Cleaning and repairing the Shellac clear coat on Vintage sewing machine heads
03-19-2018, 12:57 PM
#664
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Paradise, Texas
Posts: 916
04-21-2018, 06:45 PM
#666
Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Central NY
Posts: 2
Greetings Everyone.............
As I stand before the group I can clearly say.... My name is Stephen and I have a new addiction!!
This all started about a month ago when I found a 1948 Singer 15-91 in our basement that we were given as a gift 9 years ago - AND NEVER OPENED IT. It's a looong story.
The 15-91 cleaned up beautifully and no shellac repair was needed. Mechanically in excellent condition and if anything, was dry. And yes, I did tear apart the motor and rebuilt it. For the longest time I thought it had never been used. Refinished the cabinet - Such beautiful wood.
Somewhere along the line I started hanging out on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and YouTube more than previously normal. Hours upon hours upon hours I tell ya...... OHHH - Look!!! A 1949 201-2 at a great price. And even more stories that can be told later. (Shhhh - I looked at a 301A today and will be picking up a empty 301 cabinet tomorrow with the cradle installed for dirt cheap)
The 201-2 was mechanically perfect and yet I still did a almost complete tear-down. But the finish had an issue. (Finally he got to the point.....)
I have no questions at the moment as I am about to start the French Polish process. Something I have never done before. After many many hours I have painstakingly removed most all of the shellac, square inch by square inch. What this thread has done is boost a little bit of confidence.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]593338[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]593339[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]593340[/ATTACH]
Stephen
As I stand before the group I can clearly say.... My name is Stephen and I have a new addiction!!
This all started about a month ago when I found a 1948 Singer 15-91 in our basement that we were given as a gift 9 years ago - AND NEVER OPENED IT. It's a looong story.
The 15-91 cleaned up beautifully and no shellac repair was needed. Mechanically in excellent condition and if anything, was dry. And yes, I did tear apart the motor and rebuilt it. For the longest time I thought it had never been used. Refinished the cabinet - Such beautiful wood.
Somewhere along the line I started hanging out on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and YouTube more than previously normal. Hours upon hours upon hours I tell ya...... OHHH - Look!!! A 1949 201-2 at a great price. And even more stories that can be told later. (Shhhh - I looked at a 301A today and will be picking up a empty 301 cabinet tomorrow with the cradle installed for dirt cheap)
The 201-2 was mechanically perfect and yet I still did a almost complete tear-down. But the finish had an issue. (Finally he got to the point.....)
I have no questions at the moment as I am about to start the French Polish process. Something I have never done before. After many many hours I have painstakingly removed most all of the shellac, square inch by square inch. What this thread has done is boost a little bit of confidence.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]593338[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]593339[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]593340[/ATTACH]
Stephen
04-22-2018, 12:46 AM
#667
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 442
Welcome Stephen the wood on the cabinet is beautiful.
In one year you must report your sewing machine count.
If you do any maintenance on fire arms you will find the screw drivers work great for the sewing machines also. There is a long history of sewing machines and fire arms together.
In one year you must report your sewing machine count.
If you do any maintenance on fire arms you will find the screw drivers work great for the sewing machines also. There is a long history of sewing machines and fire arms together.
04-22-2018, 06:11 PM
#668
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ubiquitous
Posts: 94
Very true. Providence Tool designed and manufactured the Peabody rifle starting in the 1860s, and turned to sewing machines when they weren't paid for a large order of the guns. Remington, Vickers, Husqvarna... all made arms before sewing machines. Even Singer made guns several times, both in and out of wartime.
04-23-2018, 04:22 AM
#670
Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Central NY
Posts: 2
Started the French Polish process last night.
I have a lot to learn!!! Not happy with the finish at the moment. Lots of streaks and swirl marks. Very delicate balance when it comes to the Shellac, Alcohol, and Oil. Using 100% Cotton Lint Free cloth to create the Rubber and packed with T-Shirt material. Loaded with approximately 50% Shellac and 50% Denatured Alcohol. Recharging as needed and adding a drop of Boiled Linseed Oil as needed.
I do understand that the goal is many many very thin layers.
Stephen
I have a lot to learn!!! Not happy with the finish at the moment. Lots of streaks and swirl marks. Very delicate balance when it comes to the Shellac, Alcohol, and Oil. Using 100% Cotton Lint Free cloth to create the Rubber and packed with T-Shirt material. Loaded with approximately 50% Shellac and 50% Denatured Alcohol. Recharging as needed and adding a drop of Boiled Linseed Oil as needed.
I do understand that the goal is many many very thin layers.
Stephen
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