Cleaning and repairing the Shellac clear coat on Vintage sewing machine heads

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12-29-2014, 12:12 PM

#381

miriam

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Join Date: Mar 2011

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Quote:

Originally Posted by asgardner

My game plan is this:
1. Clean machine with sewing machine oil. All the store had was Dritz.
2. Wipe off with naphtha.
3. Apply a little shellac over the decals to protect them.
4. Wax.
Am I missing anything? Thanks!

For best results read everything Glenn has written, be very careful and do what he says to do.
NEVER LET A SEWING MACHINE KNOW YOU ARE IN A HURRY.

12-29-2014, 06:36 PM

#382

asgardner

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Join Date: Dec 2013

Location: Wichita Falls, TX

Posts: 22

One more project I am considering. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking mild, soapy water and a soft toothbrush, and maybe some metal polish for the decal. Any other ideas? What about the case? Thanks![ATTACH=CONFIG]504096[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]504097[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]504098[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]504099[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]504100[/ATTACH]

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12-29-2014, 09:32 PM

#383

asgardner

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Join Date: Dec 2013

Location: Wichita Falls, TX

Posts: 22

So, after three hours of cleaning with denatured alcohol and linseed oil I'm not sure im making any progress. The machine feels the same but now I have streaks and scratches. Help, please![ATTACH=CONFIG]504111[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]504112[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]504113[/ATTACH]

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12-30-2014, 03:35 AM

#384

HelenAnn

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Location: Central Minnesota

Posts: 442

I think it looks like you are doing well. Remember this is not a new machine, she has lived a long time. You don't want to remake her just refresh. Let her rest a day or two.

12-30-2014, 03:41 AM

#385

miriam

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read everything Glenn has and try to understand

12-30-2014, 07:58 AM

#386

asgardner

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Join Date: Dec 2013

Location: Wichita Falls, TX

Posts: 22

I went back and compared pictures this morning. I do think she is looking better! A couple of places are a little cloudy, and one place really shows marks where I worked on it. I went back but can't find the post where it says what to do. Do I keep at it with alcohol and oil or should I move on to oil and shellac? Thank you so much for all your help, miriam!

12-30-2014, 08:07 AM

#387

asgardner

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Join Date: Dec 2013

Location: Wichita Falls, TX

Posts: 22

Also, I never really had any old shellac on my rag. Should I have had a little?

12-30-2014, 08:22 AM

#388

asgardner

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Location: Wichita Falls, TX

Posts: 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by miriam

First off - Glenn's fingers are bigger than mine. I have to stretch the t-shirt material over two fingers. Then after the Naptha just put it away. Next use the linseed oil and denatured alcohol - go light - just go over it. Then you can go over it with some denatured alcohol and shellac. You do not need to repeat the Naptha. You can repeat the alcohol and shellac a couple times then you might need to go over it with the linseed oil and denatured alcohol if it doesn't go smooth any more. I'm good at messing it up and getting in a hurry and making it blotchy. Glenn is the king of slow and patient on the finishes.

Do I use denatured alcohol and shellac or boiled linseed oil and shellac?

12-30-2014, 08:27 AM

#389

SteveH

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Location: San Lorenzo, CA

Posts: 5,361

This might be easier to follow:

Then after the Naptha just put it away.
Next use the linseed oil and denatured alcohol - go light - just go over it.
Then you can go over it with some denatured alcohol and shellac.
You do not need to repeat the Naptha.
You can repeat the alcohol and shellac a couple times
you might need to go over it with the linseed oil and denatured alcohol if it doesn't go smooth any more.

12-30-2014, 08:40 AM

#390

ArchaicArcane

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Join Date: Jul 2012

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Posts: 3,817

Quote:

Originally Posted by asgardner

Do I use denatured alcohol and shellac or boiled linseed oil and shellac?

This is a fair question. In some places, in this tutorial or the other one, it says the llinseed oil and shellac and some (like this one) say alcohol and shellac.

Shellac flakes are disolved in alcohol to become usable. Most of us skip this step and buy the premixed shellac. I think I saw such a thing in one of your pictures. To spread it evenly - we add a little linseed oil. It helps it glide. Shellac wants to stick.