Bubinga Wood Swedish Style Boat Shuttle

Our shuttles are a Swedish-style boat shuttle. They have a “closed” bottom, hinged stainless steel spindle and come in a variety of woods. They are designed to be used with 4 or 5″ quills and have a wide opening to allow for the thread to feed off smoothly when weaving.

The shape of our shuttles is consistent and, at this time, are offered in only one size. They have a slim profile and are approximately 12 inches long, 1 & 3/4 inches wide and 3/4 inch tall. Weight varies according to the wood variety

Bubinga is an African wood that varies in color from pale sapwood to pinks and darker red browns. Trees grow to 150 feet tall and are not an endangered species. It is a hard wood like maple and can also exhibit wonderful grain patterns along with its variations of color. Average weight of 93 grams. . All are sanded quite smooth by hand and have two or more coats of Tung oil applied to preserve the wood before final buffing. I like the Tung oil because of the way it soaks into the wood instead of being a coating over the wood. 

Quills are often preferable to a common plastic bobbin because they cause less tension on the weft as it unwinds during the weaving process. Swedish style shuttles, preferred for their smooth, quick action, are used by many accomplished weavers. I have chosen a few different varieties of wood to start with, hand selecting individual boards with pleasing grain structure in the woods that exhibit that. No two shuttles will be exactly alike because of variations in coloration and grain.