Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
03-30-2013, 05:50 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
Knobs rant - don't read this if you like have all working knob - ARGH knobs...
I'm betting every Kenmore I've seen in the last 2 years has had at least one stuck knob if not all. Some stick so the knob doesn't move. Some stick so the knob moves but they don't activate reverse. Some knobs don't have a place to park the set screw so it turns freely on the stuck shaft. Some do move. Some turn part way some actually work after a bit of coaxing. Some might work if there was any access to the stupid part it turns way in the bowels of the machine. Some sweet day I may just line them up in the back yard and threaten them with a fire breathing torch or at least a hairdryer. OOPS... Seems like some of those knobs are plastic. Some have no set screw to remove the knobs. There is access behind and under on a very small portion of Kenmore knobs. KNOBS... Guess what I was doing today.
I'm betting every Kenmore I've seen in the last 2 years has had at least one stuck knob if not all. Some stick so the knob doesn't move. Some stick so the knob moves but they don't activate reverse. Some knobs don't have a place to park the set screw so it turns freely on the stuck shaft. Some do move. Some turn part way some actually work after a bit of coaxing. Some might work if there was any access to the stupid part it turns way in the bowels of the machine. Some sweet day I may just line them up in the back yard and threaten them with a fire breathing torch or at least a hairdryer. OOPS... Seems like some of those knobs are plastic. Some have no set screw to remove the knobs. There is access behind and under on a very small portion of Kenmore knobs. KNOBS... Guess what I was doing today.
03-30-2013, 06:57 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
WORK LIGHT
We spent the evening looking for a work light at 3 box stores. I have a stupid LED light I sort of have a love hate thing going with it. The light is fine when it works. It goes out at whim though. Some times if I move the cord it works some times I have to stay busy with the cord a while and it works. The lamp has a clamp on one end and some good light on the other. It is almost long enough most of the time. Anyway in my search for a perfect light, I went to 3 stores and eliminated most of the illuminationers. I don't have air conditioning so I don't want halogen light. But those weren't all that flexible anyway. I want something I don't have to hold and is easy to position. I came up blank. I saw a desk light that sort of might work but it only takes a 40 watt bulb. There are some cool lights out there but not what I wanted. At this point I'm thinking I might have to do some kind of redneck thing with duct tape and a stick... clothes line and a clamp light on a hook from somewhere? I have a few really cool flash lights but they do keep one hand busy - I need both hands to do much. Somewhere, I have an old work light that clamps on the table and swings around and adjusts - about the time I get busy it droops - that's why it is somewhere.... DH suggested I need a head light. I'm not to vane for it, but I'm betting I would have about as much luck getting that aimed as the stupid light that keeps going out. What do you use???
We spent the evening looking for a work light at 3 box stores. I have a stupid LED light I sort of have a love hate thing going with it. The light is fine when it works. It goes out at whim though. Some times if I move the cord it works some times I have to stay busy with the cord a while and it works. The lamp has a clamp on one end and some good light on the other. It is almost long enough most of the time. Anyway in my search for a perfect light, I went to 3 stores and eliminated most of the illuminationers. I don't have air conditioning so I don't want halogen light. But those weren't all that flexible anyway. I want something I don't have to hold and is easy to position. I came up blank. I saw a desk light that sort of might work but it only takes a 40 watt bulb. There are some cool lights out there but not what I wanted. At this point I'm thinking I might have to do some kind of redneck thing with duct tape and a stick... clothes line and a clamp light on a hook from somewhere? I have a few really cool flash lights but they do keep one hand busy - I need both hands to do much. Somewhere, I have an old work light that clamps on the table and swings around and adjusts - about the time I get busy it droops - that's why it is somewhere.... DH suggested I need a head light. I'm not to vane for it, but I'm betting I would have about as much luck getting that aimed as the stupid light that keeps going out. What do you use???
03-30-2013, 06:58 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Cadillac, MI
Posts: 6,487
You're telling me that if I ever get my 1961 Kenmore dug out that at least one of her knobs will stick. I'd settle for that if she'd hold a tension - that's why she was retired in 1973. Okay, got it.
How about a rechargeable work light? The one I bought my son is super bright.
How about a rechargeable work light? The one I bought my son is super bright.
Last edited by irishrose; 03-30-2013 at 07:14 PM.
03-30-2013, 07:03 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
I'm to the point I just take the tensions apart whether they need it or not, clean and re-assemble. I had one on a clone today - someone sprung the spring at an odd angle so I had to swap it out. At least there is access to tensions most of the time.
That same machine drove me crazy - I got things cleaned up - re did the tension then thought I would test it out. YIKES. That machine screams and belches smoke. The noise is coming from the nose end. I oiled and oiled. The motor is good - no smoke or screaming there. I ran the thing so hard at one point smoke was coming out the nose area as it screamed. The motor is good. Good tension. Badly bent throat plate. Pretty blue clone. I guess I should put a hand crank on it and save the motor... I wonder if I need to soak the nose in transmission fluid like Joe does. What does transmission fluid do to beautiful blue paint?
That same machine drove me crazy - I got things cleaned up - re did the tension then thought I would test it out. YIKES. That machine screams and belches smoke. The noise is coming from the nose end. I oiled and oiled. The motor is good - no smoke or screaming there. I ran the thing so hard at one point smoke was coming out the nose area as it screamed. The motor is good. Good tension. Badly bent throat plate. Pretty blue clone. I guess I should put a hand crank on it and save the motor... I wonder if I need to soak the nose in transmission fluid like Joe does. What does transmission fluid do to beautiful blue paint?
Last edited by miriam; 03-30-2013 at 07:07 PM.
03-30-2013, 07:04 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: San francisco Bay Area
Posts: 249
Laura
03-30-2013, 07:09 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
Glenn is going to come back up here - I need to solder. Maybe we can solder the stupid lamp cord.
03-30-2013, 07:12 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: San francisco Bay Area
Posts: 249
WORK LIGHT
We spent the evening looking for a work light at 3 box stores. I have a stupid LED light I sort of have a love hate thing going with it.t to vane for it, but I'm betting I would have about as much luck getting that aimed as the stupid light that keeps going out. What do you use???
We spent the evening looking for a work light at 3 box stores. I have a stupid LED light I sort of have a love hate thing going with it.t to vane for it, but I'm betting I would have about as much luck getting that aimed as the stupid light that keeps going out. What do you use???
I like it for both sewing and on my work bench. Really heavy base. They make a clip one, but I don't like it. Laura
03-30-2013, 07:15 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
I use this IKEA light http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/pr...233/#/20169658
I like it for both sewing and on my work bench. Really heavy base. They make a clip one, but I don't like it. Laura
I like it for both sewing and on my work bench. Really heavy base. They make a clip one, but I don't like it. Laura
03-30-2013, 07:25 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10180977/
Bah ha ha ha - this one would be the bomb if it wouldn't take up too much space on the bench...
Bah ha ha ha - this one would be the bomb if it wouldn't take up too much space on the bench...
03-30-2013, 10:47 PM
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 1,222
I was going to suggest this one as well. It works great.
I use this IKEA light http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/pr...233/#/20169658
I like it for both sewing and on my work bench. Really heavy base. They make a clip one, but I don't like it. Laura
I like it for both sewing and on my work bench. Really heavy base. They make a clip one, but I don't like it. Laura
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Stitchnripper
Main
5
10-17-2018 09:01 AM
AngieS
Main
38
10-06-2011 10:06 PM
craftybear
Offline Events, Announcements, Discussions
34
09-09-2011 12:36 PM
