Tag Archives: repair

3D Printing, Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Pfaff Power Switches coming back!

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I alluded to this in my previous post.  A number of years ago, the power switches for the Pfaff 1222 type machines went “NLA” or No Longer Available.  As usually happens, it takes a while for existing stock to disappear so many of us didn’t know until it was too late.  Around the middle of 2020, it finally happened.   Not long after my first order went unfilled, I started playing with the idea of rebuilding the switches.  The reason being that it’s a single piece of (sometimes 40+ year old) injection molded plastic that fails.  Every single time. Could it be 3D printed? After all, several years ago, I’d determined that the rest of the switch is high quality, modular and relatively easy to rebuild. In October of 2020, I received 4 Pfaff 1222 machines in for service and you guessed it, there was a broken switch among them and I had no more switches in stock.

After a series of unfortunate (family/personal) events that Fall, I finally began on Christmas Day 2020, and by a couple of days into the New Year, I had a working design and it took me about 15 minutes to disassemble the machine, disassemble the unnecessarily complex switch, replace the defective part, reassemble the switch and the machine.   This could be a viable solution! The problem was Continue reading Pfaff Power Switches coming back! →

Home, Life, Photography, Spinning

Rain Against My Window and also reviving some Sweet Memories

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Rain Against My Window (And in the basement)

In the several months since I last posted, a few things have changed. I mentioned previously that I’d started to digitize my negatives.  Well, OK, I’d made a false start in 2021.  In February-ish, I started again and this time, I got through the entire 222 archival sheets of negatives.  About a third of the way through, my ancient Minolta Dimage Scan Multi 2 film scanner started giving warnings that bulb failure was imminent.  This is a (mostly) irreplaceable part.  I did find a thread on photo.net that discussed building one and even provided the source for the CFL tube.

At that point, I wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of possibly shorting or frying something with my seriously rusty electronics soldering skills*.  Nor did I love that the bulb site provided moneygram, western union or a Paypal transfer address options instead of a proper purchasing route.  So I opted to hold off and see if the bulb survived the project.  In retrospect though this may have been self-sabotage.

(*Skills I got to dust off soon afterwards when Continue reading Rain Against My Window and also reviving some Sweet Memories →

Fibre, Knitting, Life, Spinning

Keeps on turning – some equipment restoration

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Along with the Shetland fleece I posted about the other day, a skein winder and a spinning wheel arrived at the house.  Both were in dire need of some attention.  Based on what I was told, the skein winder may be turn of the century.  I suspect it was made in someone’s garage or barn from found wood as it’s a mix of several different species but it’s well made and the mortise and tenons are well executed either way.

It does have a maker’s mark but it was barely visible when the winder arrived.   Click on the pic to see the full reason why.  Continue reading Keeps on turning – some equipment restoration →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Reader Mail – January 2022 edition – Slant-o-matic spring gone rogue

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Probably every couple of years, I get this question.  It goes something like this:

“I opened up the top of my machine, and I found a spring laying in the bottom.  Where does it go? ”

The machines in question are usually the Singer 401/403/500/503/411/421/431 and some of the related machines.

This is what the spring looks like.

Continue reading Reader Mail – January 2022 edition – Slant-o-matic spring gone rogue →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Never Know Unless You Give It A Try – Replacement Featherweight Bobbin Cases

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Around 2 months ago, I received 3 Singer featherweight 221/222 (and 301) bobbin cases from my Canadian parts supplier.  The cases varied in quality and perhaps accordingly in price.  They’re also 3 of the cases most commonly seen in the wild when someone goes looking for a featherweight bobbin case.  Like me, you’ve probably read a lot about variable quality and about some not fitting at all, some stitching out poorly and other issues.

The purpose of ordering the 3 bobbin cases was to investigate why there were so many issues with some cases and if anything could be done once you got the “wrong” case.  (Caution: Long “shoot out” style post warning! You’ll also want to click on pictures to view the bigger versions.  It will probably make what I’m saying a lot clearer. )

3 different Singer 221/222/301 bobbin cases as they arrived here in July.

Initially, I’d planned only to evaluate 2 cases – the Korean made Towa and the Japanese made Towa case but Continue reading Never Know Unless You Give It A Try – Replacement Featherweight Bobbin Cases →

Sewing Machines, Site News

The shop is up and running!

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As I mentioned in last week’s post, I’ve decided to finally set up the shop completely.  With the way we all do things changing from day to day, this seemed like the right time.

For years, I’ve mentioned in posts that I would put this or that into the shop when I had a chance.  Now that my IT work and sewing machine repairs have slowed to a halt due to the pandemic, it’s bubbled to the top of the list. Everything’s been photographed and a description added.  I’ve tried to be as descriptive as possible but do check attached photos as well.

This means : Continue reading The shop is up and running! →

3D Printing, Sewing Machines

Well, That happened! – 2020 Jan – May (and Shop) Update

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When last we talked, the world was a way different place.  I had hoped 2020 would be a kinder gentler year for all of us. How are you all doing?

Strangely – for this introvert, it’s still is a less stressful year but that’s because my fur kids are such a huge part of my life and 2019 was pretty stressful that way.  2020 started with new furry companions in the house. Continue reading Well, That happened! – 2020 Jan – May (and Shop) Update →

3D Printing, Home, Life, Pets, Spinning

2019 Year End Wrap up, part 2 – everything else

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Well, I put this post off for a little longer than I should have – but I had what I think is were understandable reasons mixed with a little procrastination.

In mid-December of 2018, Stormi began spending almost all of her time in the bedroom which meant more time for me in the bedroom taking care of her.  That put some projects and some of my usual stress relievers on hold because I wouldn’t leave her alone for more than a few hours at a time . Continue reading 2019 Year End Wrap up, part 2 – everything else →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Needle(Plate)s and Pins – Replacing the throat plate and spool pins on Singer Slants

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The Singer 431G is a stellar machine.  Seriously, it’s one of my favorites but it and its sibling, the 421G do have flaws. The 421G suffers from the first one and the 431G suffers from both.  Luckily, both issues are easily solved.

Flaw #1: I feel that the throat plate pins were a poorly thought out design.

In the photo above, you can see that both pins are broken. Originally, it looked a lot like a Philips (cross) screw from the top and I think this might be how they get broken.

Some people may have thought that a screwdriver was needed to remove the throat plates – and “conveniently”, there’s probably one that fits right in the accessories box just inches away. 

These plates lift off, no driver required.

All of the 431Gs that have been on my bench have had at least one of these pins broken or missing. One machine had some ground down screws as replacements that scored and gouged the aluminum horribly.  That machine came with a service invoice that showed that some “helpful” serviceman had even charged for the privilege of having the machine so damaged.

So, once the pins are broken, how does one fix this?  After all, the parts are long since discontinued.

First, the method.   Replacement is very easy.

Continue reading Needle(Plate)s and Pins – Replacing the throat plate and spool pins on Singer Slants →