Boat and Quill Shuttles

Sept 2024 update:

Custom run of boat and quill shuttles was completed June of 2024 with a few extras available (2 quill and 8 boat shuttles). Boat shuttles are listed first. Page down to bottom to see quill shuttles.

Canopus Boat shuttles are made up of 3 (or sometimes 5) layers of figured hardwoods, typically combinations of bird’s eye maple, tiger maple (big leaf maple and hard maple), curly cherry, curly white oak, black walnut, figured koa, figured mango, ziricote, ash burl, maple burl, mesquite, and honey locust. Shuttles are highly contoured and fine sanded to 2000-grit with 10 coats of finish applied. A 4mm polished stainless steel rod fits quills or plastic bobbins, and operates up & down using an internal spring mechanism. The spring slot on top is covered either with ebony (black) or pink ivory (red). In the shuttle descriptions below, wood types used, L,W,H, and weight are listed. Most shuttles are made with low heights for use with looms with narrow sheds.

Personal check or USPS Money Order is preferred. Contact me directly for purchasing shuttles at jon16 @ hayman . us or Jon @ canopuswoodandweave . com (remove spaces from the email addresses).

Shuttles currently for sale as of September 2024:

Standard 4″ boat shuttles $140 each plus shipping:

ss2024s1: Ziricote t/b, ash burl center. 14″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 1/8″H, 6.2oz.		ss2024s1 bottom view
ss2024s3: figured black walnut t/b, hard tiger maple center. 12″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 1/16″H, 3.5oz. Note: SOLD		ss2024s3 bottom view. Note: SOLD
ss2024s6: Ziricote t/b, red oak bands 2nd layers, maple burl center. 13″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 1/16″H, 4.5oz.		ss2024s6 bottom view
ss2024s7: figured black walnut t/b, hard tiger maple center. 13 1/2″L, 1 3/4″W, 1″H, 4.2oz.		ss2024s7 bottom view.
ss2024s8: Figured mango t/b, black walnut bands 2nd layers, bird’s eye maple center. 13″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 1/16″H, 4oz. (Note: SOLD)		ss2024s8 bottom view. (Note: SOLD)

Standard 4″ boat shuttles with highly figured and more costly woods: $160 plus shipping. Personal check or USPS Money Order is preferred.

ss2024sX2: Big leaf tiger maple t/b, Koa bands 2nd layers, bird’s eye maple center. 12 1/2″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 1/8″H, 4.3oz. Note:SOLD		ss2024sX2 bottom view. Note:SOLD
ss2024sX5: figured mango t/b, figured koa center. 14″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 1/8″H, 4.1oz.		ss2024sX5 bottom view

Exhibition 4″ boat shuttles with highly figured and more costly woods, plus ebony or pink ivory inlay around yarn slot : $180 plus shipping. Personal check or USPS Money Order is preferred.

ss2024s4E: Exhibition shuttle: dense bird’s eye t/b, thin koa bands 2nd layers, hard tiger maple center, pink ivory inlay for yarn slot surround. 14″L, 1 3/4″W, 1 3/16″H, 5.1oz.

Quill shuttles are typically used in Scandinavian weaving or on looms with narrow sheds. Quills are economical – they may be purchased or made from stiff paper. Quills hold more yarn than a bobbin of comparable size and are quieter to use. Many weavers prefer the use of quills for better selvedges.

Canopus Quill shuttles are made up of 3 (or rarely 5) layers of figured hardwoods, typically combinations of bird’s eye maple, tiger maple, curly cherry, curly white oak, black walnut, koa, mango, and honey locust. Shuttles are highly contoured and fine sanded to 2000-grit with 10 coats of finish applied. A 3.5mm polished stainless steel rod fits standard cardboard quills, and operates up & down using an internal spring mechanism. Extremely hard Brazilian ebony, or sometimes lignum vitae inserts are placed at either end of the yarn slot to reduce wear from abrasive yarns like linen and hemp. The spring slot on top is covered either with ebony (black) or pink ivory (red). In the shuttle descriptions below, we list the shuttle weight, L,W,H. Damask shuttles are less than 3/4″ height.

Any quill shuttle: $140 plus shipping. Personal check or USPS Money Order is preferred.

ss2024qs9: Figured ziricote t/b, hard tiger maple center, brazilian ebony yarn slot inserts. 14 1/8″L, 1 3/8″W, 13/16″H, 3.9oz.		ss2024qs9 bottom view
ss2024qs10: Ash burl t/b, figured black walnut center, Brazilian ebony yarn slot inserts. 14″L, 1 3/8″W, 1 1/16″H, 4.5oz.		ss2024qs10 bottom view

Custom made shuttles:

The following types of boat shuttles are offered:

4″ bobbin standard shuttles: these range from 12″ to 14″ overall length, 1 3/4″ width and low (1″ to 1 1/8″) heights. Heights can be made custom up to 1 1/4″. Ashford and LeClerc nylon/plastic bobbins work best with low-height shuttles. Quills also work.

6″ bobbin shuttles: these are 14″ overall length with the same width and heights as the standard shuttles.

Double boat shuttles (for two 4″ bobbins): these are 18″ overall length, 1 1/2″W, and same heights as standard shuttles.

Quill shuttles (for 6″ quills): these are 14″ overall length, 1 3/8″W, and about 3/4″ height.