Mizkaki

Tammi,

The last time I tried making a list of my machines I found that I was quite the liar. VBG
I really don't want anyone, including me, to know just how many I really have.

Cathy

ArchaicArcane

Well OK, the goo gone is working a little. It's softening the paint, but it doesn't remove it. If I dab a little on, then scrape at it with my fingernails, or in the "deep" spots with a dull needle, it's coming out. I have no idea what that says about the type of paint that it is...

Of course, the mechanical manipulation puts the decals at risk, so I may get some of the goof off after all. I was very careful, and was able to remove the "dot" of paint on the front of the bed with minimal damage to the decal (a tiny bit of the gold came off - smaller than the head of a pin, but it looks no worse, and probably better, than regular wear and tear) and the spot on hand wheel cover is gone, but it looks like the paint lifted the shellac a little - it's a little "bumpy" under where the paint was.

I will definitely post some pics of it tomorrow when I've made some significant progress. Tonight I was fading, and thought it better to step away.

Hey Cathy,

So far, it's a running joke. My friends ask: "So how many machines did you buy this week?"
Usually if I can say no more than 2, they figure I'm still alright.

I believe I'm at 18, not counting the 99 that's in the local buy and sell. DH says that one counts, I say it doesn't. That may be a little bit of denial. I'll know for sure tomorrow, because I promised to spend some time updating my blog with the latest finds. Of course, I did hit 22 at one point, but figured I was over my limit because I couldn't even get to them to clean and oil them. I'm caught up now, ready to adopt more.

ArchaicArcane

Ok,.. I think I've done as much damage as I can do here.

The goo gone seems to dry the body out, that's not terribly unexpected. A good oiling was very appreciated.

The spots under the paint look like the shellac was damaged. That could be from the paint bonding to the shellac (what it looks like to me) Or mechanical damage from my removal.

I used the process I talked about yesterday. I soaked the paint for a few seconds in goo gone, then I used the blunt needle to gently "bother" the paint until it came off. In most cases, it came off without incident. There were tiny little bits of the decals removed, but nothing like the wear and tear on the front of the machine.

In places where I wasn't confident that I wouldn't damage the rest of the decals, I did what I could to blur the edges, and lighten the paint a little to make it "blend" better. I did get lucky that the paint wasn't green, or purple or something.

The flash makes the paint show up more than it does without a camera flash. The very last pic is without a flash, just a lot of direct light.

Now, I'm going to strip the should be shiny parts and soak them and make them shiny again.

oregongirl

very nice! it's a beautiful machine. can't wait to see the round chrome plate all shiny again when you're done. i love those embossed metal parts.

ArchaicArcane

Just finished! All that's left is to test sew it now.

It took a lot of soaking and scrubbing to get that plate clean, but it's about 99%, and that's all I can ask of this machine. Poor thing has been poked and prodded since it arrived here.

I was scared to do much more cleaning to the decals, I didn't want to end up removing them, like I did on the 27 (just a small patch)

J Miller

That cleaned up pretty nicely. Now that it's back together what are you going to sew with it?

Joe

ArchaicArcane

Sew? You think I sew?

I haven't decided, but with the amount of skin I lost and the number of metal slivers (someone was a little hamfisted with some of the screws before I got there), maybe bandages!

Mizkaki

Tammi,

I get a lot of jokes made about my obsession, too. I have probably passed the hundred mark if i count all the machines in the garage that are to be worked on and then sold or given away.The space in my house for my collection is maxed out. Doubt that I could shoehorn another one in here. Well maybe a portable, definitely no more treadles.

Cathy

ArchaicArcane

Oh! we count the ones that are just visiting?
Possible my friends are right then, I may have a problem.

18 - 19 machines in the collection (one is for sale, DH says it still counts) and 3 earmarked for me to pick up up north in the spring.
5 machines ready to sell / give away, 3 waiting on parts then up for sale after tuneups
Uhm,... 11 parts machines. 1 - 2 of them may be salvageable. One, a National Seamstress, I think, will be a bookend or something.

That makes 38 - 41. Uh oh.

DH thinks we should start displaying some of the machines outside the sewing room. I see that as affirmation that it's alright to rescue some more.

J Miller

"I" do not count the number of sewing machines I have. My wife asked me once and I had to count them. That was where there were 41. There are more now and I honestly have no idea where they all are. The only thing I'm sure of is none of them are in the kitchen or bathroom. One of these days I'll hunt them all up and take a group picture. Or not.

Tammi,

Yes, in order to validate all your work you much sew with the machine.

I hate ham fisted Bubbas that ruin screw slots.

Joe