I help manage a non-profit weaving center, located in Hartford, CT, has a baby macomber in good working order. We would like to sell it and wondering what we should price it at.  Thanks for any help that you can provide.

Claudia 

Comments

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 14:26

sequel (not verified)

Weaving width, the measurement inside the shaft frames?  Number of shaft frames?  Number of treadles?  Ratchet and Pawl or friction brake?

How about a photo if you don't know what I'm talking about?

$100 per shaft is a starting point for a clean loom in good, usable condition.

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 15:01

cbspaulding (not verified)

Sorry, I hadn't had my coffee yet before I posted the question.  I did forget to mention its stats.

8 Shaft, 20", 10 treadle, ratchet and pawl.  It doesn't have the super hooks -has the hooks that fall off on a regular basis, which is why we are selling it.  

At our weaving center, www.weavingcenter.org, we have 30 weavers, all who are blind, low-vision, and/or senior.  We also hold classes for the general public.  It's difficult for most to notice that a hook fell off.

Claudia

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 15:26

Kiiki (not verified)

Claudia-

I'll just throw this out as an option: many baby Mac owners have switched the tie-ups to Texsolv. Works very well on the baby Macs, from all reports. Would that be an option for your weavers?

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 15:47

cbspaulding (not verified)

Good suggestion.  We haven't tried it.  We have a good supply of Texsolv at the Center and have another baby MAC with the super hooks.  Maybe will switch over.

About this baby MAC, I was planning on pricing it at $800. Usually i google it and see what others are selling it for, but it is difficult to find this loom used for sale.   

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 17:05

Michael White

A new baby is $963. I would not sell this loom, I would convert it to Texsolv.

 

Michael

Sun, 11/17/2013 - 18:41

mrdubyah (not verified)

A used baby is around $750.  I would not sell this loom.  I would convert it to superhooks.

Thu, 11/28/2013 - 02:44

joanna.in.md

Hello all,

The lamm part that lifts the harness on my baby mac keeps slipping out.  Very annoying.  Any ideas on how to keep it locked in?  There are small holes, but it doesn't look like anything has ever gone through them.

Thanks!

Joanna

Thu, 11/28/2013 - 04:30

Dawn McCarthy

It should be snug, is your tension too tight?  these type of jack looms require a slight dropped V where the warp travels through the harnesses and heddles for tension.  If your tension is too tight your harnesses may be floating and lifting off that little flat post from the jacks.

Dawn

bewove.com

Thu, 11/28/2013 - 14:12

joanna.in.md

Hmm, interesting question, Dawn.  I'm working with a relatively fragile knitting yarn on the warp, so the tension isn't crazy tight. 

Thanks, though.  I'll try playing with the tension and see if that helps.

Sun, 12/01/2013 - 17:31

mrdubyah (not verified)

The lams on the baby mac will pop out of their tracks if the hooks or the treadles are not positioned properly and don't pull straight downward.  I see this a lot with baby macs.  Pulling downward at an angle will flex the lams forward or backward and pop them out of their tracks.  This is why I don't recommend texsolv tie-ups unless they are rigged to slide in the treadles so that they stay directly below the lams. You may also want to undo the clip at the back of the treadles and let them "float" forward a bit so they will always pull straight down on the lams. 

In rare cases, the edges of the lams may become worn down, making the lams too short.  In that case, you'll have to either replace the lams or add repair extenders as in:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28633002@N00/4561621631/in/photolist-7X6vbP-7X9JqA-7dCy5W-7dyEiK-7ayU4R-8VFMEL

BTW, if your hooks are popping off, they have probably become bent.  Check to make sure the shafts are perfectly straight and the top hooks are bent at the correct angle.  If they are bent or twisted, they will bind in the treadle slots and slip out of the holes in the lams.  Two minutes with a pair of pliers or a vice grip can save hours of frustration.

Mon, 12/02/2013 - 12:04

joanna.in.md

I saw your previous post on this subject.  Your extenders are a great idea.  And you are correct, I am sure I need to spend some time with my hooks and a pair of pliers.

My problem, though, isn't with the tracks on the sides, it is where the lamm fits into a metal slot on the harness, so the harness can be pushed up when a hooked pedal is depressed.  There is a small hole on the lamm, but it doesn't rise high enough that I could put something through the hole to secure the lamm to the harness.  

Right now, this is frustrating enough that I don't much want to work on the loom.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Joanna 

Tue, 10/23/2018 - 12:32

Nandem

I think your problem with the lamm connectors falling out has an easy solution. The problem is that the metal slot that fits in the harness has only a small tolerance for a rising harness. There are two holes on each side of the castle, front and back. There are two pins that fit across the castle in these holes. When you’re weaving, the pins should be in the upper holes, over the resting harnesses. They will keep the harness from rising to high.  If you’re missing the pins, you can cut straight pieces from wire coat hangers, but be sure to cover the tips if you lean in to check your threading. 

Btw, the pins go in the lower position while the headless are raised to make threading easier.  I find it is a two person job to hold up the heddles while pushing the pins in.  They have to be removed before you connect the treadle hooks to the treadles and lamms, of course. While the pins are holding the harnesses up for threading, the metal lamm connectors will inevitably fall out and stay out.  That’s ok,  just put them in after you release the harnesses.  Then move the pins to the top holes before you weave.