Bennett

Don't be modest, ha ha! :) I think that's great for $15. The knee bar can be hard to find if lost, so that's good. Plus it has those beautiful La Vencindora (sp?) decals. Lovely machine.

Bennett

I (very carefully) used the cleaning tutorials put up here by Billy. I did have a spot where I tested the Goop, and it did eventually start to rub away some of the decals.

On the back where it was very, very grimy, I did brush some kerosene on it during its "spa" treatment to see if that would loosen it up a bit. Again, the Goop works, just had to be careful in the spots with the decals and go slowly. I would take some on my fingers and rub it around, working in a small section at a time. Then when the Goop (and my fingers) had picked up some grime, I'd wipe it all off with a cotton ball. I think putting it on with my fingers was a little less abrasive than using just the cotton (but I could just be convincing myself of this). When the decals started to show, I had to be extra careful and not do much more.

The final sheen came from Billy's suggestion of Liquid Gold. I put one light coat on, waited a day, then put on another coat.

The silvery pieces were scrubbed in kerosene to remove the brown oily grime. Then I soaked a few in Evaporust to remove some final bits of corrosion. The final step was a polish with the Mother's.

Nothing new, just following what others on the board have talked about. :)

miriam

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/atq/2646740163.html
I wonder if you can wash your quilt as you sew?

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/atq/2642509378.html
optimist?

Glenn

That is really great but I know someone who good use the irons
Glenn

miriam

http://chambana.craigslist.org/art/2621056357.html
This yard sale is in Illinois

chris_quilts

Beautiful!!! Wish I could go for it!!!

chris_quilts

Sorry for double post!

Honchey

Hi, Is there any hope for this machine???
Apparently someone dropped it and the bottom part of the case cracked in many pieces. The metal parts on the outside are rusting. The handwheel turns and the needlebar does move but I haven't turned it a full cycle. It's not sitting in the case correctly because of all the cracks. It's also missing the rubber from the bobbin winder, bobbin case and slide plate.
What should I use to clean the rust spots on the outside of the machine...???
It's still sitting in the trunk of my car....Our town is having Bulk Pick Up next week and I found it in a trash pile. It does have a few attachments but the cardboard box they came in was so moldy the mold puffed all over the place when I open it up..I had to throw it away...it practically disintegrated! I don't know where to start :(

miriam

Start with research... My sister has a couple of those pretty cool little Singer 185 machines. If it is a 285 throw it out. Parts are available. It looks like it has a drop in bobbin - no bobbin case needed. You can buy the tires from Sew - Classic and she has good bobbins. There is a nice tutorial on here by Muv. She put together some real good videos. Here is a link to one. http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-155695-1.htm There are other resources on this board as well. That machine does not need an all out strip down to be made to work. Watch Muv's videos and if you still have questions I would be glad to answer. Her machine is not identical by any means but the principles are absolutely the same. There are a couple other resources available as well.
Here is one you can print out. http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/ I've learned a lot from them. And here is another. http://vssmb.blogspot.com/ very good information - if you can sew and follow a pattern you can restore that machine. You really don't have anything to lose so why not try?

miriam

There is a Singer 185 for sale in Phoenix, Az CL no picture though.