A new paint job- taboo?
 

So, before the holidays, I picked up a Dressmaker 700 ZZ machine at a thrift store for $15. I spent $25 to have her serviced by a local antique sewing machine guy and now she purrs like a kitten. I luff her. (I also need to name her.) The problem is, that after logging 40 hours or so on her, she's way more spunky than her paint job indicates. She is beige. Rental beige. Can I have her repainted or am I breaking some kind of vintage sewing machine rules? ;) I'd love to go metallic orange or purple since the sewing room is lime green. Where would be the best place to start? I'm in the Kansas City metro. TIA!

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It's your machine-if you like a different colour than by all means paint it! Protect the bearing holes and screw holes and use something to knock the glaze off, and go right to town! I think some nice bold orange would be tiring on the eyes, although it would look swell. I would go with a purple. Cheers! Chaz P S Post some photos of the paint job, too!

I think that us so cool that you want to paint your new sewing machine. It definitely deserves to be other than beige. make her shine externally too!

If you know some one that does body work on cars and does the paint work to. That would be the person I would ask. They might do it for a reasonable price. Never hurts to ask. I figure if they can repaint cars a sewing machine should be a snap.

You can search the net to find how to paint a sewing machine

How about going to a company that make stickers (liker bumbler stickers) they also make static cling. You can also have a "wraps", sort of like a whole body sticker. These you see on race cars and on advertising stickers on cars and trucks. These are stretched around the body of the object being decorated. It keeps the item covered, but does not damage the original paint finish. Whatever can be designed on a computer can be done on the wrap.

How cool would THAT be??? I wonder what it would cost?

Can't wait to see it all painted and fancy. I do agree on some colors making the eyes tired.

I think a skin would be so cool! I have done some repaints and ti do them right is a TON of work. Or some of the killer decals out for mixers....just google. http://www.etsy.com/listing/10315556...er-decal-vinyl

Oh dear - around here, my grand daughters would have a field day with stickers on blah sewing machines...

What a timely question! I have been having this same debate in my head. I recently bought a Necchi BU Nova (black) for $20, but the paint on the bed is flaking off, down to the metal. If I'm going to repaint it, why not a snazzy color? And, with those decals!! Woo wee! I like those!!

I have a pink Atlas with wonderful decals but the foot control dug pits in the base - my DGDs and Wilbur (DGS) all LOVE those decals - repaint is out of the question.

I would touch up the chips in the paint and go with the decals. I have purple roses for my light blue Elna and red ones for my tan 301. Mine came from ebay - there are other motifs available.

I love the Pink! I have an old Necchi that I've been considering painting. I also have a Singer 221 that has lots of scratches & wear. I found this website www.creativefeet.com There is also a link to a uTube video of her painting her machine. I saw her at the Houston International Quilt Show this past November & loved her machine. I enjoyed her demo & purchased several of her sewing feet. Love them. The nice part of her process is that it says you can change it if you decide to. Will have to check it out. I'm going to order her video.

Taboo? No such thing. Celebrate your freedoms and do what YOU want. Respect rare or valuable machines, but even those are yours to do with as you will.

But, you do have to share once you've customized it!

Search out Billy, Lostn51. He use to be on here , but haven't seen him in a while. He is a master in painting machines.

most anybody that can paint a car can paint a machine - it is the preparation that is most important at least according to my BIL who paints antique cars

Try this link. http://www.urbanelementz.com/shop/category/decals/
Urban Elementz has machine tatoos. They're kind of cool.

Repainted FW's are selling like crazy on e-bay!

I love the idea of a sewing machine skin. Wonder how well it would stand up to wear on the bed. Personal preference for me- I like the old black machines, and they look strange to me painted. Bonnie Hunter sent one out for painting a few months ago and seemed satisfied. She gave the name on her blog- quiltville.blogspot.com.

Ah, I love it when we can be a free spirit and just do what we darn want! Go for it! Isn't that the beauty of it all!

That is a neat idea. Dress my machines up with removable goodies. I requested a catalog so I can look at it and dream of what my machines would like. Machine candy! :)

I like the idea of the skins but I think I still want an underlying paint job. I've googled a bit and found a custom motorcycle shop that has repainted a long-arm before and shows it on their web site so that's a hopeful sign. Otherwise, it seems no one specifically mentions it and i'm a bit afraid that they'll try to take it apart and not put it back together correctly. I don't think I can do it myself, that's beyond my reach but I would love to learn. I have issues with spray-can paint, let alone auto body paint. :D There's a shop that sells vintage machines in Topeka so maybe I'll give them a call for a referral.

After thinking about it, public opinion may be right on this one. I'm thinking that Orange may be too hard on the eyes. Deep sparkle purple, with an almost vinyl wet look is where my brain is at now. I will post pictures when the extreme makeover happens! I don't think I could not show her off!

I am going to depart from the majority opinion. If the paint is good and not deteriorated, I would honor the machine and the designers and keep it the way it is. Your mileage may vary.

Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville has had several of her machines repainted and decals replaced. She's in SC and I don't know who does this work for her.

I'm inclined to agree. The paint they put on those old machines is pretty tough stuff most of the time. If you just don't like the color the decals or something might be the way to go. That said, I've had to get decals off a machine after they were on for a few years and it isn't easy. The beige blah colored machines were that color to prevent eye fatigue - it is why surgery drapes are that funny turquoise color - if you look at something long enough the image goes in your head - if you look away it changes - they chose the turquoise for surgery because it is the opposite color from blood and guts - if the doctor looks away and looks back the color won't have changed. Maybe someone did some studies something like that with the sewing machines.

Miriam,

You are too funny! Also, I learned something new and interesting today. Thanks!

Judy

I made surgical drapes for a veterinarian for a time - he told me that... makes sense

A good cheap paint job a tech school that dos cars.

great idea!!!

Go for the paint job----:thumbup: