Broadloom Accessories

The Raddle

The raddle is used in broadloom weaving to distribute warp ends evenly on the broadloom before beaming to ensure proper spread up of the warp ends on the broadloom to ensure balance and equal tension during weaving.

The Reed

The reed is comb-like in appearance and edged at the top and bottom with a rounded bar. Originally, reed was used for making the reed. In recent times the reed is usually made of metal or wood. The reed has teeth which are set at almost any spacing per inch that one may desire. The number of dents in one inch of a reed is referred to as counts of reed, reed size or reed density. This normally denotes the letter “S”. The more dents in one inch of a reed, the more compact or dense or heavy the fabric that can be produced. Such a reed is known as a fine reed. The spaces between the teeth of a reed are referred to as dents of reed. Before weaving takes place, the warp threads are drawn through the dents of the reed. This is known as sleying-the-reed or reeding.

To know the number of dents in the reed, the length of the reed is measured with a tape measure and the results multiplied by the number of dents in one inch of the reed.

The reed is responsible for evenly spacing of the warp yarns on the broadloom.

Tension Boxes

The tension boxes are used to give tension to the warp ends during beaming. This process involves tieing the warp ends to the tension boxes with weight placed on the boxes . In order to ensure equal tension in the warp sheet during weaving, equal force must be applied to the warp ends during  the beaming process.

Tension Sticks

Tension sticks are placed intermittently in warp ends during beaming to give added tension to the warp sheets during weaving. 

The Shuttle                          

The shuttle used on the foot power broadloom is referred to as a boat shuttle. It has two tapered ends which facilitate easy penetration of the shuttle through a partially opened shed. The center of the shuttle is hollowed to house the bobbin on a metallic rod. Beneath the shuttle are wooden rollers which makes it easier for the shuttle to travel on the race board.

On one of the side walls of the shuttle is an opening called the shuttle eye through which warp thread is threaded. The function of the shuttle eye is to distribute the weft or pick evenly during weaving.

Skein winder                

The skein winder has a star holder at the top made of wood in the form of two intersecting wooden slabs. On top of the slabs are four wooden pegs with each slab having two pegs, one at each end. The star holder is mounted on a wooden stand in such a manner that allows the star holder to rotate either clockwise or anticlockwise.

The skein winder is used to unwound weft yarns packaged in the form of hanks onto bobbins.

Warping mill/board                 

The warping mill consist of a skeleton reel which turns freely on a metal or wooden rod fitted into a socket in the base. It is made up of four upright wooden posts and two cross pieces of wood. One at the top and one at the bottom. The piece of wood at the top has three pegs namely A, B, C. It is on these three pegs that the crosses needed in weaving were created. 

On the four wooden posts consist of drilled holes which makes it possible for fixing the cross at various points to obtain the desired length of warp needed. Length of warp yarns as well as the number of that length needed to weave the fabric to specification.