I have been asked to form this group. Cheryl my wife of 33 years and I own, at this time, 4 Macomber looms. A 48 inch 4H (soon to be a 8H) this is Cheryl's workhorse, a 56 inch, 16H, a 56 inch 8H and a 48 inch 4H. The last two are being restored and will be sold. We also own a Newcomb studio loom and a copy of a Harrisville 22 inch 4h loom which I built in 1984. Since we are down sizing the Newcome loom will also be sold. Cheryl has been weaving on the Newcomb loom for 28 years but has since fallen in love with her Macomber looms. You can post your question here for everyone to see or you can IM me or sent me a email at whpenfield at hotmail.com
Welcome,
Michael
Group Audience
Comments
Thanks
Thanks for starting this group Michael. I got my Macomber a few months ago and love the loom. I have a 4H/6T but plan to increase to the full 16H over the next few years. It is a great loom to weave on and I can't see myself looking for anything different. I may look for a portable Mac eventually thought LOL
I'm hunting wabbit......
Reply to #1 posting
What Macomber do you have? Can your loom take 16H?
Michael
Reply to posting #2
Connie, that should be "I'm hunting a Mac..." (g) I will keep looking for you.
Michael
Good morning Michael- I have
Good morning Michael-
I have a Macomber B4-D and yes, it can hold 16 harnesses when full. It is 48" weaving width and it has 4H/6T right now. I got it on an unbelieveable deal a few months ago and love the loom. It is so great to weave on and as a new weaver, I know I can really grow into this loom. I did post a picture of it here on Weavolution.
Rena
16H loom
Rena can you measure the space where the jacks are?
Thanks,
Michael
Measurements
I measured the castle. It is 9 3/4" across and the interior opening is 8". There are slots for all 16 harnesses.
Hope this helps.
Rena
Are you the one
who bought that Macomber from Durham, NC that had been advertised for so long? I just realized that that sort of loom could be used for the harnesses it had to upgrade mine at a much more economical price. When I finally realized this (thank you Connie), and emailed, it was recently sold. Are you the people that decided to buy and rehab it?
Rena
Durham loom
Sorry Rena it was not Connie that got that loom it was me. I did the same thing. I removed four frames to add to Cheryl's 4H 48" loom making it 8H. I think I have some one that wants to purchase the loom and turn it into a 16H loom if the information from you is correct. I will check on this. To see the story of picking up this loom go here http://weavolution.com/forum/chat/my-corner-world-february-2011-16898 post # 26 and pictures of the loom at # 48
Michael
Are you going to have
extra harnesses that might be available for purchase? Just asking. I am looking to add 4 harnesses by the end of this year.
Rena
B4D Macomber
Rena, If you have a 8 inch opening it should take 16 harness. Check one thing for me. The lam spacer, count the number of slots in it. If you have 16, yes. you are good to go. Everything on the Macomber is the same except the jacks. Depending on the shaft number the hole on the jack are different. But if you get a other 4H loom you can drill new holes to make a 1, 2, 3, 4, fit a 5, 6, 7, 8, slot. or for that matter a 1 can be come a 16. Does this make sense to you?
Michael
My Mac
will take a total of 16 harnesses. I just went and counted and there are a total of 12 more slots available. So if I understand you right, I need to look for a loom that will hold 16 but is being sold cheap and look for harnesses and jacks 5-16. Not likely but worth the thought.
No, you can use the jacks
No, you can use the jacks from any 48 inch B4D loom. You will just have to drill holes in the jacks. See attached picture. Note how the holes in the jacks move. Right side is the front.
Michael
Hi, I'm a Mac Owner too!
I'm Debbie, and I have a 32" 10H 14T Macomber B5. I got my loom used, and love weaving on it. I have some issues with it - some of the metal rods that go from the jacks to the lamms are bent (I'm not sure what if any difference that makes), and it throws tie-up rods with wild abandon when I use more than 4 shafts - but it's a wonderful sturdy loom. I've just ordered a Texsolv tie-up kit to convert it so that I don't have the thrown tie-up rod issue anymore.
Happy Weaving!
Debbie
Tie-up rods
Debbie, are you using the rods that go over the top of the lamms or the ones that go into the holes? On the ones with the holes, over time the hole gets enlarged and they will jump out. Using the new "super" rods help. The jack rods can be bent if you are having an issue with frames not lifting right. Other then that I think all the rods bend a little.
I have both styles of rods.
I have both styles of rods. The ones that go in the lamms jump out, and the ones that fit over the top fly off. I don't let my treadles pop back up, but rather ride them up a little, and I still lose rods. I've been so frustrated with the whole system that I spent the money for the texsolv kit, and I'm going to convert it this week. I'll report on how that goes.
Thanks for the info regarding the jack rods - I was concerned about whether I should try to adjust them myself or not. I do have issues with frames sticking from time to time, and the bent rods might be the problem.
Frame sticking
The frame sticking and the jumping can all be part of the same problem. A dirty slot in the treadles. What happens is the rod stick which causes the frames to stick or to move together. This also causes the rods (which are not moving freely) to jump off. You can clean this slot with folded sandpaper or a small file. Sarah (Macomber's sales rep) recommends using a silicone spray. I do not recommend using silicone anywhere on a loom because it makes it impossible to refinish the wood on top of silicone. I would just clean out the slot and leave it dry. You can try this before replaceing the rods with texsolv. Super rod are $1.00 each. Macomber recommends not mixing old and new.
Michael
Vicki Allen
had nice things to say about her Macomber. See her post #7 here:
http://weavolution.com/forum/weaving/types-looms-do-you-have-your-home-studio-do-you-make-them-17455
long time Macomber weaver
I currently have a 40" 16 shaft Macomber (my Big Mac) and a 20" 6 shaft folding Macomber (my Baby Mac). My original Macomber was purchased new about 35 years ago (48" 8 shaft). I upgraded it to 10 shafts about 10 years later. I found a used (from original owner) 40" with 8 shafts and a 16 shaft frame and purchased that about 15 years ago and sold the original 48". I upgraded to the 16 shafts and then 5 years ago added a second warp beam.
My Baby Mac was purchased used from a weaver down sizing and I have used it both for weaving at home and traveling for demonstrations and workshops.
I love my Macombers. My biggest worry is not being able to lift those 16 shafts as I get older. I think of it as my "step-machine" now when I weave.
Stepping
Yes, the Macomber is a stepping motion. I have found that my back doesn't hurt when weaving on May Belle. The Bernat I had would make my hips and lower back hurt and I could only weave for a short time. I use a swivel secretary's chair to weave with and I have it up high enough that I can just press down with my leg to raise the shafts. Between that and being able to advance the warp without getting up, I find I can weave for a long stretch before I realize it. I like to weave with the Weather Channel on: pretty music, repititous friendly voices, and every 8 minutes you can check your progress.
Vicki Allen
Every 8 minutes!
I love it! :)
long time Macomber weaver
Connie,
Missed it by ***that*** much. (Anybody remember Maxwell Smart?)
Yes
I am old enough to remember Maxwell Smart. I remember agent 99 more, great body.
Deanna, A 40" 16H is a step machine. A 16h 56" is a leg killer according to Cheryl. But the cloth patterns you get from a 16H loom is worth the work out. I just need to work on my counter weight system to make treadling easyer.
Michael
Wecome
mmrudy, Spindledreams, Penn and deepend to the Macomber group.
Michael
Wow! 61 and growing!
Thanks for creating this forum, Michael!
Wow, that's quite a stable full!
Thanks, Connie, I've been following your progress...
Well Penn
It sounds like you have your hands full of Macombers. yes, the wide looms can be a killer with out a (brain fart) fly shuttle (I had to go look it up). You could hire Connie to redo your loom. I am going to call her Mrs. Clean. When in a motel my mother-in-law makes the bed before the maid comes to change the sheets. She is the only person I know that wears out vacuum cleaners.
We all have all been following the adventures of Mrs. Clean, aka Connie (g) right now I would guess she is working on her new aprons and will have that loom dressed tomorrow.
Penn again wecome to the group and we all look forward to reading about your work on the looms. What part of PA?
Michael
Jeannie,
Wecome to the Macomber group.
Michael
Bassophil & Wevrldy wecome
to the Macomber group. Weaver lady wecome to the world of weaving here on Weavolution. Where are you folks from.
Michael
"Mrs. Clean"
Removing Macomber treadle rod.
Penn, the key to removing the rod is to lubricate it with a spray lub before starting. Start by removing the set screws in the little locks on the rod. Get a long 1/4" drift punch and not a nailset. Used this punch to drive out the rod, it should move easy. If not check to be certain you have gotten all the set screws removed. Once you can, use a small wooden block and a hammer to drive the rod out. DO NOT use the hammer on the end of the rod. You will flatten the end and make it harder to reinstall. What loom are you working on?
Michael
Reenie, wecome to
the Macomber group. Where do you live?
Michael
Thanks for the tips on removing the rod, Michael
Penn
Let be know if you run into trouble.
Michael
lindaWilson1 and Orion welcome
To the Macomber group. I know Orion is from Boston, MA. Linda can you tell us where you are from?
Michael
I am back,
we paid for that 86f (33c) day this past Sunday with tornados and 100mph + straight winds Monday night. Here in Georgia there are lots of trees down and 4 people dead. We lost power around 11:30 pm on Monday and got the power restored at 3:00pm this afternoon. Trees down everywhere in the county. Luckily I had cut down two dead trees on the side of the house this winter and the power company cut down a very large pin oak (half dead) in the front of the house this summer. We are all well and I will spent the day tomorrow cleaning up in the kitchen. Cheryl never missed a beat, she woven four scarfs. Something about a "foot/hand" powered loom.
ej and nkeithf welcome
to the Macomber group. Please let the group where y'all are from.
Michael
I am back`
I live in Washington state
I live in Washington state north of Seattle. Michael, I flew into Atlanta a few months back for some training in Alabama and while I enjoyed the education I was won over by the hospitality. I hope to return some day for a more leasurely visit just not in tornado season!
Cindy
Connie, Cindy,
Three years ago a tornado hit downtown Atlanta. You can see the video here: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/Third-Anniversary-of-Atlanta-Tornado-20110314-am-sd
Michael
tornado
I can't even imagine what a tornado would be like, we don't have a lot of natural disasters here in the pacific NW other than an occasional earthquake, some rivers tend to run over a bit and of coarse lots of liquid sunshine but nothing like hurricanes and tornados.
Cindy
my introduction
Hello, just joined the group the other day.
I am Elaine, from Charlestown, Indiana, which is just across the river from Louisville, KY. I lucked onto a 40" B5 a couple of years ago for $600. I am only a sporadic weaver, though everytime I get the loom warped, I just love weaving. I just can't stop until the warp is all used up! Then I struggle with figuring out what the next warp should be and get all bogged down.
I've owned some other looms over the years, but only 4 harness. So when I chanced upon the Mac with 10 harnesses, I was excited to expand. I am extremely pleased with the way the Mac weaves and absolutely love it.
Thanks for the welcome to the group, Michael.
Elaine
Elaine
Nice to have you here. Are you polishing up the glasses for next months big race?
Michael
Introducing myself
Hi, I'm Keith, from Elgin, IL. I'm a Lutheran pastor who weaves in his spare (yeah, right!) time... I started weaving about 4 years ago while on my parish internship, and got hooked. I've been weaving on a Harrisville Designs 36" 4H-4T, which was a good way to learn, but not terribly sturdy and limiting as far as shafts and treadles...plus, I made one rug on it and that was not a happy experience! (Though I did get a sermon out of it. :-) )
I've been looking for a larger loom for a couple of years now, and just this week found a Macomber B4 48" 8H-10T on Craigslist here in Chicago. I learned from Macomber that it was built in March 1958 for the University of Oregon arts program...not sure how it made its way to the Midwest, but it has done both coasts and is now in the middle of the country--hopefully for a long time!
I'll be refurbishing it, though it's usable, so the info I've been gleaning on here has been helpful already!
I'll look forward to communicating with you all!
Peace,
Keith
Reply to #47
Keith,
A lot of schools have been closing down their textile dept. and selling equipment. Last year universities it CA alone sold over 300 looms. Last week I posted a sale of (?) 15 looms in Ohio. Enjoy your loom we are here to answer any questions you have about your loom.
Michael
Wecome geri518 and periwinkle
I know periwinkle (phyllis) is from MA. geri518 please tell us where you are from. Phyllis I enjoyed looking at your web site. You need to touch base with suzyhok here on weavo. She and her husband spend the winter in GA then sail back to upstate NY for the summer.
Michael
Pagination