I forgot to come back and add more to the tool post. I added needle holders and some brushes to the tool kit. I found some more of the chemical cleaners mentioned on the different sewing machine groups at Yahoo.
The machines that I worked on the past month were
(1.) two Singer 221 Featherweight machines. One is having problems with the power where the plug is in the machine. I took the bottom off and really poked around and saw that the fabric covered wires under there are soaked in thick blackish oil crud. Yuck. I think that is why the machine went for relatively cheap in comparison to the others on Craigslist where I found it.
Then, (2.) a Kenmore 158.1060 and a 158.1030. Both are small portables like the Featherweights. I repaired the inside plug housing on the 1060. There are some 'ears' that stick out and the screws that hold it in place go through them. I guess the last person to tighten the screws did a too tight job and both were broken. I used clear 5-minute plastic epoxy, let it set for 24 hours and then gently put it back together. The weld did hold. Can I pat myself on the back?
(3.) Then I tried to see what was wrong with a Singer 1036 electronic machine that has a horrible growl. The motor makes the noise. I don't do sewing machine motors -- yet. That one was a throw away machine, so I just may take the motor apart. Seems to stitch OK when I tried it. I got covers off, and then made the mistake of not diagramming and taping the screws to the diagram. I did top and bottom and one on the throat area and kind of mixed them up. I finally got them all back in the right places, but I was sweating it for awhile, no kidding. I hate having pieces left over. BTW, I took pictures of the weld. May add them later on, we'll see.
The contact cement I needed was finally found at a small independent hardware store. I will be working on fixing the fabric of one of the Featherweight cases and the contact cement was recommended. I've got tooth picks, cotton swabs, and towel remnants all set to work on this. Later though, no time now. The quilt must go on.
Showing posts with label sm repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sm repair. Show all posts
12 December 2011
04 October 2011
Fixing My Featherweight's Case -- Gathering Supplies
If All Goes Well (Murphy may be lurking and we all know about Murphy's Laws, don't we?), I will start fixing the featherweight case this week. First to get pictures to show what needs fixing. I will do that later for show and tell on the next installment. Need to get the camera set up, but first I have to find it, lol.
Right now I'll explain the tools I'm gathering. This case is not terribly damaged, just some of the covering and lining is coming unglued and it needs a scrub.
For cleaning the case's outside covering, a soft rag with some water and Dawn dishwashing detergent. My kidlette's ex-boyfriend used Dawn to clean engine grease off his hands -- worked great. I've got a bag of well used, recycled t-shirts, previously cut up and saved -- now called soft rags.
Dirty scuffs can be gently cleaned with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge, going over it very gently as it can scratch smooth surfaces. I don't think it will hurt the covering in this case, but I plan to be careful. I've used this sponge successfully on a hard plastic sewing machine case where water and soap was not enough. I had asked my OSMG* what he used to clean sm cases and he said they would not clean and to let it go. I used the Magic Eraser on half the case and took it in to show him. He did not believe I had cleaned it with that.
Next I need contact cement to re-glue the loose flaps and maybe some of the interior lining at the edges. I thought finding this would be easy, but it's not. I've looked and asked at the major garden and paint stores, Wallyworld, the hardware aisles at my local markets, and at two auto parts stores -- nada. My next stop is a little family run hardware store. The owner can order some if it is not on the shelf.
More on this later, as soon as I get that contact cement.
As a side note, I will finish the FW fabric tote I started and had to abandon while my kidlette was visiting for a month. It is a tote that you put your machine in and then use the tote to lower it into the case. Keeps the machine paint from getting scratched and the bonus is that if you turn it over, it becomes a cover while the machine is sitting out to keep out dust. The tote info is here Featherweight Tote by Craftyhipster so scroll down to see that blog and her link to the instructions. She has a white FW and the case does not have a tool tray so I have to adapt her pattern by an inch or less to fit in my cases which do have the little tray.
Historical note: did you know that there are as many as five (5) different case sizes for FWs???
____________
*OSMG - old sewing machine guy/gal (except not necessarily old)
FW - featherweight
SM - sewing machine
Right now I'll explain the tools I'm gathering. This case is not terribly damaged, just some of the covering and lining is coming unglued and it needs a scrub.
For cleaning the case's outside covering, a soft rag with some water and Dawn dishwashing detergent. My kidlette's ex-boyfriend used Dawn to clean engine grease off his hands -- worked great. I've got a bag of well used, recycled t-shirts, previously cut up and saved -- now called soft rags.
Dirty scuffs can be gently cleaned with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponge, going over it very gently as it can scratch smooth surfaces. I don't think it will hurt the covering in this case, but I plan to be careful. I've used this sponge successfully on a hard plastic sewing machine case where water and soap was not enough. I had asked my OSMG* what he used to clean sm cases and he said they would not clean and to let it go. I used the Magic Eraser on half the case and took it in to show him. He did not believe I had cleaned it with that.
Next I need contact cement to re-glue the loose flaps and maybe some of the interior lining at the edges. I thought finding this would be easy, but it's not. I've looked and asked at the major garden and paint stores, Wallyworld, the hardware aisles at my local markets, and at two auto parts stores -- nada. My next stop is a little family run hardware store. The owner can order some if it is not on the shelf.
More on this later, as soon as I get that contact cement.
As a side note, I will finish the FW fabric tote I started and had to abandon while my kidlette was visiting for a month. It is a tote that you put your machine in and then use the tote to lower it into the case. Keeps the machine paint from getting scratched and the bonus is that if you turn it over, it becomes a cover while the machine is sitting out to keep out dust. The tote info is here Featherweight Tote by Craftyhipster so scroll down to see that blog and her link to the instructions. She has a white FW and the case does not have a tool tray so I have to adapt her pattern by an inch or less to fit in my cases which do have the little tray.
Historical note: did you know that there are as many as five (5) different case sizes for FWs???
____________
*OSMG - old sewing machine guy/gal (except not necessarily old)
FW - featherweight
SM - sewing machine
10 September 2011
Odd Tools for Sewing Machine Repair
'Interesting' is a word I'll use to describe my findings while perusing other folks' vintage sewing machine repair blogs. Maybe my juvenile 'Wow' is better.
Besides the normal tools for sewing machine repair, today I learned I might or probably will need wood dowels, deep kitchen trash cans, egg cartons or ice cube trays, and patience. The last one is gonna take me down, I just know it! OK, the what for:
dowels for knocking out some parts from inside the machine head;
deep trash cans for soaking machine heads in copious amounts of either kerosene or Evapo-rust;
egg cartons or ice cube trays for keeping small parts in the order you took them off;
patience for waiting for chemicals like kerosene, break-free, evapo-rust, or various blasters to do their work when wiggling, pushing, lifting, gentle tapping and choice words won't work right now.
What are normal tools? How about things like
screwdrivers - both long and stubby, straight and angled,
rubber mallet,
carpet piece or placemat,
wrenches, allen wrenches,
cotton tipped swabs - the industrial ones with wood handles are best,
pliers, leather scraps,
soft rags,
sewing machine oil, tri-flow,
plastic bags,
tool boxes or carry bags,
brushes, and a
camera - hopefully with close up capability.
I'll add more when I remember them or look through my kit. Now, if I can do it I'll try to post a pic of a hefty tool kit. I took the Ray White repair class at Cathy Nelson's and I shot a picture of her tool kit. You need muscles to lift it and that is just the little one.
Besides the normal tools for sewing machine repair, today I learned I might or probably will need wood dowels, deep kitchen trash cans, egg cartons or ice cube trays, and patience. The last one is gonna take me down, I just know it! OK, the what for:
dowels for knocking out some parts from inside the machine head;
deep trash cans for soaking machine heads in copious amounts of either kerosene or Evapo-rust;
egg cartons or ice cube trays for keeping small parts in the order you took them off;
patience for waiting for chemicals like kerosene, break-free, evapo-rust, or various blasters to do their work when wiggling, pushing, lifting, gentle tapping and choice words won't work right now.
What are normal tools? How about things like
screwdrivers - both long and stubby, straight and angled,
rubber mallet,
carpet piece or placemat,
wrenches, allen wrenches,
cotton tipped swabs - the industrial ones with wood handles are best,
pliers, leather scraps,
soft rags,
sewing machine oil, tri-flow,
plastic bags,
tool boxes or carry bags,
brushes, and a
camera - hopefully with close up capability.
I'll add more when I remember them or look through my kit. Now, if I can do it I'll try to post a pic of a hefty tool kit. I took the Ray White repair class at Cathy Nelson's and I shot a picture of her tool kit. You need muscles to lift it and that is just the little one.
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