At what point will you discard/trash a machine?
05-27-2015, 09:03 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Far Northern California
Posts: 1,020
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Is there any point/condition that you will look at a machine and say - the only place left for it is to be trashed or sold for the metal in it?
Yes, we do get to that point. Like yesterday, I cleaned a machine up, ( I have to clean the outsides first as spotless as possible before I work on them because I like working on a clean surface just like when I am cooking or sewing. She froze up and I had hubby take a look. Half of the teeth on the nylon gear under the bobbin assembly were broken off and in a nice tidy little pile in the bottom of the box so because she wasn't rare or collectible ( she was given to us) we parted her out and was able to complete two other more collectible machines that had been in line for parts restoration.
I've seen some amazing rescues of machines that looked beyond help to me.
Yes, those are the ones that really make it worth the effort. They can be a challenge and I like that, up to a point.
If I buy a machine, I want it to be in good running order and still look decent.
Some of my best saves were atrocious! Good running order and looking decent means much higher purchase prices where I live so I do look for the ones people will pass by, sometimes it is just dirt and rust that looks bad but can easily be cleaned.
I do not have the skills - or desire - to do repairs or reconditioning.
I didn't have the skills either until I joined this forum and then after a few machines under my belt I had the desire too. I even showed a friend how to restore hers and it is such fun. I really enjoy it, except for the motors, electrical and stuck screws, thank goodness for my wonderful hubby... he doesn't like the cleaning, checking, testing and gathering all of the parts together to make a machine whole but I do and he is great with the motors and rewiring electrical and foot controls etc, so it is a great partnership.
Just wondering.
Yes, we do get to that point. Like yesterday, I cleaned a machine up, ( I have to clean the outsides first as spotless as possible before I work on them because I like working on a clean surface just like when I am cooking or sewing. She froze up and I had hubby take a look. Half of the teeth on the nylon gear under the bobbin assembly were broken off and in a nice tidy little pile in the bottom of the box so because she wasn't rare or collectible ( she was given to us) we parted her out and was able to complete two other more collectible machines that had been in line for parts restoration.
I've seen some amazing rescues of machines that looked beyond help to me.
Yes, those are the ones that really make it worth the effort. They can be a challenge and I like that, up to a point.
If I buy a machine, I want it to be in good running order and still look decent.
Some of my best saves were atrocious! Good running order and looking decent means much higher purchase prices where I live so I do look for the ones people will pass by, sometimes it is just dirt and rust that looks bad but can easily be cleaned.
I do not have the skills - or desire - to do repairs or reconditioning.
I didn't have the skills either until I joined this forum and then after a few machines under my belt I had the desire too. I even showed a friend how to restore hers and it is such fun. I really enjoy it, except for the motors, electrical and stuck screws, thank goodness for my wonderful hubby... he doesn't like the cleaning, checking, testing and gathering all of the parts together to make a machine whole but I do and he is great with the motors and rewiring electrical and foot controls etc, so it is a great partnership.
Just wondering.
05-27-2015, 10:23 PM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Colorado
Posts: 193
For me, whenever faced with a potential project, I ask myself four questions: 1) Do I want to do this? 2) Can I do this? 3) Will I actually get around to it sooner rather than latter? 4) Will my boyfriend be mad if I bring this home?
That last one is veeery important for me. I have bottles, quilts, jeans, rag rugs, pewter casting, candle making, wood carvings, etc all waiting for a piece of my time. And he's getting tired of looking at them sitting there!
Yeah, I understand not wanting to tackle a pile of rust and make it into a working sewing machine.
I was in the same boat until I saw a Davis New Vertical Feed on eBay for $33 *including* shipping. I couldn't afford a nice one so... A lot of WD-40, Evaporust, gun oil, and about 100 hours of elbow grease later she sews like a dream. And I realized I really, really like rebuilding antique sewing machines. Alas, there aren't many rust-buckets to save here in Colorado, it's too dry. I wish I could afford to buy yours off of you but my rusty toys budget has been tapped out for pretty much the rest of the year
That last one is veeery important for me. I have bottles, quilts, jeans, rag rugs, pewter casting, candle making, wood carvings, etc all waiting for a piece of my time. And he's getting tired of looking at them sitting there!
Yeah, I understand not wanting to tackle a pile of rust and make it into a working sewing machine.
I was in the same boat until I saw a Davis New Vertical Feed on eBay for $33 *including* shipping. I couldn't afford a nice one so... A lot of WD-40, Evaporust, gun oil, and about 100 hours of elbow grease later she sews like a dream. And I realized I really, really like rebuilding antique sewing machines. Alas, there aren't many rust-buckets to save here in Colorado, it's too dry. I wish I could afford to buy yours off of you but my rusty toys budget has been tapped out for pretty much the rest of the year
Last edited by Freaky_Quilts_Dragon; 05-27-2015 at 10:28 PM.
05-28-2015, 07:01 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Mendocino County CA
Posts: 1,976
It's a tough question! I try to only take in machines that are in decent condition and look like they will restore well but I am also really attracted to a challenge. I'm ok with dirt, grime, funk but not ok with lots of rust and corrosion. I can re-wire, re-hab motors, and love troubleshooting a machine that won't work. For me, I have to believe that once I have it stitching that someone will want it. If I can't offer it life working again sewing for someone then it's not worth it for me.
I love finding deals though and sometimes a seller wants to get rid of more than one at a time. I still have machines from my first bulk buy and several of those are not in the same shape I would shop for today but it was a bulk deal and many of the other machines were salvageable.
I just picked up three machines last weekend for 20.00. I really only wanted the 15-91 but when they were still unsold at the end of the weekend, they made me an offer I couldn't resist. The 15 and the 27 are both machines I can save. The Fashionmate wasn't worth the effort. I do not hurry to save a machine with plastic and this one had tons of rust in the bobbin area and was missing parts as well. I stripped it for parts and am ok with discarding it.
I love finding deals though and sometimes a seller wants to get rid of more than one at a time. I still have machines from my first bulk buy and several of those are not in the same shape I would shop for today but it was a bulk deal and many of the other machines were salvageable.
I just picked up three machines last weekend for 20.00. I really only wanted the 15-91 but when they were still unsold at the end of the weekend, they made me an offer I couldn't resist. The 15 and the 27 are both machines I can save. The Fashionmate wasn't worth the effort. I do not hurry to save a machine with plastic and this one had tons of rust in the bobbin area and was missing parts as well. I stripped it for parts and am ok with discarding it.
05-28-2015, 07:06 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Originally Posted by bearisgray
Is there any point/condition that you will look at a machine and say - the only place left for it is to be trashed or sold for the metal in it?
I've seen some amazing rescues of machines that looked beyond help to me.
If I buy a machine, I want it to be in good running order and still look decent.
I do not have the skills - or desire - to do repairs or reconditioning.
Just wondering.
I've seen some amazing rescues of machines that looked beyond help to me.
If I buy a machine, I want it to be in good running order and still look decent.
I do not have the skills - or desire - to do repairs or reconditioning.
Just wondering.
{ http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions...-21873755.html }
Joe
05-28-2015, 09:08 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Centralia, WA, USA
Posts: 4,890
Any idea what that one is Joe?
I can see it's a transverse shuttle but that's about it.
I've seen a few machines I wouldn't touch. This one has been broken and brazed back together: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions...-21767021.html
It looked like a good job but it's too easy to have alignment issues with that type of repair.
I would rather tackle Joe's example. Rust isn't nearly as scary as broken or missing parts.
I have a Japanese made White that is relegated to parts machine status. It's pretty easy for repairs to cost more than the machine and cost more than you can sell a machine for once it's fixed. I bought another similar White in better condition that it will help make run.
My 648 Touch & Sew might end up the same way due to a disintegrated nylon gear. I already bought parts for it once and hate throwing more money at it.
Cari I still have your cats' urinal. I haven't fixed it yet. That one is going to get a complete strip and repaint. First I need to walk again and clean the shop though. I still have your "golden" Jones waiting for me to get off my dead butt too.
Rodney
I can see it's a transverse shuttle but that's about it.
I've seen a few machines I wouldn't touch. This one has been broken and brazed back together: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions...-21767021.html
It looked like a good job but it's too easy to have alignment issues with that type of repair.
I would rather tackle Joe's example. Rust isn't nearly as scary as broken or missing parts.
I have a Japanese made White that is relegated to parts machine status. It's pretty easy for repairs to cost more than the machine and cost more than you can sell a machine for once it's fixed. I bought another similar White in better condition that it will help make run.
My 648 Touch & Sew might end up the same way due to a disintegrated nylon gear. I already bought parts for it once and hate throwing more money at it.
Cari I still have your cats' urinal.
I haven't fixed it yet. That one is going to get a complete strip and repaint. First I need to walk again and clean the shop though. I still have your "golden" Jones waiting for me to get off my dead butt too. Rodney
05-28-2015, 09:56 AM
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Colorado
Posts: 193
Originally Posted by J Miller
Yes, when the get to the level of rust this poor machine has reached: { http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions...-21873755.html } Joe
Gods, no, I'm sucking myself in. No Dragon, don't get another pile of rust. Bad Dragon, bad!
For me, I don't pick up machines that take a rare shuttle, or do have one but I find they are beyond repair. I'm just sick of hunting them down. Luckily that rusty mystery Singer doesn't have it's boat shuttle, so I know I won't take it.
Last edited by Freaky_Quilts_Dragon; 05-28-2015 at 10:00 AM.
05-28-2015, 10:22 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Rodney,
I have no idea what that poor thing is. If you look at the close up of the foot and that area you can see it's badly pitted. That much rust really messes things up. I'd end up replacing more parts than cleaning. I've been that route with my 99K I named Rusty. I got the machine for free and the parts didn't cost too much so I chalk it up as a learning tool.
Dragon,
Sometimes resistance is futile ...
Joe
I have no idea what that poor thing is. If you look at the close up of the foot and that area you can see it's badly pitted. That much rust really messes things up. I'd end up replacing more parts than cleaning. I've been that route with my 99K I named Rusty. I got the machine for free and the parts didn't cost too much so I chalk it up as a learning tool.
Dragon,
Sometimes resistance is futile ...
Joe
05-28-2015, 12:11 PM
#19
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
Originally Posted by Rodney
Cari I still have your cats' urinal.
I haven't fixed it yet. That one is going to get a complete strip and repaint. First I need to walk again and clean the shop though. I still have your "golden" Jones waiting for me to get off my dead butt too. Rodney
Cari
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