Posted by Cecily B on Thursday, 3 May 2007, at 5:02 p.m.:
In Reply to: Re: Union Loom No. 36 posted by Jennifer on Thursday, 3 May 2007, at 10:49 a.m.:
The shaft is the horizontal frame that holds the heddles, where the yarn that you will weave through is threaded. The shaft lifts half (or some, depending on the design) on the thread so that your can pass your weft yarn through. There's at least two shafts on a floor loom.
I recommend reading/buying the book by Janet Meany and Paula Pfaff, the Rag Rug Handbook
(http://www.amazon.com/Rag-Rug-Handbook-Janet-Meany/dp/1883010284). It describes the different kinds of rug looms, has projects, history, techniques, and more.
I'm a fellow guild member of the authors (no affliation besides that), and a friend gave me a copy of this book. I loved it!
Good luck!