Rusty is ready for a home
 

I've been working on a pitiful little 99K I named Rusty for almost a year now. When I got him he was badly rusted up. It took me three months to get him apart and then another two or three to get him fully cleaned, and reassembled. During that time I was thinking of making him into a hand crank machine. I motorized him to test my repairs then set him back on a shelf. A couple weeks ago I got a slightly used Chinese HC from a forum member and tonight I put it on Rusty.
Works real good. Now all I need for him is a case. Anybody got one to spare ? :)

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...stywithHCa.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...stywithHCb.jpg

The original small hand wheel bobbin winder works on the spoked wheel too.

Joe

Sorry no case available here!!! you obviously love Rusty to spend all that time on him

My wife says I should make a box. Been thinking about it. Got an idea, might have the materials. Rather buy one if I can find one though cos I've got too many things going right now as it is.

Joe

Rusty was given to us by a guy we bought a treadle from. I took it upon myself to fix him as a learning tool. It was a lot more work than I thought it would be, but nothing really complicated. I think he'll make a good hand cranker once I get him a box.

Joe

I don't know much about older machines, but I find Rusty very interesting. Hand crank, huh? I'm thinking about how much pioneer woman I really have in me...lol...in case there is no power for a long spell. Good job getting him running again. I think making a case is a great idea.

99s are great little machines, and worth the effort of fixing them. I bought a 99 to use as spare parts for my first 99, and it turned out to be a better machine! However, it did not come with a base or case. My DH built a base for it, but alas, it has no top. So to answer your question, no spare base/case here. There are plans available online for making bases for these machines, if you have the desire to do the work.

I have the design sitting around as other cases. All I need to is copy them.
About the only tool I might need is the special drill bit to make the hinge holes.

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Sapphire_Rae,

How strong is your right arm? LOL
I sat down this morning and wound a bobbin with Rusty. Eeee Gads what a chore. If you think the bobbin winder puts a load on a treadle machine it puts a double load on a hand crank. Got the job done, but I had muscle cramps and tremors for a while afterwards.

I guess I'm a wimp.

Joe

Joe, i think you just answered my question before i asked it.... how long does it take to wind a bobbin with a hand crank? i just put one on a 128... long bobbins, and im kind of afraid to try that. HAHA! :)

Kittywolf,

I didn't time it but I'd guess about 5 minutes. The long bobbins don't hold as much thread, so I don't thing it would take as long.

Joe

check them out on ebay....I need one too!

I have a plastic no name shoe box that my Singer Spartan fits into - needs supports inside though. Get the tape measure and start watching

Rusty is lookin' good!

I wound one by hand a couple of days ago. I put it on the bobbin winder, but as the machine was out of cabinet, no belt action was possible. So, I wound around and around and around and around............................................ .................................................. ..........then took a break, and wound around and around and around............................................ ..................This went on for a while--at least a half hour.

I'm going to keep my eyes open for a case. I do have another 99K in a bent wood case I'm thinking of using as a pattern. At least the bottom of it. Not sure about the top.

Joe

http://sewing-machines.blogspot.com/...ta-let-go.html
here you go Joe

I've been using Rusty to make a Whacky Bag. 80 3/5" squares, an inner bag and two handles makes a reusable grocery bag. The squares are made from scraps from other projects.

Anyway, I've been amazed at the ease of using the hand crank machine. Normally I need two hands to guide and control the fabric, but I've found I can do it with the hand crank. Not as easy perhaps, but doable.
The thing I really like is just how slow I can go with the HC. One stitch at a time if I need too.

I also have some fairly thick vinyl material that I made some holsters for our nippers and seam rippers. The machine sewed through the double layers of that like it was sheet cotton.

This is one little machine that will get a case and stay with us. It's just too handy. Even my electric loving wife has said she wants to try it.

Joe

:D I'm not sure I like him any more ..... LOL

I do believe that before I'd take them to the dump or recycler I'd bag 'em and tag 'em and store them. Things run in cycles and eventually they will be wanted again.

Joe

did you read the rest of it?

I read his blog entry, but didn't read the comments.

Joe

Really? Cool! I should give it a whirl. The thread on the bobbins must be old and brittle though they with stood a tug. Feel bad unwinding them but better to test with proper fresh thread. :)

My wife found a box of sewing supplies last night she didn't even remember where they came from. When we remembered it was a bitter sweet find. The stuff was from an older lady that lived across the street from us in Phoenix. She died probably around 89 or so and my wife got this stuff from her estate sale.

In it was a bunch of thread in wooden spools and one Class 66 bobbin. I didn't give it a second thought, I pealed all three layers of thread off the bobbin. So many people layer threads on their bobbins it's not even funny. After a while the bottom layers gets crushed in and you can't unwind them, you have to cut the thread out. Then there is the rust. I've lost count of how many bobbins I've tossed in the Evapo-Rust because the old bottom layer of thread had been there sooooooo very long and absorbed moisture and rusted the bobbin.

So with no feelings of guilt or wasting thread I empty all bobbins that come with older machines or that I find from other places.
Much easier to put new thread on a bobbin than to fight with one that's been filled since Herbert Hoover was president.

Joe

Hillarious! Thanks. Little cynical though.

Jon

The other thing about old bobbin thread - people (my mom included) wound more thread over another - when those ends go into the machine things go wonky.

I believe Jenny at Sew-Classic sold or sells 3/4 portable machine cases.

Joe, it wouldn't be a sacrilege to wind Rusty's bobbin on an e machine that has the same size bobbin. He's still be a handcrank. He looks good.

irishrose,

No kidding. I just did it to see if my adjustment of the bobbin winder was good. Rusty is a former electric machine so the bobbin winder is for the small hand wheel. I put the spoked wheel on and had to adjust the bobbin winder for the smaller inner wheel. I just wanted to see if it worked. It does.

However we have one of those sidewinder bobbin winders that I'll use more. I need exercise, but muscle cramps are not fun.

Joe