So, warp wound, beamed, ready to start threading the heddles. The cool feature about this loom is that I can program tromp as writ in my draft and then it will raise each harness one at a time for me to thread heddles, really great when threading 40 harnesses - sounds easy peasy, doesn't it? Well, it would be if when I pressed on the foot pedal the harnesses would move - nothing! I looked all over, everything seemed connected, solenoids popped when I turned it on. So I took to reading manuals, which are lacking if I haven't said so in the past, nothing to help me. Finally I had to walk away.....started some soup, phone rang a few times so I visited with folks, got a fire going. I e'd my tech support, hubby Sam, he suggested maybe somehow the switch on the e-lift got turned off....not sure how that would happen since I control the entire thing with a surge protector but I thought maybe, so I flipped it. Still no luck. Back to the manuals - hah, nothing, what was I thinking pulling them out again. I could tell the elift wasn't on so I flipped the switch back to where it was this morning - it came on....not sure if it was stuck in the middle or if it's a bad switch, time will tell.
A few times while raising harnesses to thread heddles the harness would get caught on it's neighbor coming back down, jumping off the hooks on the top, springs would sprong on the bottom which means I stand on my head to get them back on....not a happy camper. I really wonder if there's a design flaw, there is not even 1/16" between harnesses so when one moves up the gap closes in-between it's neighbors so it will catch coming back down. It doesn't happen everytime but too often so far. I'm hoping that maybe once I start weaving it won't be an issue.....hope, hope.
So now a staple on the top of the loom is my gigantic bottle of headache meds, hoping they get put away soon. I still wonder if I've made a very expensive mistake but others are assuring me eventually I'll love this loom. For me weaving has always been a peaceful meditative process from beginning to end no matter how challenging the project.....I need for this loom to fit in to my weaving life......and hopefully one day soon you'll be reading about how much I love the design capabilities on this loom and how happy I am with it.
Oh gosh Cindie, I hope so too. Fingers crossed that under tension with a warp every little thing is just perfect for you!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds to me that its time to call in some help... and may I recommend Jane Stafford on Salt Spring Island?
ReplyDeleteOr you may have a Louet dealer closer by.
Weaving should be fun!
Susan
It's not a Louet Susan, it's an AVL. I do have a tech person that AVL has given me to contact anytime I need help, Melody, and she's wonderful. I think what bothers me the most is that I'm now hearing the same types of stories from folks that I'm experiencing - it shouldn't take months to get a loom to work because of tech/manufacturing issues. I'm trying to think positive though because all those that went through the same thing now love their looms. It's just all so unnecessary. And I'm not badmouthing AVL, far from it, just stating facts along the way.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating! I hope it all starts working right for you with no more headaches. I knew someone who moved up from their 16 harness AVL dobby that he loved to an even bigger computerized AVL and loved it even more. I got to weave on both of them and AVL has been my dream loom ever since. They worked like a dream. I hope your new AVL will work out at least as well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteHi again,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I missed the detail about it being an AVL! (duh!)
I've been thinking about what you said, and came to the conclusion that maybe its something that AVL needs to hear?! Their looms shouldn't be that much trouble to get set up and under way...and I'm sure its something they would rather not happen as they are in the business of selling looms.
So, give the problem back to them to deal with? With digital photos and video they should be able to do more than they have. I'm sure that Melody is trying but its not working for you (Those looms are not cheap!)
Big hug from a bit further north,
Susan
I'm thinking positively that tomorrow at the AVL will be better. Since AVL arrived I have been in constant contact with the president. It wasn't until I was passed on to Melody, AVL guru, that I started getting solutions to many issues. She's wonderful and has more clout with the president than I have myself. And she's very patient and talks in laymans terms. I'm still waiting for 2 manuals I was promised back in November....these e-lift and dobby versions have been around for 2 years and still no manuals, only previous versions have manuals. I can't believe they aren't hearing from everyone buying a V-Series loom, and I've heard others had issues with other models taking 3-4 months to work out the bugs.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindie, my AVL isn't computerized so I can't speak to that but I wanted to give a bit of encouragement. I know that whenever I work with something new to me be it a new loom, a new art medium or technique, I hate it. It is frustrating and sometimes down right hard. Keep at it a while though and things start to smooth out and it gets easier and you start to think, maybe I like this after all! Now, I know you have the added complications of a rather complex machine but keep at it! The problems that you are working on now will teach you much. It is one of the reasons why I try to build and fix things on my own even though at times I am literally screaming with frustration! You will get it and one day when you are weaving your wonderful handwoven creations, you will start to love it. Hopefully the important information you need will come soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement Renee. I love challenges and love learning, my frustration is coming from manufacturing issues....but, knock on wood, things are going a bit better today.
ReplyDelete