Every so often I get a request for a description of a particular part that has not yet been in a post.
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| Casters in lowered position, or moving position. |
This week a weaver wrote asking about the casters for a B Model loom. She is in the process of redecorating and needs to move her loom around; mind you this loom is a 48" 16H B4 loom, not an easy thing to just slide around your house! So after a few emails back and forth with my verbal description, I decided that a photo of the casters would speak many words of description.
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| Eddi shows how to flip the casters up and out of the way. |
I headed over to the Macomber shop where Eddie is trying to get ready for Convergence. He kindly found a pair of the casters and we faked a set up to illustrate how they sit on the bottom foot of the castle.
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| Casters in the upper position, or stable position. |
The casters are bolted to the bottom foot of the castle of your B Model Macomber. When you want to move the loom, you flip the casters down and slide the loom around.
I hope that this little photo series helps illustrate how there simple casters can help you move a behemoth loom with ease. A pair costs $99, cheaper than hiring "Joe the mover" to come over and assist you!
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| Artist studio at Searsport Shores |
It is summer here in Maine, a time we wait and pine for all year. Short, sweet, fast and fun. I am just back home from a one week Artist in Residence at the
Searsport Shores Campground. This amazing campground, right on the ocean's edge,
has a studio for a resident artist, a different one for each week of the summer. And in the fall they host the
Fiber College.
While I was there I worked with all ages of visitors doing a wide variety of projects. You can learn more by
visiting my website blog.
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| Weavers of all ages playing with yarns and patterns. |
Thanks for asking about the casters Trudy! Hope this explains how they work. Happy summer and happy weaving to each of you!
Sarah
Cam brakes work by tightening a metallic plate at the base of the wheel thus stopping it from rolling. This braking system might be actuated in many ways, one of which is through handles or levers that are moulded into the plate. The operator can then simply push the handle or lever using his/her foot,to cut out risks of strain brought on by bending over when actuating the brakes manually.
ReplyDeleteHow does the weaver swing the castor wheels down so the wheels contact the floor, when there is considerable loom weight? How do the wheels stay in position? I see nothing to lock the lever holding the wheels. I have been told by an owner of the castors that the wheels only allow straight ahead and straight back motion; these can not turn at all. Can the straight wheels be replaced by swivel wheels. Is there a reason you designed the castors to prevent the loom from turning when being wheeled?
ReplyDeleteHi Sunny ~ Good questions! I do not have the castors to move my beast of a loom. I just drag it around. When I need bigger help I ask my husband to help. So I cannot answer these questions from experience. I've got a call in to the shop to ask the main loom builder his thoughts. I'll get back when I've got something!
ReplyDeleteSunny ~
ReplyDeleteSince I do not own a set of these casters - I was negligent in noticing that the wheels actually do swivel - so they should turn and spin the loom as needed. As far as lifting the loom, Eddie says that you use the leverage of the caster (note that they have a lever like quality to them) to lift it up onto the wheels. I hope this helps. Let me know!