Amazing stuff you can do Steve.

That's the type of bolt I needed for my Singer hand crank, my dad made me one. But not on a lathe, lucky you to be able to manufacture these. As you know you can't really find them anywhere.

that's we make em.....

Very cool.

Very nice work Steve. Sorry that you got the wrong die the first time. That had to be frustrating to do all of that work and have it ruined by someone else.:mad:

I have been doing some restoration work on a Singer 27 from 1896. The poor old thing has some real issues. Can it be saved? Yes! I may not be able to restore the paint to the original condition, but I can restore the mechanicals and it will sew again. I wanted to share some of my progress.

It was so rusty, I did not even know that there was a design on the inspection plate until I saw a picture of it that I had taken of it before I started working on it. It took some work, but I am happy with how it came out.

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The head was a mess. It was covered with years of dust. The foot bar was seized and the foot lever was so rusted, I thought that it would have to be replaced. It sparkles again after using a Dremel with a buffing wheel and some jewelers rouge on it. The paint in there even shines.

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I think that many machines that seem like a lost cause really are not. This machine has been handed down for generations. It is important to the family that it is no longer neglected and that it is restored. It might take some doing, but it will come back to life. Sometimes it simply depends on how bad you want it.
~G~

Naptha --- which is nothing more than lighter fluid but a whole lot cheaper by the gallon. Lowe's has it -- look in the paint section. I use it to clean all my machines. I have stated before to NEVER use anything that contains alcohol as it will damage the paint ( in time ).

Cathy stopped by last night and the repaired original and the newly made bolts fit!!! Woo hoo! Two Gold Medal handcrank machines are back in action! (sorry, forgot to take a pic...)

I have had a machine that came out of an old dilapidated shed that was missing part of the roof, so it was basically in the elements. The cabinet turned to dust when it was moved but the machine was saved. What was left of the machine anyway. I have been working on it from time to time this past year and it is coming along. This is the shed it came out of.
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Here are a few shots of the machine before and after cleaning and polishing. It may take some time, but I am saving this one.

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Grant,

The before and after is just incredible. Great work on that one.

Joe

Thank you so much Joe. It has been going from rusty to reflective. :D And coming from you, I take that as a very high compliment.
~G~