Bond Yarn Mast

A while ago I made a yarn mast for my Bond. It has been very helpful with my center pull yarns.

I took two scrap pieces of wood made sure they were cut to the same size and screwed them with four screws together. I used duck tape wrapped around the wood for less of a slip on the table and it also covered the screws so it would not scratch my table. On the top of the wood, I drilled two holes the size the the wood dowels I got. On the dowels, I screwed in closed hooks. Then I slipped the dowels into the holes in the wood and there it was a complete yarn mast.

I do wax the closed hooks to make it easier for the yarn to move through the hooks. It will change the tension on the yarn and make a tighter stitch. Make sure you make a swatch for each project and adjust the keyplates for the tension you need. I also hold my finger over the slot on the carriage where the yarn slips though so my yarn does not get away.

This is a great way to use the center pull yarns and saves you from pulling the yarn every few stitches to complete a row.

Home Made Bond Super Cast on Comb

This is my home made cast on comb for my Bond USM. I went to the local hardware store and got every thing I needed.
1. Flat metal bar
2. Metal Glue
3. Paper Clips
4. wire cutters
5. Handy Mans dream DUCT TAPE

All I did to make my 130 pin cast on comb was:
cut the paper clip at the bend and with a section of my Bond spaced the paper clips out. Then you just glue them on and when dry cover with duct tape. Easy super huge cast on comb.

Claw Weights

Being cheap cheap cheap has motivated me to create my own tools for the Bond USM. Some of these items may be used for other knitting machines as well.

I decided to make my own claw weights. I went to Walmart and found everything I needed.

Cost $3.71 + tax
Time Two hours (only because I had to let the paint dry or it would have been 15 minutes)

The list is as follows:

6 for a dollar forks Cost: $1.00
different size bank sinkers (in the aisle with the fishing gear) Cost $1.75
spray paint $.96
needle nose pliers Everyone has a pair I hope. Cost Free
saftey pin or heavy duty thread or scrap yarn extras lying around the house Cost Free

Step one
Use the needle nose pliers to bend the tines of the fork down so that it will hook into the knitting without falling out.

Step two
Bend the handle of the fork back in the opposite direction of the bend of the tines. This is to hold extra weight. I am not that strong so I put the end of the fork under my foot and pulled up to start the bend.









Step three
Spray paint sinkers. The sinkers have lead in them and just to be safe spray paint.

Step four
Place sinkers on heavy duty thread or a big saftey pin.




You may add more weight as needed right on the end of the fork.



Wow!! You now have your own Claw Weights for a lot less. Total Cost for 6 weights $3.71 + tax.