Cleaning

I've been working on the loom - cleaning and killing little bits of rust on some of the metal.  The needed parts have been ordered - they should arrive sometime this week, and the reed in a couple of weeks.  All up the parts cost $300, so with the $100 spent it is turning out to be a very cheap loom.

The work today was to remove the heddle frames and begin to clean and kill the rust.

Typical spots of rust

After sanding and 'Rust Reformer'

Paint dry (turns black) ready for painting sometime down track.

I've also cleaned up the heddle holding bars and they will get a coat of CRC to allow the heddles to slide freely.

Heddles (top left), heddle bars, and frame all ready to go back together.

While doing the frames I have been cleaning up the wood - mostly just needs a wipe down, light sand then a coat of Howard Feed-n-Wax.

Treadles - left original, right finished

The final job today was to clean the chains that connect the jacks to the heddle frames.  A quick soak in vinegar and a scrub, then dried in the oven, and they are good as new (photo's once I have all the heddle frames restored and hanging.