I just bought this great treadle machine.....don't know if it works yet and will approach that down the road. However,I want to paint the metal frame/treadle. Can anyone tell me the best way to take the cabinet off the frame. The screws appear to be between the drawers and the metal, but up high/deep...more so than I can easily reach. I appreciate any help you can offer.

Refinishing treadle irons and cabinet

Here's something to get you started til you get more responses. I used stove polish on mine, after cleaning them off. I like the results and I didn't have to take it apart. I can't see if yours have rust on them - that would be a different story. Good luck and post after pictures!!

I take off the drawers so I can easily get at the screws.

I put towels in the bottom of my tub/shower and then scrubbed and scrubbed to get the base cleaned and loose paint removed. Then spray painted it with several coats of Rustoleum "Hammered" spraypaint. The one I fixed up had been stored in a shed for about 15 South Dakota winters, and it was quite rusted and needed serious help. All the gilding was gone and I didn't try to recreate it, just went straight black

This base was very dirty but in nice shape (top was junk though). This one still showed a lot of gilding, however it was also about 40 years newer than the first one.



This is the same base - it cleaned up rather nicely!

While traditional, the base doesn't have to be black. I did one in a nice deep red and it looked great. (Can't find a photo just now)