Community / Sewing /
1263
by smokeythecat 20 Mar 2018 ( edited Mar 21'18 04:23 )
+35

Ugh, cleaning the old machine. <br /><br />

The presser foot on my Singer 99 was lowering really slowly so I've taken out the presser bar and it's soaking in kerosene (nasty nasty stuff) to scrub later. I also cleaned the holes it goes through. I'm mad that the shop's "premium service" on an 84 year old machine doesn't include un gumming everything. And I had to twist q tips dipped in alcohol in and out of one of the oil holes so I could screw in the seam guide I got. I need to do the other ones but didn't feel like it tonight. Then tomorrow I might wipe the dirt off the outside so eventually I can put on new clear coat cause the old shellac is all gross and flaking off. Oil is like my least favorite thing to have on my hands so this has been an Ordeal. Oh I also have to clean out the grease ports on the motor and put new grease in there and it should run better. It sucks cause I wanna sew with it :/

Comments (9)
66927
by graceandham 20 Mar 2018
+8
You are either a lot older than I thought or your dad repaired machines? I wouldn't begin to know to do all this, much less HOW to do it. Bravo!
2 comments
by smokeythecat 20 Mar 2018
Nope im 19 :P Ive been reading about it. Plus the old machines are a lot easier to take apart than new ones
by graceandham 20 Mar 2018
Wow! Self-trained!
234507
by pennifold 20 Mar 2018
+5
Well done you! I can't even open my machine and have to always take it to my dealer! Those old Singers I must say are beautiful though! Love Chris
318555
by dragonflyer 20 Mar 2018
+3
Well done...and so much for Premium service! It will be a gem when you are done!
14637
by kustomkuddle 20 Mar 2018
+5
I'm very impressed. I wouldn't know how to do any of that. You go girl! It will all be worth it when you are done with it.
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by crafter2243 20 Mar 2018
+3
Good for you. With the newer machines you are not even allowed to oil them. Itcosts a fortune to have them serviced.
1263
by smokeythecat 20 Mar 2018
+4
The kerosene cleaning on the presser bar worked!
115778
by asterixsew 20 Mar 2018
+3
Hi sounds like you have been busy working on your Singer. I have cleaned up a couple of old machines and its good to get them back up and working well again. What are you hoping to sew and how is Smokey? Take care and don't leave it so long before you post again but then I expect college is keeping you busy.
1 comment
by smokeythecat 21 Mar 2018
I'm making a quilt with a panel I got from my grandma. Smokey is jealous and keeps sitting on the fabric or my hands when I'm trying to sew.
29726
by babash 20 Mar 2018
+1
Good for you. Worth getting your hands dirty to have a machine that works when you want it to.
1263
by smokeythecat 21 Mar 2018
+3
I put petroleum jelly in the motor ports and managed to not get it on anything. I sewed the first border around the center panel of my quilt. I didn't do anything to it but the clutch wheel is being weird now and won't release properly so it was sewing while I wound bobbins ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (well now I've been messing with it but haven't figured out how to fix it)
But since the new grease in the motor it isn't getting stopped by the bobbin winder being engaged anymore, and the vintage bobbins I got on ebay are working a lot better than the plastic ones from the store. And everybody knows singer's new metal bobbins are terrible