Macybaby

You'd be amazed how much damage plain water can do. Most of us can tell a horror story or two about an early experience "cleaning" decals off machines . . . That is why we all say "READ THE STICKY" before you start as what may seem a gentle way to clean may not give the results one expects. Normally we clean them off using sewing machine oil. It will clean off the grim/dirt/dust but does not harm the decals, as usually the shellac overcoat is degraded.

Macybaby

Here is one of those "opps".

This is my Lotus 66-1



While cleaning it, my husband took off the belt guard with the bobbin winder attached. He decided the bobbin winder was so grungy he'd toss it in the sonic cleaner (just water, nothing else in it) and he had a brain lockup and forgot the about the belt guard until after it hit the water. He pulled it out and gave it a wipe, and it was too late.



We've been looking for a replacement for about a year now, and just last night I hit "buy it now" and finally have one on the way!

SteveH

interesting, I have never tried an ultrasonic cleaner... hmmmmm

J Miller

I have a collection of fountain pens, some from the 1920s even. I knew a pen collector in Phoenix who used an ultra sonic cleaner with a special pen cleaning solution to remove dried up ink from the pen points. Worked superbly. However we found out it would take gold plating off the steel nibs, so we learned a big lesson that day.

Joe

Macybaby

being a reloader - the sonic cleaner was one tool my husband said yes to real quick when I wanted to get one for cleaning parts.

lswan

For the finish, try TR3 from an automotive store. I got mine at Pep Boys. Doesn't have any fumes either. About a million cotton balls, patience, and small circular polishing will bring it to great shine with no harm to the decals. I have cleaned a really bad Lotus and it came out terrific. It takes patience going over and over until the cotton balls come clean. For some reason, soft rags don't work as well. I highly, highly recommend it.

prezzy

Wow, I just found one at a garage sale. I do not know how to post a pic, or I would. Mine is in beautiful shape. How do I know if it is a 66-1 like what you are talking about?

prezzy

The serial number in B1316675, can this machine really be 100+ years old?

crocee

That machine was allotted on Sept 1 1905, 20,000 made. Its 109 years old if my math is correct and it IS a 66

miriam

If you use water on shellac it will turn the finish white