Welcome CSM Owner!

CSM Start Page 1

How to connect with others in your area…

You’ve bought a Circular Sock Knitting machine and now have questions and concerns. You’ve come to the right place.

JOIN A CSM SOCIETY: Sign up for a 3-year Sock Knitting Maching Society membership - CSKMS

GO TO A CSM EVENT: See the CSKMS.org website and/or here on my site for listed events. What should/could you bring if you attend an event?

CONNECT WITH OTHERS ONLINE/LOCALLY:

• join the CSKMS society above you will be able to search their database for persons listed in your area,

• add yourself (to also then get access to others) listed in the FREE International CSM Directory

• join online CSM groups (see this page) and note where members are posting from.

USING YOUR MACHINE - WHAT TABLE CAN YOU USE?

It sounds silly but how you work on your machine - where it’s setup on a stand or table is very important.
Table considerations: Where you intend on setting up your CSM? If your CSM setup area is permanent or Temporary? Would you prefer a permanent table or a table to travel by car with? Will you want a table that can be raised so you can stand or a table you just want to sit at?

Certainly you COULD clamp your machine to your kitchen table (if its 1.5'‘ or thinner) however you might consider protecting the underside with a thin sheet of metal so that the wood doesn’t get chewed up by the screws.

My first home setup was in the living room which went great until I needed to move all for visitors to sleep over on our pull out couch. I then moved to a permanent setup using a bookcase and desk to make a computer access/CSM station (which I use now). The last two images on the right are my minimal event setup. How much space you need or want, how many storage areas etc, depends purely on your preference. Ensure your setup is stable and won’t tip or be knocked over.

See the diverse TABLES AND STANDS on MY IDEAS AND UPGRADES page

FOR PHOTOS AND MORE TABLE INFO SEE THE MAIN INDEX - TABLES

GENERALLY as a fail-safe table I recommend:

• I highly recommend an inexpensive workmate/workbench hardware store table for a quick option for your machine. You can use it as it is - you don’t have to upgrade the table in any way.

• My original stand was a bar stool - I made a cutout and counter-weighted it to try to make it more stable - I later widened the base and increased the top for more work area. I do not recommend a basic stool as its still easy to tip accidentally (compared to other options out there).

• The adjustable RIDGID table frame is VERY popular (shown in the living room setup photos). One can buy the frame from most hardware stores, from eBay or from Amazon. By adding a table top and diagonal tension parts its an easy table that can fold mostly flat and be raised or lowered as desired. See my INDEX page under “Tables” for more info.

Now that we’ve addressed where to attach your CSM safely,

lets continue.

If you can swing it do try to make it to a CSM event (often referred to as a “Crank-In”). What you will learn by being among so many other CSM users is invaluable and will instill in you a community feeling. When attending any event take it upon yourself to approach others to network. See this page for an outline as to what to bring to an event. (Always ask the host for any venue specifics)

An event attendee once shared that she didn’t want to attend another event as the last one she attended she hadn’t found the others in the late evening to be very sociable in the communal sleeping quarters. When asked if she had approached them during the event (not at sleeping time - perhaps all were tired?) she had related she had expected others to approach her and that because they hadn’t during the event she felt she had a bad experience and didn’t want to attend another event. Take charge!

Obtain a written Manual for your Machine

To help you with this please see this dedicated page on CSM Manuals. Focus on identifying the parts of your machine and how they fit together. WHEN you have a question you will better be able to explain what that issue is if you can identify the components - also taking the time to be familiar with your machine will means confidence and awareness of the machine gaining the ability to identify when something needs help or adjustment (or oil!). Do not expect to know all and learn all in an evening.

Oil!

What kind of luberication does the CSM need?

Generally we tend to recommend Oil that washes out of knitwear, that isn’t toxic to handle and which does NOT go rancid - this is SEWING MACHINE oil. A dispenser with a spout helps a lot!

“How much oil do I add to the machine and where? Do I need to take it apart to oil?”

More oil is better than less as oil being added to a machine that’s been used can help clear out used oil already in a crevasse However you really don’t need much. My rule I follow is to oil any metal rubbing metal area and I find oiling the machine when fully assembled works best for me. Oil, will travel with gravity and use, and will accumulate in the lower areas

BE SURE to protect your floor under the machine from weight and oil drops!

See SUPPLIES I LIKE and MY IDEAS AND UPGRADES

DISASSEMBLE YOUR MACHINE

Welcome - I’ve now added two a new Open CAM videos with a dissembled first approach. Please see the Chambord CSM Upgraded Hybrid CSM and/or the 1893 Gearhart instructional videos.

By taking the time to become familiar with the parts of your machines and their names, you will gain confidence and the ability to problem solve or have the right lingo to ask questions online. This is essential! However I recommend to consider not dismantling the parts of the tension dial or ribber dial (small screws) though unless you’re more experienced.

About OPEN CAM machines (like AutoKnitters, the Cooperative CSM, the Money Maker CSM, vintage Gearhart and modern Erlbacher machines): If correctly assembled and attempting to later cast on and noting the needles aren’t correctly going high enough to release the trapped latch - the needles aren’t correctly moving to create a stitch (with the machine at the correct tension), there’s a high probability the upthrow cams or cam lifters, the things that look like a teardrop, are riding on top of the needle butts instead of below.

If 6 needles are lifted out of action, crank slowly forward, this allows the cams to drop down. Once these needles are free of this area they should be pushed down into working position, knitting can proceed. See the upthrow cam video.

See the AUTOKNITTER page.

If the machine is cranked backwards this can happen, the one downside to machines like these. Once this is understood it rarely happens again. It is not a fault of the machine just a learning moment. This is never an issue with CLOSED CAM machines like the Legare. See the LEGARE page.

Even if you have a machine that doesn’t resemble either of these machines, most CSMS have similar components and many of the parts function the same. Please take the time here to apply the knowledge as it pertains to your own CSM. Don’t jump ahead.

Onwards to the next page CSM Start 2

THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. Please stay tuned.