, pencil erasers, rubber weather stripping, craft foam, and a few other various things I've had around the house. They all worked, but felt like they wouldn't hold up in the long run. Never actually used them long enough to see if they would or wouldn't though. Jim K uses a type of foam for his but I'm not sure what kind. I also keep meaning to get to a local custom foam shop here just to see what they have that might work. Currently I use EVA strips.

Myles, the mouspad is brilliant! I have a couple of worn out ones lying around and it never occured to me to try it. I'll have to give it a shot on the next one I make!

I use eva foam that I bought in blocks from Mudhole several years ago and cut into strips with a band saw. I used to buy "Bernies strips" or something like that from Clemens-any real dense foam will work. The wonder weaver I have says to be careful with using metallic threads as it can tear up the foam wheels-they recommend tying nylon threads onto the ends of the metallics to protect their foam-been afraid to use it for fear of ruining the foam cause the ww isn't mine. Another fella said ww charged him $60 to replace his foam wheels when they got chewed up by metallics.
I have several of my looms that I've done dozens and dozens of weaves on using metallics and the eva foam has held up just fine, never had to replace any yet. Try the eva, I think you'll be pleased. Any questions, email me and I'll try to help.

The foam used on the Wonder Weaver has been changed to a tougher material. Many who have used the older material have done so with no trouble, however a few did, so we made a change. In doing that a good deal of time and testing had to go into the change.

When doing patterns that don't require moving individual threads back and forth a number of times there isn't much of a problem. However when you do patterns that are much more complex and require moving a thread back and forth many times the material holding the thread, if too course, will abrade the thread causing it to break. So we tried some different materials and are now making the wheels of a new material. Some other changes may also be in the works as we will always try to improve the tool.

Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2005 03:56PM by Jim Upton.

Glad to hear you solved the problem. So can my buddy or me get the new foam wheels to replace his older ones or do we have to wait till they fail-he bought the loom from Renzetti about a year ago. Or can I use it till they fail and get them replaced or is there a charge for the replacements like happened to the guy I know?

Hi Stan

The foam I use is used as orthopedic soles for shoes. I comes in many densities. Finding it might be a prob. I went direct but had to buy so much I will probably have to put it in a will to my children. Try people who work in the field.
Doc Ski

Thanks for the info, Doc. I have a friend who supplys ortho shoes (a podiatrist) and a few that are in orthopedics. Will check with them. Thanks again for that great tip.

Today, while at WalMart, I saw some clogs (shower/beach shoes) and the soles seemed to be of fairly high density, so I bought a pair and cut the soles up with a bandsaw. Waiting for the glue-up to cure.

I think that foam might work, and the clogs are only $1.00 a pair. There are several colors available. I bought the ladies clogs in Carolina Blue (Go TarHeels!) for effect.

Glad you're on this great board.

Stan