How To Assemble A Knitting Machine Tilt Stand – Brother, Studio, Singer, Silver Reed
There are two types of Japanese knitting machine stands, tilting and non tilting. Being able to adjust the stand is helpful when a ribber is attached. If you want to knit flat, you can shift the main bed down and forward for a more user friendly angle without removing the ribber.
Clarisse has uploaded a scan of the tilting stand instruction sheet. Assembling the non tilting stand model ST-3 is almost identical. I’ve uploaded its instruction sheet here.
I’ve always attached my machines to large tables so I don’t have a lot of practical experience with these types of stands. If anyone has any tips on how best to use a Japanese stand, please leave a comment below. I’m especially interested if anyone has put additional support under the back of the knitting machine. It seems like a lot a weight to be hanging by two c clamps.
Let’s begin.
1. Lay out all the pieces. You should have four legs, a main cross bar with two securing L arms to adjust the tilt, and two case holding bar assemblies with wing nuts and nuts.
As you’ll see towards the end, there is also a safety stopper.
2. Grab a pair of legs. If necessary, insert the rubber feet. Notice that they must face in opposite directions.
3. Line up one of the legs with the top bar.
4. Insert the leg and push up until the holes align.
5. Repeat step 4, installing all the legs.
6. Locate the two L shaped securing handles under the center of the main bar. These control the tilt of the stand.
7. Loosen the handles so the main bar moves freely. You do not need to remove them all the way.
8. This shows the main bar tilted forward. This is the front of the stand.
9. This shows the main bar level with the floor.
Leave it in the horizontal position for now. It is easier to attach your knitting machine when the main bar is level.
10. If your stand is unmarked, place a sticker on the front. Remember, the front of the machine is the side where the tilt faces down towards you.
11. Locate the two sets of case holding bars and remove the nuts.
12. From the back of the stand, insert the bars through back and front paired leg holes. Attach the nut and tighten.
The purpose of these bars is to stabilized and secure the leg sections while also providing a place to set the lid of the knitting machine.
13. If the arm protrudes too far through the nut, your knitted fabric may snag as it comes off the machine.
14. Adjust the nut and wing nut so that the bolt is more flush. Don’t recess it. You want the arms securely attached and your stand rock solid.
15. The stand is now assembled and ready for your machine.
16. With a friend, set the knitting machine on the stand and secure with the two c clamps
Make sure you position the machine such that the clamps attach to the tilting portion of the main bar, not the fixed center section. You will want to adjust the tilt while the machine is attached.
17. Here is the machine attached with the tilt on horizontal. The weight of the machine causes it to fall back a bit.
If anyone has tips on how to better support an attached machine, I’d love to hear them. I know thousands of knitters have successfully used these stands. This picture makes me a bit nervous.
18. Here is the same machine tilted all the way forward to show the stand’s range of movement.
19. As mentioned at the top of the post, this stand came with a small piece of metal called a safety stopper. In order to use it, you must have two of them, one for each side.
20. To install, your machine must be off the stand and its lid on to protect it.
Turn your knitting machine upside down. Unscrew the original clamp brackets and replace them with the safety stoppers. Secure the stoppers to the side closest to each end of the machine.
21. Here is how the safety stopper works. When it is screwed to the underside of your machine, place the c clamps in and secure as normal. The bend in the metal plate catches on the back of the stand when the machine is tilted forward. This prevents the machine from falling in your lap and onto the floor should the c clamps slip.
Since my used stand only came with one safety stopper, I can only show you how it works in theory. If I had a pair to install, I’d try reversing the c clamps, inserting them from the back of the stand, so gravity was working with me. The only hitch would be if the screw head got in the way.
22. Set the lid of the machine on the case holding bars. Your stand is assembled and you are ready to knit.
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June 30, 2008
25 comments
got the machine down from the attic, the machine looks fine,but how to assemble the parts looked impossible until I found your site ,many thanks now what about the motor and the ribber! Well at least I still have the manuals, but I wish they had clear step by step photos like yours. Many thanks have added you to favorites!
Thanks so much for these wonderful articles — with photos. It seems like such an easy task — but to determine which is the front vs back is not so eacy.
thanks again
You can imagine my frustration when after 8 years when I finally decide to begin machine knitting again… I pull out all parts for my knitting machine…and do not have all parts for the stand. I am missing the threaded brackets that hold it all together. I cannot afford to buy a new stand. Any ideas?
Thanks
Sandra,
Other than trolling Craigslist for a cheap replacement, you could try Home Depot to see if something could be retro-fitted. Buying a refurbished part from a dealer is usually ridiculously expensive since nothing is available new anymore.
I need a k-carraige for a Brother KH588. Actually I just need the handle to pull the carraige across the needle bed. Any chance of finding this relic?
Sandra,
I’m not familiar with the Brother KH588.
However, I once had a Studio 280 that was missing its plastic carriage handle. My husband rummaged through his shop, found a piece of wooden closet rod dowel, combined it with some thin metal straps to elevate it off the carriage, secured it with some nuts and bolts so it would move forward and back, and gave me a make shift handle.
It wasn’t pretty, but it worked. I wish I kept pictures. I sold the machine awhile back.
thank-you and help!!!!
first the thank you for this web site.
so glad i found the info about setting up my trestle stand, only one question…it seems like the stand is top heavy when the machne is on it…i’m afraid it will tip forward, what do you think? (i don’t think mine is a tilter it doesn’t have l arms)
now the help!!!
i’m a novice knitter and have enjoyed my brother 355. just made an investment on a used silver reed 155 and can’t wait to get started…only one problem…i don’t have the manual. i surfed the net to see if i could purchase one but no luck…any suggestions would be greatly appreciated i’ve got lots of yarn to knit!!!
peace christina
your website has been immensely helpful to me. thanks.
regarding numbers 17 and 18 of your tilt stand instructions–
i mount the main bed on the untilted stand with the ribber clamps . this way , when the ribber is on it , it works in this position. then, when i want to use the main bed alone, i tilt it forward and it is level to the ground.
thanks to you i finally know what those safety stoppers are that have been kicking around my accessory box for years!
i have also dug my machines out of the attic after probably almost 10 years and am missing the slanted clamps to tilt the main bed to attach the ribber, any suggestions. this site will also help me as it feels like i am starting from scratch. was able to find some missing parts on e-bay. my machine also survived a fire, but looks like the only thing wrong with it is the sponge was melted to nothing on the needle bar. found a site that gave instructions on making one, so am going to try it before spending more money on another part.
thanks so much for your information on how to update the needle bar, i couldn’t find any thin foam in town so used weather stripping and it worked great, now i have my machines up and running and was even able to teach a friend how to use the LK 150. is there anything on how to use the garter carriage with the compuknit IV. my instructions demonstrate using a punch card macine. thanks. s.
I’ve gone from a table to a stand with my Brother Bulky. I love it! I used your site (thanks so much) to help me setup my stand. Recently (this month), I’ve attached the ribber (finally conquered ribber phobia!).
Not quite clear about attaching the way Evelyn mentioned for steps 17, 18, but very much interested since I’m so accustomed to a horizontal main bed knitting arrangement.
This is a fabulous site, I recently got the Kh-531 machine out of the attic. I had purchased it used years ago with no manual. I an a sno-bird and we have a crochet group here that makes lap robes for different groups. I thought if we could learn how to make this machine work, we could make many more lap robes and quicker. I went on E-bay and found manuals that were close but not right, but thought maybe I could figure it out so I sent about $50.00 for nothing. Asking Question of other Ebayers some kind soul sent me your web site and you are wonderful!!!!!!!!!! every time I log on I find out more information.. Thank you, Thank you.
My comments are ok the way it`s written.
HI, me again I just bought a Brother KR-551 to go with my KH-531 machine {also got the manual for the ribber from your site] now I would like to find a [dual] stand . your assembly photo mention 2 different japanese made stands , but I can not find them for sale, any where on the internet , so I am coming back to you and your friends for help. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL !!!
I don`t know if Sandra Michelsen found a carriage handle or not but I got 2 when I bought the ribber , I doesn`t fit the carriage on either of my machines . Measuring from the center of the screwer on thinge’ at the base of the handle it is 4- 5/8 inches to the center of the other side .[ boy, it`s hard to describe stuff like this.] I also have a sinker plate attachment that has the same dimentions. center of the slots is the same 4-5/8 inches if anyone needs that. I hate it that they didn`t mark parts with the model numbers.joank1507@yahoo.com
Thanks for the help with setting up my tilt stand. Very clear directions. I purchased my stand used and there were no safety stoppers. Do you know where I can purchase a pair?
Thank you,
Thank you, Thank you! I almost made a terrible mistake and and had thses pieces out to the trash because I had no idea how to get them to work! You rock !!!
bought used Brother KH900..have it on stand and can knit with it. having a problem with the ribber, followed directions but jams when I try to move the joined carriges. It is on a stand.any ideas appreciated.Paula
Got the bulky 120 out of storage after 15 years. Experimenting with replacing the felt/sponge bar. Biggest issue is 2 of my stands legs are missing. Any tips on recreating a pair? I at least have the model to copy.
I noticed an old post from someone saying they couldn’t find the clamps to secure the machine onto the stand. I had the same problem… or thought I did. I was able to purchase the clamps on eBay for about $20. Of course, after I received them, I found the small compartment on the machine that contains the accessories, and (or course) the clamps.
Bought a Brother Bulky KH230 + Ribber + Stand………
Re: Stand……Did not know what the 2 handles were for on the main bar….so I did a search…….and found you…….Thankyou…..I now know I have a stand that tilts!……….and I switched the wing nuts ( to the case supports) to the back (realizing that was problematic)…..
But I do have a problem………when I mount the ribber……clamping the right bracket down to the stand not a problem……..but the left bracket I can only clamp on the the edge of the bracket and edge of the bar……The bracket is not fully supported……Not Good!…….My main bed clamps are as far to the right as they will go……..So I measure the main bar……….center is 16 “……The right part of the bar that tilts is 13 1/2″…….The left part of the bar that tilts is 11 1/4″ ……… 2 1/4” shorter than the right……….My stand looks to be identical to yours…….Is it ???…….My stand doesn’t look to be altered in any way……. Any suggestions ???
This was really helpful, thank you so much.
My grandma owns the Brother KH-588, but the sinker plate assembly (double yarn feeder, I believe) is missing. Do any of you know where I can buy the piece? Much appreciated!
Thanks.
Hi, Could anyone tell me where I can buy a Japanese knitting machine tilt stand? I have looked everywhere.
Thanks for these awesome instructions! I got a stand along with a knitting machine on Craigslist and wasn’t sure what to do next. Very helpful.
Clarisse, Thank you so much for the stand assembly guidelines. I just bought a Toyota 901 knitting machine. I’ve zero experience with mach. knitting. I did accomplish putting the stand together but with no instruction sheet I couldn’t be sure it was right. Plus, I could not understand why the table bar was tilted so decided today to search further on the net not thinking I would find “you”. I’ve researched the various machines on your other website. Luckily I found this site plus your specific instructions on assembling the stand. What a relief. I had the “case holding bars” going in the “reverse” position–with the extensions to the front of the stand bar instead of to the back as your drawings suggest! Now on to the next step . . .