Decal reglue / repair
 

I was sewing a Whacky Bag on my HOTHER today and noticed that there is a crack towards the right side of the decal in the center of the bed. To the left of the crack is a bubble. I touched it and you can see it move.
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The bubble is under the petuum with the crack running through the m. Try as I might I couldn't get the camera to see what my eyes did.

I have no idea how long that bubble has been there, but I want to fix it. Somehow get something gluie under the decal then gently massage it down. Last thing I want is something snagging that bubble and destroying the decal.

I have some ideas, but thought I'd ask here. Some of our members can be downright creative with little things like this.

TIA

Joe

This sounds silly, and I am the farthest thing from an expert here and not very creative either, but could you get a tiny syringe and inject some "gluie" stuff under the bubble then smooth it out?

And what is a Whacky Bag?

Jp

Caroline,

Not a clue. There is no signs of worn shellac like the old Singers and others have. There is signs of wear, but I'm not sure if it's wear into a clear surface coating, or into the paint.
The main decals seem to be covered by some kind of a clear coat as they are in great shape for a machine this age and with the amount of use it's had.
The decal "SEWMATIC" on the arm between the two green plaid strips is on the surface and wearing off.
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I've been considering the french polish idea or spray shellac to cover the decal, but it would still need something under it to stick it down.

Joe

Jp,

The syringe is one of the first ideas I had. I do have one around here somewhere with a very thin needle in it. What I'd have to figure out is what kind of glue to use to stick it down. Don't want something that dries quickly, and it can't be a thick type of liquid.

Here's a pic of a Whacky Bag I made with our first 500a:
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I first started making them as a means to test each machine I'd worked over. It consists of 80 3.5" squares, 1 19"x42" inner bag and 2 4"x28" handles. A total of 83 pieces. By the time I get done with one I've got the machine adjusted and ready to go.

My wife has been using them as door prizes and auction attractions on the gigs she's going too.


Joe

Tartan,

There is already a crack in the decal, so there's no air trapped underneath.

Your idea of testing the glue in a hidden spot is a good one I shall do.


Joe

Hmmmm, I don't, but I'll mention it to my wife. She knows a lot more people than I do. Thanks for the idea.

Joe

too bad there isn't a hidden decal to xperiment with. Personally I'd lean towards crazy glue. Wear gloves. put in a couple drops and squeegee out with your gloved thumb. The risk might be it could haze the clear.

The chemicals in crazy glue are pretty antagonistic to shiny finishes. That is one adhesive I won't try on this.
I was thinking about trying some shellac. That's pretty watery thin and I know it won't hurt the decals. I just got to get all my duckies in a row. Nother words, get organized. HAH!

Joe

Like the whacky bag, thanks for sharing!

Jp

Glenn should be around here in a day or two. He will know.

If you pricked the bubble, maybe the air could be released and decal would be flat? Good luck!

Judi,

Re-read my posts. There is already a crack in the decal. There is no air trapped under it. Now, I've said that two or three times.

I just don't want to make the damage worse.

Joe

Superglue injected under the decal was my first thought. They make various thicknesses and some are water thin. It also dries clear. You just have to be very careful to not get it on top of the decal. Your shellac idea may be more promising. We know it won't hurt the decal and would be sticky enough to hold, especially after you clear-coated over the decal to protect it.
Rodney

Rodney,

I'm 99 and 44 / 100 % sure that is what I'm going to do. I have shellac, and somewhere I have a syringe with small needle. As soon as I find it I'll get set up to try this. I will of course take a pic or three as I'm doing it.

Joe

I'm not an expert, but I do know that cyanoacrylates have no business being anywhere near precious decals. I'd go with shellac just for safety. Especially as the only clean up for superglue is acetone, so if anything went wrong it would be very bad.

Yepper!

Joe

I am by no means an expert, but Crazy Glue dries extremely fast! Also, it spreads out very quickly -- if you get it on your hands, you might be glued to the machine! I would be afraid the crazy glue would damage any finish with which it came in contact. I think I would check with Glenn, because he is an expert!

Jeanette

Joe, I'd be careful with the syringe. The glue, or varnish, is highly viscous and may not be able to pass through a thin needle. The needle may pop off in the process, leaving you with a big mess. I'd start with a larger needle, not a thin one and see where that takes you with your practices first. Also, the glue may not dry clear.

~ Cindy

Cindy,

You can bet that when I find that hypo I'll be doing some test runs before I go after the actual decal. That machine has been in my family for decades (I don't even know how long) so I do not want to mess it up.


Joe