J-MADE DIGEST #32

 
From: Donna Pick
 
I am looking for some help regarding my new flying shuttle race; hoping someone who reads the digests can help.  I bought my J-Made in early September.  Dale didn't have any tie-up cord or cords for the flying shuttle race at the time, so he was going to mail it to me along with the flying shuttle instructions.  I've not received this stuff and am unable to reach him by phone or email.  I'm hoping someone on the list can help.
 
I can't figure out how to use the flying shuttle properly.  I have found a few sources on the web but none of them address J-Mades, which appear to be constructed differently.  All of them state that their races have some kind of central 'point' which helps control the cord - an eyelet mounted on the center of the top beater bar, or a wheel mounted on the top of an overhead beater that the cord goes around, or something.  I can't tell if mine is incomplete or if Dale intended them to be used a different way.  All of my resources have also said their race has either (a) a lid that stays with the shuttle as it moves, to keep it aligned as it moves across the shed, or (b) a lip on the bottom of the beater bar to keep the shuttle in line as it moves.
 
When I put the race on, assembly was fine.  I tried tying a cord to the little eyelet on top of the floating right side box, then tying the other end to the eyelet on the left side floating box, leaving some slack so I could reach it.  I put the shuttle in the right side box and gave the cord a pull...

DISASTER!  The shuttle cleared the shed but fell forward off the loom at such a high rate of speed that it skittered across the floor and dented the drywall.  I tried again, but was so worried about this that I under-pulled and the shuttle did not clear the shed.  After lots and lots of tries I gave up and used my boat shuttle to finish weaving.  I tried again on my second project and had some of the same problems.  Since then, I've removed the shuttle race and replaced with the plain bottom beater bar and all is well.
 
I love my loom, but have this expensive thing lying under the bed in the guest room.  I sure would like to know how to use it!  Can anyone help? 
 
Thanks,
 
Donna Vallere Pick

 

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