The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: Roger on January 09, 2018, 06:54:51 AM

Title: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Roger on January 09, 2018, 06:54:51 AM
Hi all,
We get a fair few queries about cleaning up old, older, venerable and ancient sewing machines, treadles and cabinets...
So I thought I’d start a thread to collect everyone’s thoughts.

I’m looking for any hints or tips, strategies, links to blogs you find helpful or inspiring and your favourite tools and doodads or cleaning/polishing helpfuls. The goal is to give any aspiring sewing machine fancier a good place to start and give us all somewhere to refer queries to and exchange ideas.

I’ll go away and organise my thoughts....
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: LeilaMay on January 09, 2018, 10:17:33 AM
My favourite resource for manual machines was provided by the Tools for Self Reliance website, but appears to be no longer there. :( Does anyway have a link via 'way-back' or similar?
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: b15erk on January 09, 2018, 10:34:32 AM
Oh no!  Please don't say it's gone!  It was an excellent resource for Singers.....

I like Lizzie Lennard (sp?) she does a lovely cleanup job.

Favourite tools: Plusgas (to loosen stubborn screws), and AutoGlym Polish for the metal bits.  A pair of tweezers are useful too.

Jessie
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Francesca on January 09, 2018, 10:47:10 AM
Here is a link to the wayback machine archive for TFSR. The coloured circles indicate where a snapshot was taken.

link (https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://tfsr.org/)

Is that the right thing?
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: LeilaMay on January 09, 2018, 11:43:07 AM
Here is a link to the wayback machine archive for TFSR. The coloured circles indicate where a snapshot was taken.

link (https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://tfsr.org/)

Is that the right thing?

Thank you :heart:

The link to the actual ,manual is currently this - thanks to Francesca

https://web.archive.org/web/20130814050110/http://www.tfsr.org:80/publications/technical_information/sewing_machine_manual

and I would download and save it all if you have any interest in working with m,manual machines - it's super, nad is no longer available on their current site.
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Francesca on January 09, 2018, 12:12:19 PM
We could probably rehost this information in our Tutorials section, as long as we state that it was originally posted on that site which is no longer available.
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: LeilaMay on January 09, 2018, 12:16:52 PM
We could probably rehost this information in our Tutorials section, as long as we state that it was originally posted on that site which is no longer available.

Their current site has a 'volunteers log-in' section I think.
It could be that they now only make the information available that way - in which case we would need their permission to make it public?
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Francesca on January 09, 2018, 12:44:39 PM
Their current site has a 'volunteers log-in' section I think.
It could be that they now only make the information available that way - in which case we would need their permission to make it public?

Oh that's a shame. Hopefully Roger can rewrite some of the useful stuff for here :)
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Manuela on January 09, 2018, 13:12:48 PM
My favourite resource for manual machines was provided by the Tools for Self Reliance website, but appears to be no longer there. :( Does anyway have a link via 'way-back' or similar?

I bought two sewing machines from them. A Featherweight via Ebay, and a Singer 338K from their workshop in the Kingswood Museum in Bristol, wonderful and lovely people.
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Marniesews on January 09, 2018, 19:52:25 PM
Great resource info.  I have downloaded the manual and in return have purchase their gift to equip a tailor with a hand sewing machine - only £11.50 and a very appropriate exchange it seemed to me.  :)
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Barnyard on January 15, 2018, 19:07:19 PM
Hi all,
We get a fair few queries about cleaning up old, older, venerable and ancient sewing machines, treadles and cabinets...
So I thought I’d start a thread to collect everyone’s thoughts.

I’m looking for any hints or tips, strategies, links to blogs you find helpful or inspiring and your favourite tools and doodads or cleaning/polishing helpfuls. The goal is to give any aspiring sewing machine fancier a good place to start and give us all somewhere to refer queries to and exchange ideas.

I’ll go away and organise my thoughts....

For cleaning up the mechanical side of things Roger, Singer sewing machine oil, Q tips, White spirit and a very useful tool I made. It's a waxing stick with the barbed bit of velcro glued to it. I then can add cotton wool buds and get into those hard to reach places with ease and both lubricate and clean old fluff out. I could go on for hours! There is simply nothing better than getting a dog of machine and restoring it to a fully working one.  :D

Barny
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Madame Cholet on February 02, 2018, 20:21:32 PM
These are my favourite cotton buds:
https://groceries.asda.com/product/cotton-wool-buds/asda-the-skin-system-cosmetic-cotton-wool-buds/910002516141

They have one end that looks like a normal cotton bud, and the other end is flattened. The flat end is fab for cleaning the teeth of gears. I've found that the normal end seems slightly more dense too, and less prone to the wispification which tends to occur with cotton buds of other brands.

Also these (empty) oil bottles have teeny tiny nozzles and are great for precision oil dribbling:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SODIAL-Needle-Nozzle-Plastic-Machine/dp/B00IIDYBZ6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1517602065&sr=8-2&keywords=sewing+machine+oil+bottle

(But bear in mind they do come on the proverbial slow boat from China).

I must say I am mightily impressed with Barny's velcro-headed-cotton-bud-waxing-stick idea; I can't wait to try that one out! :loveit:
@Barnyard - are you OK? You've gone all quiet again! I do hope that all is well.  :)
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Marniesews on February 03, 2018, 11:15:16 AM
...wispification...
Love it!  :D 0_0
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: jk1066 on March 02, 2018, 16:23:59 PM
I've looked at all sorts of articles about cleaning up old sewing machines. Mostly involving chemicals that come from the usa. At the other end of the spectrum is the use of sewing machine oil. Where can I buy a tin of the stuff rather than those tiny bottles in craft shops? I'm assuming there must be an online place for SMO that someone can recommend. Many thanks
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: DementedFairy on March 02, 2018, 17:36:13 PM
I've looked at all sorts of articles about cleaning up old sewing machines. Mostly involving chemicals that come from the usa. At the other end of the spectrum is the use of sewing machine oil. Where can I buy a tin of the stuff rather than those tiny bottles in craft shops? I'm assuming there must be an online place for SMO that someone can recommend. Many thanks
ebay, always ebay!
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: arrow on March 02, 2018, 18:53:54 PM
Not much in tins these days, but I can buy a reasonably large bottle of basic sewing machine oil at a place originally aimed for tools and car related stuff. These days they have sections for kitchen items, dogs/horse stuff, etc., and in the section for bikes there is a bottle of the basic oil, sewing machine / chain oil.

If you want larger containers of it, I guess it would be labled "pure acid free mineral oil", and thickness something like SAE 10.

The only thing worth ordering from the US would be TriFlow, I'm not sure who sells it in Europe. I can get Finish Line Ceramic Wet Lube in bike stores, it has teflon and perfect viscosity for sewing machines. You can easily find equivalents near you if you just go to the right store.

Drops of white spirit for sticky metal gears; various spray can stuff for much the same purpose; labeled something in the direction of anti-rust, tool-box on can, TF2 spray with teflon, WD-40, CRC 5-56, PB blaster,...  For polishing up, Auto Glym Super resin polish, I guess most places in the UK have more stuff to choose from than my city. I recently noticed a UK seller on ebay who has a special carnauba based Featherweight polish, it will give a deeper shine than the resin liquid. The resin based polish tend to last longer.

Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: mums sewing machine on October 15, 2019, 13:02:55 PM
This thread is a godsend!
Just (last night) picked up a 1913 treadle 66k and today I’ve started cleaning her. She’s a ‘bit’ worse for wear... I’d love to get her working again, I think it’s possible as nothing seems seized up at this stage.
But there is rust on some bits (not the mechanical bits as far as I can see...)
Is there anything that’s a suitable half decent rust remover?
I know she will never ‘gleam’ unless I start replacing bits, but I’d like to keep her like she was when she left Clydebank
Thanks

@Roger

Edited to say: I’ve found the thread about cleaning metal bits (?) and have bought some Autosol. The face plate is coming up a treat with that and a LOT of elbow grease!
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Roger on October 15, 2019, 21:44:25 PM
Enjoy your sewing machine :) if nothing is seized that is a great place to start from, 66K are cute I especially love the Egyptian decals model. If you have questions just holler and we'll be happy to help!


This thread is a godsend!
Just (last night) picked up a 1913 treadle 66k and today I’ve started cleaning her. She’s a ‘bit’ worse for wear... I’d love to get her working again, I think it’s possible as nothing seems seized up at this stage.
But there is rust on some bits (not the mechanical bits as far as I can see...)
Is there anything that’s a suitable half decent rust remover?
I know she will never ‘gleam’ unless I start replacing bits, but I’d like to keep her like she was when she left Clydebank
Thanks

@Roger

Edited to say: I’ve found the thread about cleaning metal bits (?) and have bought some Autosol. The face plate is coming up a treat with that and a LOT of elbow grease!
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: mums sewing machine on October 15, 2019, 23:37:44 PM
@Roger Thanks - I will holler, probably a lot  :D
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: Wychall on October 27, 2019, 17:49:36 PM
I swear by Autosol, but with a painful shoulder elbow grease is in short supply. I recommend a small multi tool such as a Dremel (or a cheaper version available from Aldi/Lidl) which makes it a breeze. I've just polished all my 'new' 66K's shiny bits in just over an hour. Gleam, gleam!
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: TomDrew on February 24, 2021, 20:49:33 PM
I know this is an old thread and I'm very new to sewing machines, however I'm not new to the world of cars and messing with them. Over the last few years felt that Autoglym have slipped a bit interms of their offer and also their pricing is a joke (when I was in the auto trade I could get the stuff for a song and that's why the garages push it - it's expensive to by unless your in the trade).

Meguiars Ultimate Compound is amazing stuff - its a very fine polish and it's great for getting a shine back - on paintwork it does wonders and on metal work its brill too - Autosol is great for getting rust and get back to a shine but then if you use the Ultimate Compound you can get pretty close to a mirror finish if you are so inclined. [I've also got some knife sharpening compounds that can be fun to play with to get a true mirror shine but that it probably overkill]. I would really recommend Ultimate Compound - if paint etc are in bad shape you'll want to start with something more abrasive first (autosol for metal, a standard car polish) but it will look better than new when you are done. There are some nice waxes out there too but I'm unsure what would work best for a sewing machine from the one's I know as some of them would make the machine potentially feel a bit... sticky isn't really the right word but if you polish and wax up well it is so smooth certain surfaces (a finger for example) will feel drag as it sticks to it... fabric wont though....
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: LeilaMay on February 24, 2021, 21:10:46 PM
Great info Tom, thank you.
But when you're working on a very old machine you must be aware that the solvent compounds in some cleaners will strip the delicate finishes on the machines, and that what is safe on one machine may not be on a machine of a slightly different age.

"Always do your patch test" - and somewhere it won't show too  :)
Title: Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
Post by: TomDrew on February 24, 2021, 21:47:59 PM
Good point @LeilaMay - patch testing is always a must in any cleaning job. Doing any fettling on delicate things is always a risk. I've used ultimate compound on things like high end fountain pens including on delicate precious metal and natural lacquer and it came out beautifully. But yes - always patch test!