Iron Lady, Day Three: Comparisons

Tuesday afternoon I had a chance to spend a couple hours working on cleaning the machine head.  I've put together the before/after pictures as best I could.  I would like to think I'm a better artist than I am a photographer since I didn't match up my before/after shots very well.

The face-plate on the machine is very pretty.  I could have scrubbed some more, but figured I had gotten the worst of it off.  At least the screw heads are clean.

I didn't get as much of the old, dry and caked oil off the tension disks as some other areas, but they are clean on the inside.  I think it looks much better, though.

I was really surprised to see how much nicer the decals look in the after picture.  Sure shined up that cover plate, but the decals are really showing now.

I didn't get all of the rust off of the hand-wheel, but I managed to get most of it.  Such a pretty little thing, isn't she?

I didn't get every bit off the underside, but I did spend some time cleaning up the worst of it.  I was really lucky to find a machine where everything moved, so I'm not going to complain about a little dried oil that doesn't affect operation.

This picture is a little weird, since I took one from each side of the machine.  I'm just happy I didn't damage the decals in my cleaning.  This is the decal in the center of the machine bed.

I realized, after some cleaning, that I had read the serial number incorrectly.  It doesn't change her age or place of birth, but it is nice to know I have the right number written down in my records.

I thought this one of the stitch-length adjustment screw and the bobbin winder was the most dramatic.  Surface rust removed and everything oiled up.  I am overly excited about seeing a bobbin wound on this machine.  Silly, but I'm still excited.

All that remains is to set her back in the cabinet, attach the belt and do some test sewing.  Since I moved every adjustment screw all the way out and all the way in while cleaning and oiling, I'm sure it will take me a little while to get her stitching predictably.

My references for this project include:

The Treadle Lady
Web:  http://treadlelady.com
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TreadleLady

Our Handmade Home
Blog:  http://our-handmade-home.blogspot.com/p/singer-sewing-machine.html

Granny Miller:  A Journal of Agrarian Life & Skills
Blog:  http://www.granny-miller.com/

A-1 Sewing Machine Specialists
Singer No. 66 Manual:  http://www.a1sewingmachine.com/manuals/66.pdf

I am not an expert at refinishing.  I am not an expert and sewing machine care or maintenance.  I am a quilter, sewer and sewing machine enthusiast.  My goal is a working treadle sewing machine.

Iron Lady Day One - Cleaning up the cabinet and base

Iron Lady Day Two - The before pictures.

Iron Lady Day Three - Comparisons

Iron Lady, Day Two: The before pictures.

This post is going to be filled with some before pictures.  This is going to take a while to work through, so I don't expect much in the way of glamor shots for a while.  For the record, if you see something that looks like rust, it is more likely dirty oil that is really stuck on.  Only a few spots on this machine are really rusty.  They aren't spots that will affect the function, so I'm going to just clean them up as best I can and get her sewing.  The old, dirty, stuck on oil I'm going to do my best to remove.

The underside looks good overall, but does need a good cleaning.  I'm not interested in learning how to set timing, so I'm not going to take anything timing-related apart.

She looks so small when you remove her from the case.

The bobbin tire is dry-rotted and flat on one side.  I ordered some replacements.  They arrived today in the mail along with some extra bobbins.  I have plenty of plastic bobbins to fit a 66, but wanted the metal bobbins.  There is some rust on the bobbin gearing, but nothing that will likely keep me from winding bobbins.  I really want to see this one wind a bobbin.  I've seen a couple on the internet, but I want to see my machine do it.

The top tensioner is really gunked up with old oil.  The disks are actually very clean inside.

I love the scroll-work on the face plate.

A little bit of rust on the balance-wheel and the stop-motion screw, but they both do the jobs they were intended to do, so it isn't an issue.

Look, more fancy work on the back.  I'm sure I can get this piece to shine, too.  Behind that plate everything looks pretty good.  Getting everything lubed up so no gunk slows her down will be the best thing.

For the most part, the surface and the decals are in pretty good shape.  This is likely the worst single spot on the machine.  Since my main purpose for this machine is the ability to sew even without power, this is just not an issue for me.  I will admit I love how the red is a deep, turkey red.

Here are most of  my tools for this project.  The most important things, which aren't on the table, are my two hands and the willingness to spend the time cleaning her up.  I suppose I could have just done some oiling, put the belt on and got sewing, but I would really like to give her the best opportunity to shine.

My references for this project include:

The Treadle Lady
Web:  http://treadlelady.com
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TreadleLady

Our Handmade Home
Blog:  http://our-handmade-home.blogspot.com/p/singer-sewing-machine.html

Granny Miller:  A Journal of Agrarian Life & Skills
Blog:  http://www.granny-miller.com/


A-1 Sewing Machine Specialists
Singer No. 66 Manual:  http://www.a1sewingmachine.com/manuals/66.pdf

I am not an expert at refinishing.  I am not an expert and sewing machine care or maintenance.  I am a quilter, sewer and sewing machine enthusiast.  My goal is a working treadle sewing machine.

Iron Lady Day One - Cleaning up the cabinet and base

Iron Lady Day Two - The before pictures

Iron Lady Day Three - Comparisons

Iron Lady, Day One: Cleaning up the cabinet and base.

Day one was very productive.  Likely the most productive day I'll have during this entire process.  I just won't have another dedicated day until next weekend.  

Step one:  figure out how to remove the machine head from the cabinet.  Seems easy enough, right?  Actually, it wasn't very difficult.  Two little set screws, one that wasn't even very tight, was all it took to lift the machine right off the hinges.  Getting it back onto those pins will likely require another set of hands.

This is probably the best 'before' picture of the top finish I took.  The day was rainy and overcast and all these were taken either in natural light, such as it was, or with the flash.

I sat down and wiped the cast iron base with my machine-oil-soaked rag.  This removed dust and gave the finish a nice shine. 

Isn't that pretty?  After I brought her home, and did some more research, I realized I do not have the belt shifter.  I will have to do some homework to find one to replace it.  I don't need it to sew, but it would be nice to have to lower the machine into the cabinet.

There was only one spot that needed to be glued.  The veneer on the bottom of the front plate was peeling back from the plywood core.  Since this piece holds the machine when it is in the sewing position, I wanted to make sure I addressed it.  I completely removed the cabinet from the base.  This let me oil all the moving bits, turn the base upside down to oil the wheels (one wheel will never turn again as the pin has completely rusted and the wheel is totally seized).  To make sure the oil got worked in I pumped for a few seconds after adding oil to each moving part.  She just hums along, no squeaks or jumps or starts.

I didn't use a board to keep from creating tool marks with my clamps.  These plastic clamps don't really have that much oomph, so I just went for it.  I applied too much glue, and ended up wiping a bunch away after clamping.  At least I know there was enough glue.

I cleaned all of the wood cabinet and used Restore-A-Finish to clean up and cover some of the blemishes.  The final step was a coat of wax.  I will likely wax again tomorrow to deepen the shine.  When I put on the wax, the wood just sucked it up.  I even waxed the undersides and inside the machine head storage space.  I don't want them to shine, but I do want them to be protected.

She isn't perfect, but she does look healthier than she did. 

I'm really looking forward to the next part of this journey.  I'll be working on the machine head next.  Cleaning off the old, yellowed oil and making sure she is ready to sew.  I anticipate the machine head taking most of the week.  I might bet get to sew next weekend. 

My references for this project include:

The Treadle Lady
Web:  http://treadlelady.com
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TreadleLady

Our Handmade Home
Blog:  http://our-handmade-home.blogspot.com/p/singer-sewing-machine.html

Granny Miller:  A Journal of Agrarian Life & Skills
Blog:  http://www.granny-miller.com/

I am not an expert at refinishing.  I am not an expert and sewing machine care or maintenance.  I am a quilter, sewer and sewing machine enthusiast.  My goal is a working treadle sewing machine.

Iron Lady Day One - Cleaning up the cabinet and base

Iron Lady Day Two - The before pictures

Iron Lady Day Three - Comparisons

Iron Lady, beginnings

First, let me say I'm sorry about the lighting. Second, this is why I have been so quiet the last week.

I have been scouring the Internet, doing my homework, shopping for supplies and picking up my first treadle.

Her birthday was October 29th, 1919.  Born in Elizabeth, NJ.

I have my work cut out for me. I'm looking forward to cleaning her up, replacing the belt and stitching. I'll take pictures along the way to document. This is my first, so I hope I don't muck up too badly.

Have you ever refinished an Iron Lady? Do you have a treadle at home? Is she collecting dust or do you take her for an occasional Sunday spin?

Links to the other parts.

Iron Lady Day One - Cleaning up the cabinet and base

Iron Lady Day Two - The before pictures.

Iron Lady Day Three - Comparisons