to add to the toolbox - i like using ordinary all cotton string to clean with. pull off a yard or so, fold it on itself multiple times until it is maybe 10" with multiple layers, add a drop of whatever you're cleaning with and then you can use the yarn to see-saw around the metal part. it's especially great for simichrome and polishing the cylinder parts, like the needlebar. or sewing machine oil on the shafts under the bed of the machine. anything you want to go around - go around the part then switch hands so that the string is "closed" across the top of the part and then as you move your hands, it will see-saw back and forth and clean the part all the way around.

There's no acetone in tri-flow. It's a great solvent, but I think it will hurt the clear coat and/or paint.

You're way cuter than the bug!;)

That is a great idea! I am learning so much here.

Thank you.:)

Okay I did change my avatar because I really was afraid someone would hurt their monitor. That little bug was just too real looking in how it moved. It was fun whilst it lasted though. :D

Kreel oil, let it soak about 10 minutes, get whaever loose stuff you can with tweezers then lightly brush with a metal brush or a small scotchbrite pad. Be careful with the pad, they tend to break down and leave more mess

Thank you. This is also going into my tidbits and ideas notebook. :)

i think perhaps they meant "Kroil"

Just for the record, I have had Tri-Flow inadvertently take some paint (or black finish) off a 1924 Singer.

So, I am -very- careful with where I put tri flow.

Also for the record, I loved the bug avatar. And also that jumping elephant of Anastasia's...

Aww, thanks I liked it too but it can drive people buggy. I like the elephant too. I am shopping around for another one that people won't swat at..LOL

Uh oh. That's scary. I wonder if it's the 3% 2-Methoxymethylethoxypropanol or the 3% amyl acetate. The first is an alcohol, not volatile like rubbing alcohol or ethyl alcohol because it's a big molecule but it's still an alcohol. I looked up amyl acetate and it's also known as banana oil. And it's also a paint solvent!
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/amyl+acetate
Most of the other ingredients are basically oils and shouldn't affect paint. Teflon is pretty much inert, and it's slippery so probably not abrasive.

Maybe we need to find another favorite machine oil? Or mix our own from kerosene and sewing machine oil? I'm very bummed that tri-flow can remove paint. Singer's repair manuals say that gunky machines should be soaked in a bath of kerosene or Varsol, which is supposed to be deodorized kerosene.

About the avatars, I gotta confess that I don't like the moving ones because they're distracting. Except for DanofNJ's sewing machine animation. It moves slowly and I like staring at it!