Originally Posted by laura59
Going crazy here. A couple of weeks ago, I got my second FW. Didn't get a chance to really clean it up until this morning. I'm not a very patient person, so, after using GoJo and a ton of cotton balls, it is still dirty. There is a brownish gunk that comes off on the cotton balls. I put some GoJo on, going in circular motions, wait a few minutes, then wipe it off. After doing this for the 4th time this morning, there is still brown gunk coming off and the machine bed still feels sticky. Is there something else that I can use to maybe get this cleaned up? I have the first FW cleaned and set up in my living room and it works beautifully. Wanted to get this one cleaned up so that I can use it in my sewing room. (I like to sew in the living room when there is something good on tv, which isn't too often, as we only get local channels, no cable). Any help will be greatly appreciated.
This might already be answered and if it has I am sorry to double post it but it sounds like your machine was japanned and what is coming off is the shellac. I would wait for a bit and give it a rest and then you can go over it with Liquid Gold and that will fix you right up. Sometimes a wax will help but not in this case I do not think. I run into this all of the time with the 1800's and early 1900's machines, and it is normal on finish degregation.
Billy