Anyone have any experience in fixing vintage sewing machines?
I bought a 1940s White Rotary E6354 knee pedal machine today for $30. The motor works fine, but it's not moving the needle. I'm guessing the drive belt is done in, but I'm not 100% sure how to open it to find out. The thing is solid cast iron.
Thoughts?
You caved? :D
Now there's a Hail Mary. :lol:
Woah. I can barely repair my garbage disposal :P
You might want to seek more specialized help.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on September 11, 2017, 11:34:23 PM
Now there's a Hail Mary. :lol:
:lol:
Bummer you didn't get an E6355 Meri. *That* one I can fix in my sleep.
I unscrewed everything that I could unscrew, took off all of the pieces that I could take off, and will douse the thing in a bath of paint thinner to degum it. Then, coat it in WD40 Liquid Wrench and put all the things back on it. Then we'll see how it works. :)
It was $30. What the worst that can happen? It's a solid steel sewing machine in a cast iron casing. Seriously. I'm pretty sure I can do this...
:ph34r:
*I was told that WD40 isn't good for machines like this. Instead, Liquid Wrench Machine Oil is what I'll be using.
Quote from: Tonitrus on September 11, 2017, 11:23:05 PM
You caved? :D
And you had to know that I would... at least I waited until after the yard sale to let someone else have first dibs. :D
Not totally surprised. And sometimes it's nice to cave (especially if it results in a happy ending...hopefully).
Quote from: merithyn on September 11, 2017, 10:33:35 PM
Anyone have any experience in fixing vintage sewing machines?
I bought a 1940s White Rotary E6354 knee pedal machine today for $30. The motor works fine, but it's not moving the needle. I'm guessing the drive belt is done in, but I'm not 100% sure how to open it to find out. The thing is solid cast iron.
Thoughts?
Meri, get it tested as being electrically safe after you've finished with the mechanical side, as 70 year old cables and the wiring could have suffered down the years.
Quote from: mongers on September 12, 2017, 10:25:28 AM
Meri, get it tested as being electrically safe after you've finished with the mechanical side, as 70 year old cables and the wiring could have suffered down the years.
Yep, already on it. I did a quick, go-over on the cords and they seem sound, but I'm going to check things over much more carefully once the machine is moving. I also have a friend who's an electrician who will look it over for me once she has time.
Thank you. :)
Took the whole thing apart, degreased the hell out of it with Liquid Wrench, oiled the hell out of it with machine oil, and put it back together. Worked great until I put the bobbin casing in...
I may have actually broken a solid steel casing.... :ph34r:
You are doing a good job!
Good news! The doo-hickey that I broke is available online for only $10.80!
Machine should be up and running by next week. ^_^
The machine has a knee pedal, which I don't really care for. On the plus side, I can switch it out pretty easily to a foot pedal for about $25.
Eventually, I'll buy a new table for it, but for now, it will work.
I only briefly used a sewing machine, trying to learn, but haven't touched it in a while. I should get back on it, learn to use it as they can be really useful.
Hi KRonn. :)
Quote from: merithyn on September 13, 2017, 11:37:35 AM
Good news! The doo-hickey that I broke is available online for only $10.80!
Machine should be up and running by next week. ^_^
Good. Now embroider Timmay's scrotum to his forehead, please.
Quote from: KRonn on September 13, 2017, 07:39:54 PM
I only briefly used a sewing machine, trying to learn, but haven't touched it in a while. I should get back on it, learn to use it as they can be really useful.
:w00t:
KRonn!! :hug:
And if you ever want lessons, I kind of know what I'm doing. :) Come for a visit. We'll make a pillow... or a suit. Your choice. :D
Quote from: merithyn on September 14, 2017, 11:52:41 AM
Quote from: KRonn on September 13, 2017, 07:39:54 PM
I only briefly used a sewing machine, trying to learn, but haven't touched it in a while. I should get back on it, learn to use it as they can be really useful.
:w00t:
KRonn!! :hug:
And if you ever want lessons, I kind of know what I'm doing. :) Come for a visit. We'll make a pillow... or a suit. Your choice. :D
Seeing your thread I'm thinking that I should break out my sewing machine and learning, getting a how to book or info off the internet. As for a visit and lessons, I think you're in the mid west? I'm in Massachusetts.
Also, I remember a couple of years ago you having a tough time with allergies being so near huge cornfields. At the time I was growing corn in my backyard garden - corn is so much better when straight out of the garden and hasn't been sitting in transit or the store. Just picked retains its sweetness and taste a lot better. :) But I gave up on growing corn after a few years since once the squirrels found out about corn it became too much a hassle to keep them out. :mad:
I'm in Portland now. :)
He's in Oregon.
Hey, wasn't there some lapsed catholic there too? :hmm:
A few years back there was a run on sewing machines in Saudi Arabia. Apparently, the locals believe the sewing machines contained something called "Red Mercury", which could be used to summon spirits, build nuclear bombs, and find buried treasure. You should totally check your machine for this magical material.
Quote from: Eddie Teach on September 16, 2017, 04:15:50 AM
Hey, wasn't there some lapsed catholic there too? :hmm:
<_<
I've reached out to him several times to get together for drinks. He canceled each time. Now I'm leaving it up to him to contact me. :mad:
sbr, up for lunch or drinks downtown sometime? I work at the Moda building and have no car. :cry:
Got the new piece. Exactly the same as the other one. I hadn't actually broke anything. I just thought that I had because of how weirdly it was shaped.
Really glad I didn't buy the $75 one. I'm cool with paying $10 for being stupid. $75? Not so much.