Never loom weapons, always either:
1)Trade loom points for weapons or weapons+gold
2)Loom gloves, trade gloves for weapons+gold
The market is flooded with weapons, so you can always make some money by trading loom points for weapons. Gloves are nearly as valuable as loom points, so they are a good way to consolidate loom points into something useful. Many people will take 2 loom points for a +3 weapon, so you basically get your +3 weapon 50% faster.
Also, don't discount the value of a loomed shield. Depending on shield, the extra armor and shield HPs are worth 2-3 shield skill points worth of durability, not to mention the speed bonus from looming. For a Hoplite, shield is less important, since you need to be good without your shield anyway to do any serious damage.
