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Sewing machine repair schools ?

Sewing machine repair schools ?

Old 11-25-2015, 03:38 AM
  #11  
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I tinkered with every machine I have ever owned for years including some industrial machines with the exception of plastic machines and even then most of the time it is a user problem. Then since I'm in Indianapolis where we have no basements and garbage rationing, and machines are readily available, I found derelect machines and made them work. Along the way I did take Ray White's classes. The beginner class was a nice review and the advanced class was kind of ADHD for me. He is knowledgeable. There will always be a lot more to learn - at least for me there is. There is a list of resources in the "sticky notes" you can learn a lot from that. If you are wanting to learn to work on high end plastic wonders you will have to go to the specific school to work on specific machines. It would be a good idea to work on something real basic before you attempt that though. I have learned a lot disassembling an old parts machine or two, too. It is fun to figure out what something does and how it does it. Then why doesn't work like I think it should. There are people here on QB all the time that attempt to fix something and get themselves in a fix. I think it helps to be somewhat mechanical thinker to begin with. Do a little home work or spend the time and money on the classes somewhere before you start something. A lot of time there is good info in the owners manual. A lot of the repairs I see are user errors. Know how to trouble shoot. Tammi has spent hours making videos and they are very well done - check them out. If it just a hobby it could be cheaper to pay to repair or replace the Bernina than to pay for classes.

Last edited by miriam; 11-25-2015 at 03:41 AM.
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Old 11-25-2015, 05:32 AM
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. DH loves to tinker and can get things working that others have thrown away. His greatest joy is buying a vacuum cleaner (or anything) that is messed up and fixing it to work better than new. I know Ray White is the guy I was trying to contact so I will work on that now for classes in the spring. He would just love learning from an expert. I have many machines that need tweaking and I guess I will have to give him one to work on (play with). I love the old machines but I am not mechanically inclined at all. Thanks for the help.
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Old 11-25-2015, 06:45 AM
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Good luck. If he does take the class from Ray, do you think you could have him give us his opinion here? It would be nice to hear from someone who's done it.
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Old 11-25-2015, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Manalto View Post
Good luck. If he does take the class from Ray, do you think you could have him give us his opinion here? It would be nice to hear from someone who's done it.
I like this thought! Even just a few insights on older White machines would be a delight!
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Old 11-25-2015, 01:57 PM
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http://www.whitesewingcenter.com/repairclass.php
You may not have yet gotten a reply from Ray, because he is on the road and/or teaching a class at his shop. He only does email when home and will not disrupt his class to take a cell call. As a matter of fact, cells generally do not work at his home/shop.
See his website comment on contacting him...bottom..

My husband and I have taken both Basic and Advanced Class. Roger had taken mini advanced classes as well, while I was visiting with a special collector and shopping. We hope to take advanced class again, as it is actually working on machines you bring as Ray circulates and, a needed, explains the problem and how to fix it.

Ray will be curtailing his travelling. He will teach in Shipshewana Indiana and at his shop in Belleville Missouri. Yes, the classes are expensive, but his knowledge AND friendship are invaluable.
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Old 11-25-2015, 09:14 PM
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Well, I guess I'm glad I'm a N(ew)SMG(al) - I try to teach people but many just don't want to know. Some will say so, some will just "check out" mentally when I try to show them how to avoid a repair bill in the future. I've actually watched their eyes go glassy! *sigh*

As I mentioned that in another recent thread, I'd just be thrilled if people would complete the maintenance that's detailed in the manual! Lint under the throat plate is one of the top reasons for a machine to go in for repairs, yet the last 2 people I talked to didn't think they'd ever taken their throat plates off to clean lint out. A periodic wipe down wouldn't hurt either. I'm choosing to believe that last one was chocolate smears...

As for my videos, I've made a few OSMGs mad with those...
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Old 11-25-2015, 09:27 PM
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Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew.

I hope it was chocolate too.
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Old 11-25-2015, 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by amcatanzaro View Post
Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew.

I hope it was chocolate too.
Well, I sure didn't lick it to find out!

I'm always stunned by what people will leave on machines. A machine that's on warranty that comes in with dried coffee all over the bed. Uhh... you know if there's something shorted below there, that's not helping with the warranty claim, right?

Anything that I own that goes in for warranty or maintenance goes in immaculate.
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Old 11-25-2015, 09:55 PM
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I had one out of the trash that was covered in leaves and smelled like some of it was dog poo... well at least I thought it was dog poo..... it was a 401G though...
You are so right... usually I see lint, broken needles, backward needles, tension that is maladjusted, sprung tension springs, dried up oil... etc. You do have to know what to look for though. And I have seen people's eyes glass over at the thought of sewing anything let alone maintaining...
I just repaired the bobbin area in an Elna - somebody put it together wrong. It sews beautifully now. Miss L sewed her first quilt for her baby sister's doll today on that Elna. I fear I have spoiled her for life. She was used to old Singers. That Elna can go so slow it seems like one stitch at a time. She was thrilled. What I wonder is why somebody took the bobbin area apart in the first place?
As some know, I take care of my parents these days. I taught Dad to use the blender so he can make his own smoothie when he gets up in the morning. We had success for the first month or so. Then yesterday he used the blender, made a smoothie, turned it to take it off the unit and the top came off but not the bottom... Yup a mess. He did it again today only I just watched him clean it up... I tried not to laugh or swear... He knew how to use it. He just had a user problem. He's ready to quit... Maybe that is how it goes with sewing machines. People learn how, get familiar, get comfortable and forget what they know to do? One little glitch and they are through.
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Old 11-25-2015, 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by amcatanzaro View Post
Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew.

I hope it was chocolate too.
Cat barf isn't much better. I can't even hope it's something else. I have no excuses why those machines haven't been cleaned up.

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