ATTACHING A MACHINE TO THE SWING FRAME
There's a story to the machine we are using to demonstrate in this post. So, please just skip ahead if you don't like stories.
We were at a yard sale. I was looking through the usual ordinary stuff, vinyl records, pictures that did not particularly inspire me, lots of glassware that we didn't need and several pairs of pants that would never fit. As I was looking, I heard someone clear their throat a little louder than normal. It was Janey.
Nobody else noticed. But I know that sound. Roughly translated, it means something like, "Honey, I've found something having to do with sewing, a sewing machine and/or something related, that you might be interested in seeing." Casually, so as to not attract undue attention, I made my way over to where she was.
What she had found was yet another White Rotary, this one a model 43. Coincidentally, this was the third White Rotary we have come across in a short time. The machine with brown wrinkle finish came in a decent wooden cabinet. The cabinet did have several drawers. In one of those drawers was a little box. And in that little box were some attachments. "Attachments!", she said.
Janey began going through the box of items, sorting out which of them went with the White, which belonged with other machines and which had nothing at all to do with sewing. After 15 minutes or so, a nice woman selling the machine came over and Janey explained that many of the attachments were for other machines. She had them all sorted out. The woman listened as Janey explained what some of the attachments were and what they did. I looked over the machine as the two of them talked for a while.
Since we have two Whites already, we thanked her and continued looking around. Later, as we were leaving, Janey stopped and talked with her a bit more. The woman said we were the only people that had shown interest in the machine. She apparently took a liking to Janey, because she offered the machine for a very, very low price. I don't want to be too specific, but let's just say you could count it on one hand.
Janey looked at me and I looked at her. We were trying to think of a reason to say no. We were both drawing blanks. How could we refuse such an offer? Before long the machine head was out and placed safely in the car, with the cabinet and drawers loaded into the back (and all the attachments). We drove the short distance home slowly with the back hatch open.
The machine is so much like the White Rotary 41 that it's difficult to pinpoint differences. It's brown. Janey thinks there might be something different about the bobbin mechanism. But because this machine just happens to be our latest acquisition, and on the work bench so to speak, we'll use it later to demonstrate a second way to fasten a machine to a swing frame.
Original Clip Fastener Method
The design of the original work stand includes four(4) small and unobtrusive clips to secure the machine to the frame. Their small size make them easy to work around and make it easy to install a machine. They are made from 1/2 inch steel bar material, 1/8 inch thick. Each clip is drilled to accommodate a high strength bolt. Corresponding holes go through the baseboard and the swing frame. This involves a little metal work, cutting and drilling.
(Picture of Clips)
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These clips, which are specific to each baseboard, contact only the curved edge of the sewing machine bed, as illustrated. Each unique baseboard requires clips just the right length to reach the curved edge of the machine. Clips are color coded to the baseboard they are associated with. An allen head high strength bolt secures each clip, with a washer and wing nut on the underside of the swing frame.
(Clip Illustration)
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Since I'm able and have the tools to make these compact fasteners, this would always be my preference. But there is at least one other possibility, presented below.
Alternate Wood Strip and C-clamp Method
One night recently Janey said, "You know, you could use wood strips and C-clamps to hold a machine in the frame." She was so right. I decided to build two such strips to prove her point. I painted them and added felt as a cushion. A trip to Harbor Freight yielded four C-clamps just the right size.
(Wood Strips and Clamps)
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I want to demonstrate that the swing frame can be used with a baseboard and very little else. No base. No clips. These can be added later, if desired.
Janey is helping to demonstrate. My arms aren't long enough to hold the frame and the camera. She is holding the frame while I take the picture. As shown, this is a very simple use of a swing frame, using only a baseboard, two wood strips, four C-clamps and two saw horses While not quite as neat and compact as the clips, the wooden strip approach is much easier, involving no metal work. And while we fancied things up with red felt, you wouldn't have to. The saw horses can be used temporarily until something better is devised.
(Swing Frame On Saw Horses)
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This may seem an odd setup, but someone cleaning or oiling a machine for example, could use it quite effectively. One or two bungee cords could easily hold it in the position desired. A clamp on each saw horse prevents the pivot shafts from moving around. We only needed one each side in the picture, since its downhill. Two might be needed if the saw horses are more level.
If someone can manage to obtain a swing frame and a baseboard, everything else can be added later as time and resources permit.
More on making baseboards soon...
John