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Matthijs Witsenburg’s Laser-Cut Box Loom is a DIY plywood loom for rigid-heddle or card weaving. It is designed to work on a table or in your lap, and its slotted beams let you loosen tension, remove the beams, roll up unfinished weaving, and store it between sessions. Make: lists an estimated 38-hour build and a $15–$60 cost; those figures are the project page’s estimates, not independently verified results.
What this loom is—and what it is not
This is a buildable portable box loom, not a ready-made retail loom. The body is assembled from laser-cut plywood panels, with wooden beams held in slots and ratchets used for tensioning. Make: describes it as suitable for either a rigid heddle or weaving cards. The magazine’s contents page calls it a portable machine for band or card weaving.
The design does not establish a weaving-width capacity, production speed, or performance advantage over another loom. Choose the weaving method according to the technique and equipment you already use.
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Choose your weaving method
| Method | Equipment listed for this project | Best fit | What is not established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid-heddle weaving | A rigid heddle, yarn, and a shuttle | Weavers who already work with a rigid heddle and want a compact frame | No comparative test of results, speed, or capacity |
| Card weaving | Weaving cards, yarn, and a shuttle | Band weavers who prefer cards for manipulating the warp | No claim that card weaving performs better than rigid-heddle weaving on this loom |
Materials and tools
Structural materials
- Laser-cut parts in 12 mm plywood. Witsenburg used poplar and notes that most solid-wood or plywood types can work.
- One 24 cm dowel and two or four 29 cm dowels, all 22 mm in diameter.
- Four dowels measuring 8 mm in diameter by 40 mm long.
- Two 75 cm strings and four hair ties.
- PVA white or yellow glue.
- Optional Teflon tape, thread, or cling film.
The project also says 10 mm or ½-inch plywood can be substituted, but the beveled edges need adjustment.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Perfect Weaving Experience】Efficiently separate warp threads with the included heddle shed stick, and pass weft threads with the shuttle, making weaving convenient and smooth. Whether you’re just starting or an experienced expert, this loom offers the right balance of simplicity and functionality for all projects.
- 【Versatile Design】Use it as a weaving loom for crafting beautiful fabrics or flip it over to serve as a warping frame for setting up your threads with ease.
- 【A Great Gift】An excellent choice for weaving lovers, this frame loom kit lets them craft a variety of table mats. They can spend leisure time designing unique placemats for dining table -- whether it’s a cozy winter snowflake pattern or a vibrant summer floral pattern.
- 【Portable & Sturdy Build】Lightweight yet durable, our weaving loom for adult is easy to carry, making it ideal for travel or crafting outside while ensuring stability during use.
- 【Package Include】The weaving loom kit comes with 1 loom frame, 8 strings, 2 sticks, 3 heddle shed stick, 1 shuttle, 2 heddle hooks, 2 clamps, 1 peg, 1 yarn stand, 8 warp sticks. Please note that the knitting yarns shown in the pictures are not included.
Weaving supplies
- Yarn.
- A shuttle.
- Either a rigid heddle or weaving cards.
Workshop equipment
- Laser cutter or CNC router.
- Saw for cutting the dowels.
- Two clamps with at least a 24 cm opening.
- Drill with a 3 mm bit.
- Plane or wood rasp.
- Sandpaper or a sander.
- Optional file.
Plan the cutting accurately
The cutting plan uses black lines for cuts and red lines for etching. Import the file in millimeters. Parts are nested within a 500 mm × 500 mm area, a figure reported by Make: for the plan rather than a guaranteed working area for every cutter.
The specified finger-joint clearance is 0 mm. For laser cutting, the author says the laser kerf should provide the necessary fit. A CNC router can behave differently: the bit may require wider joints, so do not assume a laser-cut file will fit a routed panel without adjustment. Check your machine, material thickness, and kerf or bit compensation before cutting the full set.
Rank #2
- 15" Weaving Width
- 8-Dent Reed Included
- Includes: 8-Dent Reed, Threading Hook, Warping Peg, Table Clamps, Two Shuttles and Two Balls of Yarn.
- High Quality Maple - Apple Ply and Hard Maple, Unfinished
Assembly procedure
- Cut and identify the panels. Cut the shaped bottom, front, and back panels and the remaining parts from the plan. Etch marks should remain visible for assembly.
- Prepare the dowels. Cut the dowels to the listed lengths. Smooth cut ends and remove splinters before fitting them into the body.
- Dry-fit the body. Assemble the finger joints without glue. Confirm that the panels seat fully and that the beam slots align.
- Glue the panels. Apply a thin layer of carpenter’s glue to one side of each panel joint. Clamp the body with clamps that open at least 24 cm, then allow the glue to dry according to the adhesive manufacturer’s directions.
- Fit the beams. Place the beams in their slots. They should turn with a small amount of play rather than bind tightly.
- Install the ratchets. Fit the ratchets over their pins and check that they move freely. Do not glue the ratchets; they must remain movable for tension adjustment.
- Finish the surfaces. Plane or rasp any proud joints, then sand edges and contact surfaces smooth. A file can help refine small areas.
- Attach the tensioning parts. Use the listed strings and hair ties as shown in the project instructions. Optional Teflon tape, thread, or cling film can be used where the instructions call for a low-friction or protective layer.
Using the loom and storing unfinished work
Thread the loom with your chosen yarn, then weave with the shuttle and either the rigid heddle or cards. Keep the beams turning freely while you advance the work and adjust tension with the ratchets.
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When you need to stop, release tension, remove the beams from their slots, and roll up the unfinished work. This is the design feature that makes the loom practical for a shared table, small workspace, or lap use. Refit the beams and restore tension before continuing.
Rank #3
- Affordable and versatile
- Quick and easy to warp and weave
- Portable
- Natural Unfinished Silver Beech Hardwood
- Includes: Reed nylon 7.5dpi, 1-22 inch natural shuttle, 1-30 inch natural shuttle, step by step instruction booklet, threading hook, warping peg and clamp.
Laser cutter or CNC router?
Laser cutting
- Matches the project’s stated 0 mm finger-joint clearance and kerf-based fit.
- Uses the supplied black cut lines and red etch lines directly when the file is imported in millimeters.
- Still requires a machine large enough to handle the 500 mm × 500 mm nested area.
CNC routing
- May require wider finger joints because the cutter bit removes material differently from a laser.
- Needs careful checking of bit diameter, tool paths, tabs, and plywood thickness.
- Should be validated with a small joint test before committing to all panels.
If you do not own either machine, a local makerspace or cutting service may be necessary. Availability and accepted file formats vary, so confirm those details before preparing the build.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse it with a cardboard box loom
The Portland Textile Club’s “Making the Box Loom” tutorial describes a separate cardboard-box design with a rigid heddle. Its instructions call for a sturdy, shallow, reinforced box and specify different minimum widths for four-inch and eight-inch loom-teeth sets. Those dimensions and materials do not apply to Witsenburg’s plywood loom.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Perfect Weaving Experience】Efficiently separate warp threads with the included heddle shed stick, and pass weft threads with the shuttle, making weaving convenient and smooth. Whether you’re just starting or an experienced expert, this loom offers the right balance of simplicity and functionality for all projects.
- 【Versatile Design】Use it as a weaving loom for crafting beautiful fabrics or flip it over to serve as a warping frame for setting up your threads with ease.
- 【A Great Gift】An excellent choice for weaving lovers, this frame loom kit lets them craft a variety of table mats. They can spend leisure time designing unique placemats for dining table -- whether it’s a cozy winter snowflake pattern or a vibrant summer floral pattern.
- 【Portable & Sturdy Build】Lightweight yet durable, our weaving loom for adult is easy to carry, making it ideal for travel or crafting outside while ensuring stability during use.
- 【Package Include】The weaving loom kit comes with 1 loom frame, 8 strings, 2 sticks, 3 heddle shed stick, 1 shuttle, 2 heddle hooks, 2 clamps, 1 peg, 1 yarn stand, 8 warp sticks. Please note that the knitting yarns shown in the pictures are not included.
Rank #4
- 【Perfect Weaving Experience】Efficiently separate warp threads with the included heddle shed stick, and pass weft threads with the shuttle, making weaving convenient and smooth. Whether you’re just starting or an experienced expert, this loom offers the right balance of simplicity and functionality for all projects.
- 【Versatile Design】Use it as a weaving loom for crafting beautiful fabrics or flip it over to serve as a warping frame for setting up your threads with ease.
- 【A Great Gift】An excellent choice for weaving lovers, this frame loom kit lets them craft a variety of table mats. They can spend leisure time designing unique placemats for dining table -- whether it’s a cozy winter snowflake pattern or a vibrant summer floral pattern.
- 【Portable & Sturdy Build】Lightweight yet durable, our weaving loom for adult is easy to carry, making it ideal for travel or crafting outside while ensuring stability during use. You can just use the loom on the table, or fix the loom on the stand to weave.
- 【Package Include】The weaving loom kit comes with 1 loom frame, 8 strings, 2 sticks, 3 heddle shed stick, 1 shuttle, 2 heddle hooks, 2 clamps, 1 peg, 1 yarn stand, 8 warp sticks and stand accessories. Please note that the knitting yarns shown in the pictures are not included.
Build checklist
- Confirm access to a laser cutter or CNC router and verify the machine’s working area.
- Import the cutting plan in millimeters and check the 500 mm × 500 mm nesting area.
- Match plywood thickness to the plan, or adjust beveled edges for 10 mm or ½-inch stock.
- Test finger-joint fit, especially when routing rather than laser cutting.
- Have the specified dowels, strings, hair ties, glue, clamps, and finishing tools ready.
- Dry-fit every panel before applying glue.
- Leave the ratchets unglued and ensure the beams turn with slight play.
- Prepare yarn, a shuttle, and either a rigid heddle or weaving cards separately; none is included by the project description.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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