My Problem:
When I was weaving the cloth for my vest with the comic paper thread the problem happened when I threw the tabby wefts. Everytime I threw the shuttle the bobbin kept over-spinning and tangling on the shuttle rod. I had to stop, unwind the over spun thread and guide the weft thread back onto the bobbin. It happens every time! I knew something had to be done.
The Cause:
It was an inertia problem. I thought I knew all about this from my technical book, “Weaving Drafting Your Own Cloth”. This is the third of my little red books (New Guide to Weaving).
From page 62: How to throw the shuttle:
1. Don’t try to weave too fast.
2. Throw the shuttle gently. If the shuttle is thrown harder than necessary it goes into the receiving hand with the bobbin still spinning: extra yarn is unwound, creating a snarl with backlash. Throw the shuttle with just enough force to carry it across. The shuttle and its bobbin both slow to a stop as they reach the other side.
3. As you catch the shuttle, if your shuttle is open on the top, put your thumb or a finger on the bobbin to stop it from continuing to spin to prevent backlash. If your shuttle is open on its bottom, your fingers can touch the bobbin easily. (Figures 97 and 98).
4. Put the bobbin into the shuttle with the yarn coming out from the underneath the bobbin—to cut down on backlash (Figure 99).
6. Remember, the exit hole should be on the side of the shuttle facing you.
The Solution:
What I learned from my book: Also from page 62:
”I’ve seen professional weavers draw out a length of weft from the shuttle before entering it into the shed…”
I learned that the reason they do that is to prevent the backlash from over spinning.