painting an older machine?
 

I think this is something I'd enjoy doing. I can't say I've ever really done anything like that before, but I like doing detailed stuff and having awesome results. So I'm thinking about - should I find one - getting an older machine just to strip the paint off and paint it a shocking color and maybe putting some non-traditional decals on it. Think motorcycle tanks.... Um, I've done a little googling and I haven't seen anything like what I have in my head, but that doesn't mean it's an original idea. I've seen red machines and pink machines, etc, and I get all googly-eyed looking at them. However, if I do this, am I going to get tsk-tsk'ed from the sewing-machine-police?

You have seen other machines done in colors so that means other people are doing them. Go for it. I would not try doing anything to a great machine with great decals. Find an old plain Jane that the finish is gone or just about gone with bad decals or no decals.

AshleyR,

I have a perfect candidate for a repaint right now. My newly acquired New Home. The bed is really bad as you can see in the pics. This one really needs a repaint. I've no idea where to get New Home decals or even if they are available. But I'm looking. I've never painted a sewing machine either, but what the heck. I sure can't hurt it much more than the water and mice did.

Oh, there are no sewing machine police allowed here. We make them stay at Yahoo.

Joe

Hahaha. I do appreciate the Yahoo groups but I am always sort of nervous when I post anything in case I get my hand slapped :p for unintentionally breaking one of the "rules"!!

Dave McCallum has some directions for repainting a "dog" (his words :D ) in his book "The Featherweight 221 and I". He gives a couple of different methods. :thumbup:

I'd say go for it! I'm in the process of repainting my 201-2 right now, and it was a hard decision whether or not to go for traditional black or hotrod red. I think if I ever get another sad vintage that has no hope I might go for the hotrod red, but if you're up to the challenge I'd say to go for it and never look back. :)

Hey Ashley, I would love to find one I can paint purple, so I have been on the look out. I say go for it. Machine police, who the heck are they, LOL About like quilt police, I just don't give a rip what they think. Pics when your done please.
Hows that dogwood quilt coming along. Haven't started mine to busy building my house.

Go for it. I agree with Valleyquiltermo about the quilt police. I wanted to have my featherweight painted the color of my two red cars and they went crazy on me. Since you like the idea do it. I say a FW with flames on it yesterday on EBAY. Looked great. Please post a picture when it's done.

Hmm.. I have a Brother XL-3022 that I rescued. It's dirty and is missing the bobbin stuff, but I'm hoping I can salvage those parts from the Kenmore door stop. They're very badly rusted, but I haven't really tried to clean them yet. Anyway.... I was thinking about the "sewing machine painting" on the way into work this morning, and I thought, a-ha! Why not try it on that Brother? There's nothing "wrong" with the way it looks, but how much cooler would it be in lipstick red or heck, even glitter? I'm sure it won't be as collectible as an old metal machine would be, but maybe some "young whippersnapper" might like it and inspired to start sewing?

So I'm thinking about sanding it a little and using the "for-plastic" spray paint. I'm thinking this would be an easier (and cheaper) project, and if I mess it up, well, I'm out $5 for the paint and $7 for the sewing machine and have learned a lesson.

I thought about purple, but all I see in my head are those Singer Pixie machines or whatever those are. I'm also thinking about orange, for some reason. I'm not a fan of the color orange, and I'm afraid if I painted something, it would look like day-glo warning paint. I'll have to see what kind of paint I find and see if any of them talk to me. Plus the stuff that is on the machine already that I can't paint over is an aqua, so it has to not clash with that!

I might have to check out that Pinterest website I'm hearing so much about!

They are the same people who cry "Foul!" when someone makes a tractor model out of an old machine!

I am 85% done with that quilt. You know the bunches of blossoms that are in the border (for lack of a better word)? That's all I have left, is quilting them and the border. The middle is done (yay!) but I didn't baste it well enough, and the batting is getting bunchy in the parts that's not quilted yet. There is one spot that I really screwed it up, but there wasn't anything I could do but rip it all out or keep going. Guess which one I did! I think I have a pic of it on my Facebook, I'll try to post it on the Board later.

Oh, my goodness, this is how I picture my sewing machine!!

I would say you shouldn't be tsked, tsked if you tell people that it was in terrible condition to start with and you gave it new life. Personally, I wouldn't repaint nice machines, I'd only do it with machines that would otherwise be boat anchors. That way, you have nothing to lose while you're gaining experience doing it. I plan on repainting one in the future too. Now I just need to find one local where the seller doesn't think they have a $1,000 heirloom beneath all the rust:>

I have to admit, I think turning vintage sewing machines into tractors is terrible:<

luckily, all of my machines (5 as of right now!) are in decent condition. I thought about painting the 206 that I got a few days ago, but there's nothing wrong with the paint, and I just can't bring myself to even think about that. Maybe one day, if I knew what I was doing... but not to experiment on! And my Pfaff is boring but I don't think I'd ever resell her. The Janome and my other Singer.. Yes! But they're in great shape too, even if they are just "white plastic". Sigh....


I found this while doing research: http://nurseknits.blogspot.com/2011/...28-singer.html Very cute!

Personally, I don't mind the tractors, because I assume they're made from boat anchors, too. I just can't figure out who they're marketed to. Kids? Def. not a toy! Farmers? Sewing machine collectors? I thought about donating my door-stop to someone who makes them, but I can't find anyone who does.

The tractors would be cooler if they sewed.
What is your doors stop? I rescued a model 15 from a frozen rusty heap (stored outside in NJ) but it has yet to get paint. I can't imagine what you would have to do to one to make it beyond repair.

I think it's a Kenmore 58? It was in the shed of a house I bought in '07. The crank won't budge by hand. I didn't try to plug it in, so no idea if the motor works.

hmmm
my 15 would not turn either, heat kerosene and vibration, got it "rocking" continued small movement lead to it freeing up enough to disassmble. Time and patience... but i am odd that way..... have done the same with cars and millitary vehicles. I love a challenge.

Come and pick her up! I'll find something else to prop my door open!

where abouts in Tn? oddly enough I will be down that way in two weeks.

Knoxville. It'd be great to meet you!

Hmm, I'll check with the wife on the Itinerary, but I will be in Savannah ( half way towards Nashville) in about two weeks time. though it looks like I am hitting every ajacent state during our whirlwind visit.

Well, just let me know... it ain't going anywhere!

I wouldn't use "for plastic" paint. Use a good metal paint, primer first though, if you want it to stay on. Get bids from an auto repair or hotorod shop. They can make a little on "waste paing" and you will have a finish that will last and will look good. It may cost more up front, but would be a good value down the road.

Well, I bit the bullet tonight. I hadn't really had a chance to look the machine over. It's yellowed anyway, so why not?! I wiped it down with fingernail polish remover to take the shine off. Worked well! I put a layer of pink on it and didn't like it at all. It looked like "My first sewing machine by Playtex"! So I took that off and put a layer of orange on it. It's going to take SEVERAL coats. I'm going to let it sit over night and do another coat in the morning. Right now, it looks more like Tanning Mom than a Harley so I'll save pics until the very end :)

Sounds like fun! Of course, if it were the last remaining model of a classic, museum quality machine you might be in trouble. But I think we get a little crazy about tradition sometimes. Art takes many forms. Looking forward to seeing your masterpiece!

Lol, it's a Brother I got for $7 off Craigslist! I'm planning on MAKING it a classic, museum quality machine! ;)

Somewhere on youtube is a video showing a woman demonstrating some technique, and the machine she's using has hand painted flowers all over it. I can't find the bookmark, and search wouldn't pick it up because nothing was said about the machine. Anyway, the sky's the limit. If you make a unique machine with the idea of selling it you can expect excellent returns for your effort, judging by prices I've seen on others. Of course the machine has to be one that would be worth having with or without fancy paint, but there are plenty of ugly ducklings out there that would qualify.

I think the Harley decal idea is great because it might make sewing more attractive to some guy who would otherwise shun it as a feminine pursuit, or maybe it would help convince people that a lot of these old machines that they thought of as potential boat anchors are actually marvels of engineering that deserve respect.