How do you clean a Crinkle finish?
#1
How do you clean a Crinkle finish?
Hello.
I am in process of cleaning and oiling an Eldredge Rotary sewing machine. The oiling is complete and now I would like to polish the metal and address the crinkle finish.
Does anyone have any proven methods, tips, or suggestions on how to best clean a crinkle finish without causing any damage to that finish?
I am in process of cleaning and oiling an Eldredge Rotary sewing machine. The oiling is complete and now I would like to polish the metal and address the crinkle finish.
Does anyone have any proven methods, tips, or suggestions on how to best clean a crinkle finish without causing any damage to that finish?
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Calif. Desert
Posts: 239
I used goop waterless hand cleaner and electric tooth brush and mopped up the stuff with paper towels. Seems like the brown crud just kept losing up and coming. It didn't seem to harm the decals, I was very gentle going over them.
Mine was so bad, I started with the hated WD40, but it really helped in the initial wipe down. Then I used the tooth brush and goop.
Mine was so bad, I started with the hated WD40, but it really helped in the initial wipe down. Then I used the tooth brush and goop.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Centralia, WA, USA
Posts: 4,890
What Joe said. Your machine looks good in the pics. You don't need anything more than oil to get it clean.
NophaDesertRat, the brown crud may have been the shellac clearcoat lifting off. The shellac gets pretty fragile with age and anything harsher than sewing machine oil can damage it. I'm not familiar with newer Goop products but IIRC the old hand cleaner had pumice in it. Avoid any abrasive cleaners as well.
Rodney
NophaDesertRat, the brown crud may have been the shellac clearcoat lifting off. The shellac gets pretty fragile with age and anything harsher than sewing machine oil can damage it. I'm not familiar with newer Goop products but IIRC the old hand cleaner had pumice in it. Avoid any abrasive cleaners as well.
Rodney
#6
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Godzilla is a Hollywood created monster that likes to destroy big cities.
The finish on these old machines is simply crinkle paint. If applied with proper preparation it is durable and pleasing. It can be damaged by improper use of chemicals, but with gentle cleaning using SM oil and cotton pads or balls it does clean up nicely. But just like like the smooth paint it can be ruined.
So take care how you clean it or you'll really have an ugly piece of machinery.
I have ...... oh five or six of them; Singers, White, and Kenmores and to me they all look pretty decent.
Joe
The finish on these old machines is simply crinkle paint. If applied with proper preparation it is durable and pleasing. It can be damaged by improper use of chemicals, but with gentle cleaning using SM oil and cotton pads or balls it does clean up nicely. But just like like the smooth paint it can be ruined.
So take care how you clean it or you'll really have an ugly piece of machinery.
I have ...... oh five or six of them; Singers, White, and Kenmores and to me they all look pretty decent.
Joe
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Springfield Oregon
Posts: 1,481
What Joe said. Your machine looks good in the pics. You don't need anything more than oil to get it clean.
NophaDesertRat, the brown crud may have been the shellac clearcoat lifting off. The shellac gets pretty fragile with age and anything harsher than sewing machine oil can damage it. I'm not familiar with newer Goop products but IIRC the old hand cleaner had pumice in it. Avoid any abrasive cleaners as well.
Rodney
NophaDesertRat, the brown crud may have been the shellac clearcoat lifting off. The shellac gets pretty fragile with age and anything harsher than sewing machine oil can damage it. I'm not familiar with newer Goop products but IIRC the old hand cleaner had pumice in it. Avoid any abrasive cleaners as well.
Rodney
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Jim,
Here are some pics of mine:
(Just happened to have the thumb drive stuck in the machine )
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470678[/ATTACH]
Kenmore 117-720
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470680[/ATTACH]
Kenmore 117-812
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470681[/ATTACH]
Singer 66-18 ( Have two, had three.)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470682[/ATTACH]
White Dressmaster 127
~~ AND ~~
Here is a before and after of a Singer 66-18 that the crinkle paint was cleaned with only SM oil and cotton balls / pads.
Before:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470690[/ATTACH]
After:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470691[/ATTACH]
So, IMNSHO detergents, foaming or otherwise isn't needed. I'll stick with the SM oil.
Joe
Here are some pics of mine:
(Just happened to have the thumb drive stuck in the machine )
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470678[/ATTACH]
Kenmore 117-720
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470680[/ATTACH]
Kenmore 117-812
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470681[/ATTACH]
Singer 66-18 ( Have two, had three.)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470682[/ATTACH]
White Dressmaster 127
~~ AND ~~
Here is a before and after of a Singer 66-18 that the crinkle paint was cleaned with only SM oil and cotton balls / pads.
Before:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470690[/ATTACH]
After:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]470691[/ATTACH]
So, IMNSHO detergents, foaming or otherwise isn't needed. I'll stick with the SM oil.
Joe
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