Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom
The Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom is a jack loom designed to provide excellent weaving comfort and versatility. With its 10 treadles and 97 cm (38") weaving width, it allows weavers to explore a wide range of weave structures, from traditional patterns to more elaborate projects.
Sturdy, thoughtfully designed and enjoyable to use, this loom is particularly well suited to weavers looking to develop their skills on a floor loom. Its beater pivoted near the floor, generous shed opening and numerous practical features make everyday weaving a pleasure.
At a Glance
✔ Jack floor loom (rising shed)
✔ 8 shafts and 10 treadles
✔ 97 cm (38") weaving width
✔ Beater pivoted near the floor with integrated shuttle race
✔ Generous shed opening
✔ Folding back section, even with a warp on the loom
✔ Built-in raddle and removable front breast beam
✔ Solid, lacquered silver beech hardwood construction
✔ 800 Texsolv heddles included
Why Choose the Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom?
The Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom offers an excellent balance of comfort, versatility and ease of use. The beater, pivoted near the floor, provides a smooth and comfortable movement. Its integrated shuttle race helps guide the shuttle across the warp.
The shafts are guided by nylon channels that make them easy to remove, particularly when adding or redistributing heddles. The Texsolv cord treadle tie-up system also makes it easy to change shaft combinations to suit different weave structures.
The removable front breast beam provides easier access to the shafts for threading. At the back of the loom, the built-in raddle is especially useful for indirect warping, while the folding design helps reduce the loom's footprint when it is not in use.
This loom is an excellent choice for weavers who already have some weaving experience and want to work regularly with 8 shafts while maintaining a relatively compact setup for a floor loom of this size.
What Can You Weave?
With 8 shafts and a 97 cm (38") weaving width, the Ashford floor loom allows you to create a wide variety of fabrics and explore numerous weave structures.
- Dish towels, table linens and household textiles
- Scarves, shawls and wearable accessories
- Fabric for garment making
- Complex weave structures and pattern variations using 8 shafts
- Double weave, overshot and other structures suitable for 8 shafts
The generous weaving width also makes it possible to weave wider pieces or arrange several items side by side on the same warp.
Which Loom Should You Choose?
Choosing a loom involves more than comparing the number of shafts. The shedding mechanism and ergonomics are equally important. Here are a few points of comparison between the Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom and other 8-shaft floor looms.
| Model | Main Features | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Ashford Jack Loom | 8 shafts, 10 treadles, 97 cm, rising shed mechanism | Versatile weaving on a comfortable, folding floor loom |
| Louët David III | 8 shafts, 10 treadles, sinking shed mechanism | Weavers who prefer the David's distinctive shedding mechanism and ergonomics |
| Schacht Mighty Wolf | Folding floor loom available in different configurations | Weavers looking for a folding loom from the Wolf series |
The Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom is particularly worth considering if you are looking for an 8-shaft loom with a generous weaving width, a comfortable beater and several practical features that simplify warping and threading.
Our Advice
Moving from a 4-shaft loom to an 8-shaft loom?
The Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom allows you to continue weaving your favourite 4-shaft structures while exploring more complex patterns. Its 10 treadles provide plenty of flexibility when planning your tie-ups.
Working with limited space?
The back section of the loom can be folded even when a warp is installed. However, be sure to allow enough room to work comfortably around the loom, especially during warping and threading.
Do you use indirect warping?
The built-in raddle at the back of the loom is a particularly useful feature. Its retaining rail helps keep the warp threads in place during preparation.
What's Included
- One 12-dent stainless steel reed
- One 35 cm (14") Ashford boat shuttle
- 5 lease sticks
- 10 wooden warp sticks
- 800 Texsolv heddles (100 per shaft)
- Pre-cut tie-up cords and threading hooks supplied by Ashford
- Components and hardware required for loom assembly
Assembly is required. The weaving bench and additional accessories, including reeds with other dent sizes, are sold separately.
Technical Specifications
- Manufacturer: Ashford
- Model: Jack Loom – 8 Shaft Floor Loom
- Manufacturer's reference: JL90ES
- Product type: Floor loom
- Loom type: Rising shed (jack loom)
- Number of shafts: 8
- Number of treadles: 10
- Weaving width: 97 cm (38")
- Material: Solid silver beech hardwood
- Finish: Lacquered
- Heddle type: Texsolv
- Heddles included: 800
- Included reed: 12 dents per inch
- Beater: Pivoted near the floor, with integrated shuttle race
- Brake: Rear friction brake
- Height: 110 cm
- Overall width: 110 cm
- Depth when open: 100 cm
- Depth when folded: 76 cm
- Weight: 58 kg
- Assembly: Required
- Manufacturer based in: New Zealand
Care and Maintenance
Place the loom on a stable, level surface. Check the tie-ups and make sure the shafts and treadles operate correctly after assembly and during your first weaving projects.
Clean the wooden surfaces regularly with a soft, dry cloth. Remove any accumulated fibres and dust from around the shafts, treadles and mechanisms. Avoid excessive moisture and abrasive cleaning products on lacquered surfaces.
Check the screws regularly and tighten them as needed.
When folding the back section, make sure the warp threads and moving components are properly positioned to avoid damaging the warp.
Why We Love It
At Tisse et File, we know the Ashford floor loom well because we use it ourselves. It is a loom we always enjoy returning to.
We particularly appreciate the smooth movement of the beater, the comfortable weaving experience and the many thoughtful details that make weaving easier: the removable breast beam, nylon shaft guides, treadle tie-up system, built-in raddle and even the small shelf above the castle.
These features may seem secondary when comparing technical specifications, but they make a real difference when using a loom regularly.
Want to learn more? Read our article about the Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom, where we share our personal experience and detailed observations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom a good choice when moving from 4 to 8 shafts?
Yes. It allows you to continue weaving traditional 4-shaft structures while exploring a much wider range of complex patterns. It is particularly well suited to weavers looking to expand their weaving skills.
What is the maximum weaving width?
The weaving width is 97 cm (38"). The finished fabric width will depend on factors such as draw-in, shrinkage and the yarns used.
Can the loom be folded with a warp on it?
Yes. The back section is designed to fold even when a warp is installed, helping reduce the loom's footprint between weaving sessions.
Does the loom arrive assembled?
No. The Ashford 8 Shaft Floor Loom requires assembly. Ashford provides assembly instructions.
Can I use reeds with different dent sizes?
Yes. The loom includes a 12-dent reed, and compatible reeds with other dent sizes are available separately.
Can additional heddles be added?
Yes. The shafts can be removed easily thanks to their nylon guides, making it convenient to add or redistribute compatible Texsolv heddles.
Is the weaving bench included?
No. The weaving bench is sold separately.