Singer Bentwood Case Repair
 

I have purchased a Singer sewing machine in a bentwood case. The wood case is not in the best of shape. In addition to some scratches there is a dime size hole in the case. I knew the case was damaged when i purchased it but felt the machine alone was worth the purchase price. I know I can purchase a better case for the machine but I would at least like to try to see if the damaged one can be repaired. My first thought is to use a wood filler, then sand and refinish it. Do any of you have any suggestions?

Joyce,

I would carefully make a patch from some veneer. I'd clean up the edges of the hole, then bevel them wider at the outside. Then I'd make the patch beveled so it would sit on the hole. Glue it and then sand it and stain it. Then I'd re-shellac it.

Check all the other joints and seams for separating and fix as needed too.

Joe

Thanks, Joe. Gluing a patch would probably be a better solution. Do you know of any websites or tutes on refinishing these cases. Also, color of stain. Didn't even think that it was shellacked instead of a polyurethane (duh). I have found a site where I can get another decal (I assume I'll lose the original to sanding).

Joyce,

Our own Skip has a tutorial right here for cabinets: { http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...ts-t97670.html }. I'll be using this as a guide for cases too. So far I haven't done a bent wood yet. I have one that all the finish was stripped from and three that need some repair / refinishing to do this year.

Joe

I'll definitely mark that tutorial. The thought of stripping and staining scare me to death but maybe if I just need to jump in with both feet and give it a try. Isn't that how it is. Things are often not as difficult as they seem.

Joyce,

I would not strip it until I was finished patching and regluing what needed that.

Then I'd take a paper towel and some similar wood and see if I couldn't match the existing color. I did the new veneer top to my 9W-7 treadle with a heavy coat of red oak, which was removed about 30 minutes later and a light coat of walnut over that. It gave is a reddish brown color very close to the originals. Then I use the walnut stain on the rest of it which made the tiger oak a brown color with a slight red tint.
After that two coats of amber shellac and one coat of clear shellac gave it that aged look. Then I use dark brown BriWax on it and it sure do look nice.

That is pretty much how I'm going to do those that need refinished. I will have to lightly sand them or clean them with something, but I won't strip them.

The one that has already been stripped will be lightly sanded and cleaned then stained with walnut or a mix of walnut / red oak stain then shellaced. After that the Briwax.

Joe

Joyce, thank you so very much for asking that question. I need to fix the top of the case, not a bentwood, but a pretty shaped one none-the-less for my Gritzner hand crank. I knew that I could glue back the corner where it was separated, but didn't know what to do about the hole in the end that someone created when they tried to put the top back on before folding back the crank. Now I know just what to do. Thanks Joe for the information that I needed.
Janis

I've got a bentwood case - but it's missing one entire end. I haven't even thought how to fix that one. :(

Best wishes with your repair - these cases are beautiful! I think I saw somewhere on the internet where you can even buy a replacement decal for this style case.

The weather is going to warm up soon so I can work on my bentwood case and on the 66 cabinet. Thank you, Joyce, for asking and thank you, Joe, for supplying more info.

You guys are great. There's almost always someone here that has good information ... and often it is Joe :)