Originally Posted by
Charlee
If the shellac (clear coat) on your machines is in ANY WAY compromised or missing, you're going to lose decals with Billy's tutorials...there's been more than one person bemoaning the cleaning method that Billy promoted!!
Use sewing machine oil to clean your machines...it may take longer than the "instant" of the GoJo or Goop, but you're still going to have decals when you're done!
Charlee is right - unless you are planning to repaint that machine please use the videos in the sticky:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...v-t167789.html You do not need to worry about the gunk inside the machine that you can see - it is the gunk caught in moving parts that you can't see you need to worry about so use Triflow oil - Triflow oil it will free up the stuck up parts. It may take a while but it will free up. There is absolutely NO NEED to completely dis-assemble a sewing machine to clean it up. Triflow oil can be found on line or in your local bicycle shop.
It is likely that if you took a machine to a shop that does modern machines they don't have a clue how to clean the outside of these old machines. The plastic machines can be cleaned with many other products. The old black machines have a shellac finish and you must be very careful not to disturb the decals. Glenn has a tutorial here on repairing the shellac.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...s-t186522.html I have tried this. It works and is so much easier that the posts where you are suppose to soak in kerosene and dis-assemble the machine. Glenn is not trying to drum up business.