Baby Wolf
Assembly Instructions

Unfolding the Loom
Remove all plastic wrap from the loom. Slightly loosen the two black plastic fold knobs on both sides of the loom. Note: Loosening knobs all the way will cause them to fall out. Generally, a single turn will do. Hold on to the front and rear beams and pull them together slightly. Pull the slide lock bars out toward the back of the loom. Continue holding on to the front and rear beams and allow the loom to unfold all the way. If there is a warp on the loom, you will have to step on the brake release pedal while unfolding the loom. When the loom is all the way down in the open position push the knobs down to the bottom of the slots and tighten them.

Folding the Loom
Note: To prevent treadles from dragging on the floor when the loom is folded, be sure to tie up every treadle to at least one tie-up cord. Loosen the two black knobs (1 full turn) and pull them up to start folding the loom. With one hand on the rear beam and one hand on the front beam, pull the loom together as far as it will go. Tighten the knobs. Push the slide lock bars in towards the front of the loom.
 

Attaching the Warp Beam Crank Handle Remove the protective wood block from the warp beam crank rod (R) by unscrewing it in a counter-clockwise direction. Place the 3/8” washer (W) and then the metal crank handle on the rod (R) with the wooden crank handle (H) facing out. Secure with the the 3/8” cap nut (N). To engage the crank for turning the warp beam, pull the hexagonal hole of the crank onto the hex head nut. When weaving the crank should be pushed off of the cap nut.

warp beam crank handle

Attaching the Apron Bars
There is one cord for each hole in the cloth and warp beams. Insert one end of a cord through a hole in the beam and pull the cord through. Then insert the other end through the second hole in the cord of the end that you just put through the beam.

Pull firmly on the cord to tighten (A). Repeat across the cloth beam and the warp beam. To attach the apron bar to the apron cords, work from one end of the beam across to the other side. First make a loop 4” from the end of the apron cord. Insert this loop through the second hole in this cord, and pull on this new loop until it is large enough to slip the apron bar into (see point X, B). Slide the apron bar through the loop (C). Repeat across, until all cords are attached to the apron bar. Attach the other apron bar to its beam in the same way.

Installing the Beater Pegs
Tap the slotted end of the beater pegs (P) into the holes on the outer side of each beater upright (U). From the inside of the beater side, fasten each peg with a 3/4” round-head Phillips screw.

Beater Adjustment
The height of your beater has been set at the factory to accommodate most weaving situations. However, if necessary, it can be adjusted up or down. To raise or lower the beater, loosen the two nuts (N) on the inside of each side of the metal beater pivot. Hold the beater at the desired height and retighten the two nuts on one side and then the two nuts on the other side.  Be sure that you have raised or lowered each side of the beater by the same amount.

Beater Pin
The small metal pin attached to the right front leg is used to hold the beater upright during warping. Push the pin through the hole in the leg and then through the slot in the beater side. Pull out the beater pin and replace it in its holder before weaving or before folding the loom.

Installing the Heddles in the Shafts
Remove the shafts from the loom by unscrewing the small hex nut on the jack pin (located on the bottom inside of the shaft frame). Pull the harness straight up and out of the loom. When you put the shaft back in the loom, be sure to insert the jack pin back into the hole and secure it with the hex nut.    
There are 400 heddles for a 4-shaft Baby Wolf and 800 for 8-shaft and 4 now-4 later Baby Wolfs. Without removing the heddles from their holding cord, count out the desired number of heddles for the first shaft and tie them together around the center.   
Lay a shaft flat and release both the heddle bars from the hooks that hold them in the middle of the shaft. Bend both the heddle bars enough to remove one end from the slot in the side of the shaft frame. Carefully slide the group of heddles onto the heddle bars. When the heddles have been transferred, carefully untie the holding cord that is holding the heddles at the top and bottom and slip the cord out of the heddles on the heddle bars - leaving the remaining heddles on the holding cord. Replace the heddle bars in the shaft frame. Place approximately half of the heddles at each end of the shaft and place the heddle bars back on the hooks. Put the shaft back in the loom, and secure with the jack pin and hex nut. Repeat for the other shafts. Note: the heddle bar hooks are actually 3/4” off the center. These should line up when you replace the shaft frames.

Tie-Up Cords
There is one tie-up cord for every lamm hole: 24 for a 4-shaft loom; 80 for an 8-shaft and 4 now-4 later looms. There are 16 extra cords with the 8-shaft loom: 10 for the treadle aid plus 6 extra. Loop one end of each tie-up cord through a hole in the lamm.

 
treadles and jack/lamm assembly

Tie the shafts to the treadle by slipping a tie-up cord into the slot in the treadle. Work from the front lamm to the rear lamm for each treadle. After you have completed your tie-up, check each treadle by pushing it all the way to the floor and releasing it, making sure that the knob of each tie-up cord is up against the treadle and that each cord hangs straight down to the treadle.
Note: there is a 1/2” diameter depression on the underside of the top end of each treadle to prevent the tie-ups from slipping off when the loom is folded. The tie-ups should not be in this hole when weaving.   
   
Treadle Aid for 8-Shaft
and 4 Now - 4 Later Baby Wolf Looms
A special treadle aid bar is attached to the rear castle cross brace of your Baby Wolf. For certain unbalanced weaves (i.e. 5/1 figurative boundweave twill, or lace weaves, etc.) it is helpful to give extra support to the treadles to prevent shafts from floating when many treadles are tied up to one shaft.
To set up the treadle aid, place the rubber bands through the holes in the treadle aid bar and slip the 1/4” dowel through the top loop of the rubber bands to prevent them from falling through the holes. Loop the tie-up cords through the lower loop of the rubber band as illustrated. To use the treadle aid, attach these tie-up cords to the end of the treadles as shown.

side view of treadle-aid

Friction Brake Adjustment  
The friction brake can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the eyebolt (E). This will increase or decrease the tension on the spring (R), which will in turn increase or decrease the tension on the brake bar and the brake cable.
Note: always press down on the pedal while you are winding on the warp or advancing the warp on the cloth beam