The Sewing Place

Cleaning a Singer 306

Roger

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #15 on: August 26, 2019, 20:45:34 PM »
Thanks Addiscombe,
That’s good to know.
I sorted all the parts last night and here’s some pics!

2 of the double needles are 306! Theres 6 cams in the box.
And the industrial foot is actually a standard foot for a 306.
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

Addiscomber

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #16 on: August 26, 2019, 22:05:25 PM »
Not bad. The only obvious thing missing is a cover plate with a raised circular area for embroidery and darning. You should have the following

For Model #s 306K25; 319K
ATTACHMENT SET 160977
55623 Bobbin (4)
81245 Binder
86742 Ruffler
105248 Presser Foot
105251 Special Purpose Foot
161127 Zipper Foot
161133 Tube of Oil
161294 Screwdriver (LG)
161295 Screwdriver (SM)
161455 All Purpose Foot
173090 Throat Plate
189632 Embroidery Plate
189648 Button Foot
2029(206x13) Needles 11 (3) 14 (3)
2035(306x1) Needles (Twin) 14 (3)

but other low shank feet etc should fit.

I love that nearly every machine comes with a handful of class 66 or class 15 bobbins when they shouldn't be used in it. I bought a vintage Elna 62SU recently and that had 25 class 15 bobbins as well as 25 Elna bobbins. Really weird, but I suppose these things end up being packed and put up for sale by people who just don't know what goes with what.

Roger

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #17 on: August 27, 2019, 11:48:34 AM »
I’ll go and check through it all in a bit. Oddly the manual doesn’t list the raised circle plate. Which I’ve seen with a lot of 306 style machines.

I was surprised by the number of really nice 66class bobbins, I went through a drought of them a while back now I have loads!
« Last Edit: August 27, 2019, 11:51:01 AM by Roger »
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

LeilaMay

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #18 on: August 27, 2019, 12:57:35 PM »
If it's relevant, the info from singersewinginfo includes

"...The 306K machines have full reverse feed faciltiy as well as a method of disconnecting the feed for free motion and embroidery work...."

This would surely have negated the need for the raising plate? Although that's not to say that you might find one fits, and proves useful.

Best wishes on a lovely machine Roger
Leila

Roger

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #19 on: September 06, 2019, 23:43:41 PM »
I got to do some cleaning tonight... I picked the front area as it’s compact and easy access :)

Took the plate off and I’ve never seen one with so much debris in it, threads, fluff dust and dust bunnies, I gave it a run round with a few cotton swabs so I could get a better feel for what was there and took the photos.

I used cotton swabs to clean out the easy fluff, and get between things.
Then I used baby wipes, to remove fluff caught in oil and the oil then I went round with a torch and fine screwdriver, to tease any stuck fluff out of the corners and any nooks.
Then I went round again with the baby wipes, and wrapped them round the swabs and the screwdriver to make sure I could get into all the corners.

It’s a lot cleaner now and so smooth! Amazing!

Pic one is after a light swabbing to get rid of the big fluff
Pic 2 is after all of the above
Pic 3 is all the crud that came out :)
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

wrenkins

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #20 on: September 07, 2019, 07:30:37 AM »
It really is very satisfying to see all that muck coming out.  :loveit:
I used wooden cocktail sticks to get in the really small areas as I didn't want to scratch anything. They even do screw heads.  :)
Harbouring resentment is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die!

Roger

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #21 on: September 07, 2019, 09:35:57 AM »
I like toothpicks too they’re really handy, I also use pc screwdrivers but you have to be careful as they’re quite sharp so I keep them for bare metal areas... but they’re great for getting cloth/baby wipes into tough spots and stuff like that.

It’s great getting the crud out, very satisfying!

I need to do the wiring and the underneath next. I also need to get a new belt for it :) no belt at the moment, but hand turning it, it’s sooo smooth!
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

LeilaMay

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #22 on: September 07, 2019, 12:39:55 PM »
I find a pair of tweezers similar to this really useful in my toolkit

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Steel-Tweezers-Engineer-pt-05/dp/B000W9FY4Q

:vintage:

Roger

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #23 on: September 08, 2019, 09:17:15 AM »
Thanks Leila,

They look great for hard to reach fluff! :)

I was also having trouble getting a dust bunny out of the catch!
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

Surest1tch

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #24 on: September 08, 2019, 21:44:21 PM »
Thanks Addiscombe,
That’s good to know.
I sorted all the parts last night and here’s some pics!

2 of the double needles are 306! Theres 6 cams in the box.
And the industrial foot is actually a standard foot for a 306.

@Roger, what's the beige plastic tube thing for in the second picture please? When I first saw it I thought it looked similar to a trigger finger splint but logic tells me it can't be
« Last Edit: September 08, 2019, 21:46:05 PM by Surest1tch »

LeilaMay

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #25 on: September 09, 2019, 09:56:59 AM »
Oh, I know this, I know this! (Hand up in the back of the class, can you see me?)

It's a finger shield

http://oldfashionedbaby.blogspot.com/2010/08/thimbles-and-finger-shields.html

Elnnina

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #26 on: September 09, 2019, 10:33:22 AM »
I still have my finger shield bought way back in my teens.  When doing a lot of hand sewing it certainly saves the first finger on left hand from constant needle pricks and soreness.  Pity they are not made any more.

Radiofan

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #27 on: September 09, 2019, 15:31:28 PM »
When I look at those photographs, I swear I can smell the oil.
Singer 538, there are many like it, but this one is mine.

Roger

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #28 on: September 09, 2019, 18:17:23 PM »
I was wondering what that was! That makes a lot of sense... I wonder why they don’t make them any more?

I really ought to get the hang of a thimble... having just sewn the elastic into a pair of ballet flats for DD it would have been really useful.

I know what you mean RadioFan... I’m itching to get some more done, might start the foot pedal tonight.
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

Deafoldbat

Re: Cleaning a Singer 306
« Reply #29 on: September 09, 2019, 19:43:25 PM »
Quote
Pity they are not made any more.

@Elnnina
Yes they are.

https://www.sewessential.co.uk/hemline-quilters-finger-shield