home needed for a "Bill's Frame" frame

I have a frame that I think is a needlepoint frame. It's stamped "Bill's Frames" and from the archives of this list I deduce that it's from Bill Gordon's Woodcraft, a now-defunct business once in Healdsburg, California.

I'm a rug hooker, and don't really need this frame. Is there someone in the Portland, Oregon, area who has a hankering for it? I would charge you what Goodwill charged me.

Alternatively, if no one wants it, I sure could use a diagram to figure out how to attach all of the parts if anyone out there has one...perhaps I am destined to try needlepoint?

Thanks so much!

Kiera

Reply to
kiera kristinsdottir
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Do you still have this frame?

kiera krist> I have a frame that I think is a needlepoint frame. It's stamped

Reply to
Shellyjas

I had a frame stamped "Bill's Frames" and from the archives of thi

list I deduce that it's from Bill Gordon's Woodcraft, a now-defunct business once in Healdsburg, California.

I'm a rug hooker, and don't really need this frame. Is there someone in the Portland, Oregon, area who has a hankering for it? I would charge you what Goodwill charged me.

Alternatively, if no one wants it, I sure could use a diagram to figure out how to attach all of the parts if anyone out there has one...perhaps I am destined to try needlepoint?

Thanks so much!

Kiera I did have one of these frames and it was lost when we were traveling. have all the attachments for doing large needlepoint projects. Do yo still have this? Hokiesan

Reply to
Hokiesana

Reply to
Judy

I have several sets of these during the evolution of Bill's work. First he made them with metal parts, then later plastic. I have had the plastic break but not the metal of course. I have enough for two floor frame set ups with 6 or more different sizing arrangements to fit the need. These are not specific to needlepoint. They are simply scroll frames and usable easily for linen or aida or whatever you like. I have owned them for likely 25 years and they still work great. They rotate to check the back and for tying off etc. They are solid oak and last forever ! There is even a book holder. Barbie who suggests putting them together and not getting rid of them!

Reply to
bdiane

While on the subject, the plastic ends of the rods will break. I've been through 2 entire sets (and broke all 8) years ago.

There is a fix, since the parts are no longer available. Glue the broken ends together. Then take a long screw (at least 1/2 inch longer than the plastic piece). Use a drill bit several sizes smaller than the screw and drill a pilot hole through the end of the plastic and into the end of the dowel (easier to remove the plastic and drill the dowel directly). Insert the screw.

I did this roughly 10 years ago, the glue has since failed, but a quick tighten of the screw lines the threads up, and I'm good to go again. Wish I'd thought of this before the plastic ends broke. The screw gives the added stability.

Tara

Reply to
Tara D

The plastic ones, right Tara? That is what I was talking about. The metal ones are still going strong. I am not saying this is my fav floor stand as I have others but the ones of the metal are still usable. I think I have done this process with the hot nail through the wood and the spot is stronger than the plastic and they do not seem to break again. The metal construction was indeed superior so do not know why he went to that ----$?

Reply to
bdiane

Reply to
mmurphy

Yup, the plastic ones. While he was still in business, you could order replacement parts (as I did). I don't think I'd have half the problems today as I've lost the need for the scrolls to be drum tight. Drum tight scrolls, and bouncing cats were an inevitable catastrophe.

Tara

Reply to
Tara D

Any wing nut of the right size should work for you. You might want to get a small piece of wood with a hole to use as a washer to protect the wood from the wing nut. Take your screw part into any hardware store, and they'll be able to find something that will work.

Tara

Reply to
Tara D

I am so sorry Mary but I looked and do not have an extra. I thought perhaps I did but I guess he put no extras in there originally ... barbie

Reply to
bdiane

Thank you so much for looking! Tara's suggestion is something I never thought of- there might be a wing nut big enough in a hardware store somewhere. I will SO hit myself in the head if this solves my problem!! My Bell Pull has been sitting there washed & pressed for more than 4 years- all I have left is the backstitch vines in the borders, and I was going to replace the flower buds with beads (no confetti stitches that way), otherwise I would have finished it in hand, then washed. I've been working on little projects not requiring a scroll frame all this time. Thank you anyway for your help! MM

Reply to
mmurphy

Thank you so much for looking! Tara's suggestion is something I never thought of- there might be a wing nut big enough in a hardware store somewhere. I will SO hit myself in the head if this solves my problem!! My Bell Pull has been sitting there washed & pressed for more than 4 years- all I have left is the backstitch vines in the borders, and I was going to replace the flower buds with beads (no confetti stitches that way), otherwise I would have finished it in hand, then washed. I've been working on little projects not requiring a scroll frame all this time. Thank you anyway for your help! MM

Reply to
mmurphy

Why that double post happened I have no idea! I apologize! MM

Reply to
mmurphy

I looked inside and yes indeed I am quite sure this would work!!! You know this but do bring the metal screw with ya! barbie

Reply to
bdiane

Arrggg!! The largest metal wing nuts are too small, and a regular nut threads are too fine for the wooden threaded shaft of the frame. A 3/4" nut will fit, but it won't screw down the threads because they don't match.

Unless I can find a hardware store or source that carries obscure sizes; I bought my frame set over 20 years ago- it's all oak- no metal parts at all. Alas and Alack! >sigh< 8

Reply to
mmurphy

Oh I see the problem. You are trying to find a metal wing nut to fit a PLASTIC thread. Oh yes, impossible. I thought perhaps you had the metal version. This does sound hopeless unless you find someone with that knob.....

Reply to
bdiane

Just to clarify, you are talking about the knob that screws onto the threaded metal rod that holds the scroll frame to the vertical part of the floor stand, correct?

Couple of options still available. IIRC, there are two knobs on the bottom of the stand holding the the legs to the stand. These are the same thread as the threaded metal rod (can you tell I wore one down enough to be annoying on the upper part of the stand?). Course, that leaves you one legged, but you could find some other way to attach the leg back as it's not something you need to adjust all the time like the upper connection.

Could the threads be metric (I find that hard to fathom since Bill's Frames was in the US)?

Tara

Reply to
manderly

Actually- my entire frame, stand and scroll frame, is made of oak- the knob I need, originally, was of wood. What you are refering to as a threaded metal rod, mine is a 5/8" or so diameter WOODEN threaded rod, protruding about 3" long from the side bar of the scroll frame. You are correct in that this is the part of the scroll frame assembly that holds the frame to the vertical post of the floor stand, just mine is wooden and threaded, not metal and threaded. I got my frame set in 1984 or '85 from the back of the CSCC magazine, maybe it was Bill's original version, which later evolved into off-the-shelf metal parts. I know if I could find a cabinet-maker/wood worker with an extensive shop, I could probably have a new knob machined to fit, taking care to match the threads on my scroll frame rod. I believe on my stand that the legs knobs (again, wood to wood) are a smaller diameter, but I actually never checked I had a thought on the way to work- maybe a PVC nut (if there is such a thing) from Home Depot or Lowe's would match the wooden threads, unlike the metal threads. Hey Fred- how about a manly opinion of this hardware stuff??!! Anyway, thanks for all the ponderings on my behalf! MM

Reply to
mmurphy

Ah. got you. Mine was probably a few years later. The scroll frame has a metal nut imbedded in one side, a threaded rod that screws into that (handy actually, because you can use the scroll frame without the stand and not have anything catching threads). That goes through the holes in the floor piece. Then a wooden knob with a threaded metal (soft metal, which is why I had switch them around at one point) insert to tighten it to the floor piece. The leg pieces are the same construction, imbedded nuts, threaded rods, and wooden knobs with metal inserts.

Hence my confusion, as my knobs are also wooden, just not entirely wooden.

Good luck with your quest.

Tara

Reply to
Tara D

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