Hello, Since this is my first Macomber, I'm trying to figure out what height of bench that I need. I'm 5'7", so not really tall, but not short either. I've been looking at different articles on the net and from what I'm seeing and trying here on my own, I'm going to need one that is around 26" tall. Is that like crazy tall for a weaving bench? The treadles are 7.5" from the floor to the top of the treadle where your foot would rest. If I go with any shorter height, then my thighs are slanted backward (knees higher than tush). Is this the same treadle height for all Macombers? What bench do you use? Connie

Comments

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 13:00

Michael White

Connie, yes you are 5' 7" but do you have long legs, short body etc. Everyones body is different. What you need to do is try different chairs or have hubby build you a bench then cut the legs down to fit your body. That is how I make my loom benches. Here is a picture of one of her benches. The front of the top has a bullnose on it, a sq. edge would cut into your leg. The front of the loom is lower that the back on this loom by 3/4". The top has a carpet pad on it and covered with cloth. This loom also has a storage compartment under the lid and side pockets. Do you want the details for building the bench?

Michael

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 13:25

Vicki Allen (not verified)

I am lucky enough to have an old swivel office chair. This is the kind that actually swivels up and down to adjust the height.

I like it because I can just twirl it down to the exact height I need when sleying the reed or threading the heddles and then back up to weave.

I like to weave high enough that I am pressing straight down on the treadles. That puts the least stress on my legs and hips.

Vicki Allen

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 16:08

andsewon (not verified)

Hi Michael, What a great picture! Very nice-looking bench. I think DH could copy it just from the pic and what details you've already given. Thanks! :o) My research reveals that front-hinged jack loom treadles are typically about 3" off the floor. The rear-hinged Macs are 7.5". That explains the need for a much higher bench. I was worried I had assembled something incorrectly. vbg One formula I found said to measure the lower leg (from the floor up to the bend in the back of the knee) and add that to the treadle height. For me, that comes to almost 26 inches. The 4" difference in treadle height is significant because it narrows the bench market down to just the LeClerc rocking bench, the Louet Megado bench, the Macomber bench, or something custom-made. Does anybody here have a bench from Macomber? How do you like it? Connie
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 16:11

andsewon (not verified)

Hi Vicki, Thanks for the insight. My office chair adjusts like you describe but it doesn't go anywhere close to 26". (It's an older Steelcase) I would like to get an adjustable bench. It sure makes sense. And would be versatile to use at other looms, like my Baby Wolf. Connie
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 17:09

Vicki Allen (not verified)

I'll measure how high mine goes. I had never even wondered, now I do...

I really like the idea of the loom benches that slide right and left but I have never tried one. Have you thought of incorporating that feature if you are going to build one?

Vicki Allen

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 17:24

andsewon (not verified)

Hi Vicki, I've been doing some research on office chairs. I think what I need is called a "drafting chair." These are extended height chairs that are often used at very tall drafting tables or laboratory tables. I've found a nice one made by Safco that's gotten great reviews on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Safco-3442GR-Extended-Height-22-33in/dp/B001MS71AG They come with or without the arms and this one has a tilt feature. For the price, it looks very versatile for weaving and also threading the heddles. The sliding benches are neat, but my loom really isn't wide enough to warrant it. (Mine is a 32" weaving width) That style is called a "Commuter Bench" and the only ones I've seen are made by Fireside looms. (too short for what I need, sadly) What brand is your office chair? Connie
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 18:51

Vicki Allen (not verified)

I don't know what the brand is but I will look when I get home. My chair was built back in the 40's/50's. But it is very similar to the one you have looked at. Mine does not have the circular foot rest. I wonder if that will interfere with your treadling..... maybe it is detachable.

I like to bring my chair very close to the loom to weave and, serendipitously, the bottom parts where the wheels are attached are low enough to slide up under the foot rest of the loom when I'm not weaving.

Vicki Allen

 

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 19:43

DebbieB (not verified)

and it's fine. I'm shorter than you (5'4") and my legs are 17" from floor to back of knee.

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 20:01

andsewon (not verified)

So, that would mean that you need a bench that is 17" + 7.5 = 24.5" tall or 25". My floor to back of knee measurment is 18". How much more height adjustment is there to your bench? Connie
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 20:56

TNmt.flaxgrower (not verified)

 

I would love to have the plans for your bench.  My hub is great with woodworking.

 

Flaxgrower

Tue, 03/22/2011 - 22:58

Michael White

I will work on this sometimes tomorrow.

Michael

Wed, 03/23/2011 - 00:18

DebbieB (not verified)

is currently at 23". I just measured it - I didn't really know where I had it. When I had it at full extension (which I guess is 26.75" according to LeClerc)  I couldn't fit between the bench and the front beam comfortably - I kept hitting my knee/thigh against it.

Wed, 03/23/2011 - 01:40

andsewon (not verified)

Hi Debbie, hummm......that brings up another consideration then. Never thought about hitting the breast beam. I wonder if that is something that is adjustable/customizable... Basically, if one cannot sit high enough for the leg to be in the correct position, then the breast beam would have to be altered......??? Thanks Debbie!
Wed, 03/23/2011 - 17:34

Michael White

I just answered this question for a other lady. Beam height is 34 inch. Macomber makes a bench adjustable from 20-26 inch,

Michael

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 14:17

Michael White

Here are the figures for the bench. The bench was made from 1 inch thick stair treadles from "Home Depot" This bench was made for a 48 inch loom. L=51 inch, W=10 1/2 inch, H=21 1/2 back & 21 inch front. (make the bench taller and cut it down to fit) The top piece is 11 1/2" x 38" (this is the width of the stair treadle, w/the bull nose (round edge) to the front). A rabbit was cut in the sides and a stop rabbit in the ends. If you don't have the equipment for cutting a rabbit you could nail on molding around the inside. I used pocket screws to attach the ends to the sides. You could also screw the ends to the sides. If you use a rabbit put in your 1/4" plywood before attaching the last end. If you are using molding, put the ends and sides together then add the molding and drop in the plywood. Center the top and mark the ends. Add the wooden dividers for the end pockets and screw it in and nail the bottom to it. If you are using molding you will have to add a  small molding or wood strips to  the inside of the shelve. The top is attached with a piano hinge. At this time you could add the padding and see how the loom fits and cut to size it needed. Now you can sand, finish and pad the top.

Michael

Thu, 03/24/2011 - 20:10

andsewon (not verified)

Ok, so I decided to go with an extended height office chair instead of a bench for now. I found one on Amazon with rave reviews that was about half the cost of some of the new benches that were tall enough. (about the same price as the Macomber bench) http://www.amazon.com/Safco-3442BL-Extended-Height-Swivel/dp/B001MS719M/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t I got the black one. (Grey is a bit cheaper for some reason.) I thought black would look nice with the black bits on the loom. I figured that if I didn't like the chair, I could either return it or use it elsewhere around the house. Anyway, it arrived today! It was extremely easy to assemble. (note to self--assemble all pieces of furniture IN the room where you intend to use them so you don't have to lug the entire thing up the stairs!) It is wonderful. It has a pneumatic air lift and adjusts SO easily. (I'm sort of a chair connoisseur after having worked in offices/accounting for many years....and in charge of buying the office equipment for said offices...lol) I can raise it really high, sit down to adjust to the perfect height. If I want to turn around to get something from behind me, the swivel stool just twirls right around. The heel rest ring is not a problem at all. In fact, you don't have to put it on at all if you don't want to. I installed it just to see if it would work. It is not in the way in the least bit. I'll leave it there just so that it doesn't get lost from the chair. (And maybe I'll get DH to rig up some kind of storage thingie to hook to it.) The seat and back are really comfortable. Granted, I've not sat in it and wove for hours, yet, but it just feels great. Very sturdy even at the highest setting. (I'm not a tiny person, either.) The casters are nice. Since I'm on carpet, they don't roll too freely. If they did, it is super easy to just remove them completely. And I'm pretty sure you can order the flat plastic pieces for the bottom of the leg if you don't want to use the caster. I'll report back after I've had a chance to use it for a while. Connie
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 18:31

Vicki Allen (not verified)

I know you are going to enjoy the chair. I looked on the bottom of mine and it is a "Western Electric". I remember Mama saying Daddy had bought it and painted it for her to use back in the 40's. It is so old, it has a metal spring-clamp thing behind the seat to clamp your pocketbook in while you are working.

I weave with it raised to a height of 24 inches to the seat. My maycomber's cloth beam is 32.5 inches to the bottom of it. I have room for my legs to fit easily and I can just press down on the treadles.

Vicki Allen