Tag Archives: Singer

Sewing Machines, Site News, VSM Repair

Greased Lightning – Singer motor lube in Canada

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Update 06-30-2016:  The latest batch of Singer Lube I received from the supplier is no longer suitable for use in Singer motors.  As such, I’m recommending the use of Petroleum jelly.

People far smarter than me are recommending it and White Sewing machine motors of the same time period used it.

 

Over the last few months, I’ve been hearing that Singer Lube / Lubricant / Motor Lube (S2129)  is getting really hard to find, especially here in Canada. This has been my experience as a consumer as well.  Walmart used to carry it, but no longer.  I believe that it may have been at Fabricland at one point.  Also, no longer.  With the loss of the Singer store in Edmonton, there were no longer any options I was aware of in my area. Continue reading Greased Lightning – Singer motor lube in Canada →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair, Warnings

Love becomes Electric – Electrical Safety and your sewing machine

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*Note:  The photo above is of a mis-assembled power connector.  This is an example of what not to do, or Love becoming Electric – which is the topic of this conversation today.

Today, I want to talk about the electrical connections in your vintage machines.  In particular, the topic will be when you’re using the machine and you feel a tingle, or a light shock, or buzzing sensation. Continue reading Love becomes Electric – Electrical Safety and your sewing machine →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Bobbin’ Along – bobbin tension

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You may have noticed in the previous post about tension that we didn’t even test sew the machine.

Yet.  We will test sew it, but not just yet.  You see what I’m trying to do is get the machine to a point where it’s in the ballpark first, then the rest is just small tweaks.  The goal is to help you rule out the big problems, the ones that require repair, or in drastic situations, possibly a trip to the sewing machine spa.

Consider this statement:

Tension too tight on the top can also be tension too loose on the bottom.
Top Tension too tight does not automatically mean bottom tension is too loose.
Tension too loose on the top can also be tension too tight on the bottom.
Top Tension too loose does not automatically mean bottom tension is too tight. Continue reading Bobbin’ Along – bobbin tension →
Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Fragile Tension – Tension does not have to equal stress (Updated with a video)

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Possibly the most common reason a machine ends up on my bench is for tension.  Usually bird’s nests.  The thing is easily 80% of the time, there’s nothing really wrong with the machine that a repair person needs to look at it.  Sometimes it’s basic maintenance, sometimes it’s because someone told you at some point “DON’T YOU TOUCH THAT! EVER!”

I’m sure that the people who’ve said that meant well, but today I’m going to show you how to manage that dial properly and what to do when it’s not proper. Continue reading Fragile Tension – Tension does not have to equal stress (Updated with a video) →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair, Warnings

“Machine works and is in good condition”… really?

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I had a lady contact me about a few machines she wanted to sell.
I wasn’t interested in all of them, but 2 piqued my interest, the Singer 185J, because I knew someone who wanted it, and the Pfaff 362, because I thought it would be interesting to play with. Continue reading “Machine works and is in good condition”… really? →

Life, Sewing Machines, VSM Repair, Warnings

Ouch! Watch those hinges!

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Ronnie - 1950 Featherweight 221
Ronnie – 1950 Featherweight 221

On Monday I was packing up my things to go to our Sewing Circle.  I was in a hurry, and when I grabbed the case of the featherweight I found last month, I managed to rip a 1.5″ long gash in my left hand.

Now, I’m naturally clumsy, but this only happened because Continue reading Ouch! Watch those hinges! →

Sewing Machines

Well, I didn’t expect that….

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I had a 301 brought to me last month.  I was told that it didn’t run.  That’s all I’d been told.  Strangely when I plugged it in, it ran just fine.   I told the owner I’d tune it up and get it back to them.

I did a basic clean up on it, then I started oiling.  I started at the top the way I always do.  I worked my way to the faceplate and cleaned and oiled in there.  Then I turned the machine on its back and got ready to clean and oil the bottom of the machine.

As I rocked it on its back, I heard the sound of “pieces” moving around with the inertia I’d created.

Huh?

Continue reading Well, I didn’t expect that…. →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Because a change would do you good – Substitution parts

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The longer I work on vintage machines, the more I find parts that I need that are no longer available.  Sometimes I can get lucky and find something that works. Sometimes we have to “make” them.  I thought that this blog is a great place to keep track of successful and even unsuccessful substitutions.

Successful substitutions will help people keep the machines running.  Unsuccessful substitutions will at least save you guys some money, by not trying the same thing I did. 😀 Continue reading Because a change would do you good – Substitution parts →

Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Sit yourself down!!! Slant-O-Matics: Bobbin Case placement

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Sometimes you find yourself taking the bobbin case of a Slant-o-Matic out, maybe to remove an errant thread, clean the lint out or whatever.  Strangely, putting it back in isn’t as easy as taking it out.   Or maybe you thought it was good, but the machine’s locked up, or it just doesn’t look / feel right. Continue reading Sit yourself down!!! Slant-O-Matics: Bobbin Case placement →