Tri Flow; Pros and Cons
10-02-2013, 07:59 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NW MO
Posts: 591
I would be interested knowing why Tri-Flow is better than other solvents dissolving paraffin and other hydrocarbon based lubricants than, let's say kerosene. A post in another thread mentioned the contents and I saw nothing better than the normal solvents. Does the Teflon have something to do with it? I can understand T-F, i.e., Teflon, being a good lubricant, but a solvent? May be.
10-02-2013, 09:38 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
I've used kerosene to clean machines and it works to an extent. But as a lubricant it falls very short. The thing about T-F is it is a lubricant that has solvents in it. Not a solvent that can be used as a lubricant, maybe.
Think of it like this; the motor oil you put in your car's engine has solvents and detergents in it to keep the insides of the engine clean. You change it periodically to keep the engine running at peak efficiency. This is the same idea with T-F and sewing machines.
Joe
Think of it like this; the motor oil you put in your car's engine has solvents and detergents in it to keep the insides of the engine clean. You change it periodically to keep the engine running at peak efficiency. This is the same idea with T-F and sewing machines.
Joe
10-02-2013, 10:33 AM
#24
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Lorenzo, CA
Posts: 5,361
Originally Posted by Vridar
It would be interesting to know if any old jewelers (are there any around?) might have some.
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration charged a resident of Lincroft, N.J., with four counts of selling or attempting to sell sperm whale oil over eBay’s online auction site, in violation of the Endangered Species Act. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.
NOAA’s Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation assessed a $2,000 penalty against Alan Troshane for the infraction, which took place between March and April 2000. Troshane found the sperm whale oil in the basement of the school where he worked and advertised the whale oil for sale on the Internet-based auction site for $40 per ounce.
During the course of an investigation by NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement, Troshane admitted the violation and subsequently paid the penalty.
Sperm whales are listed under the Endangered Species Act. The act governs the taking, possession, transportation, sale, purchase, barter, exportation, importation of, and other requirements pertaining to wildlife and plants determined to be threatened or endangered.
NOAA is one of the federal agencies enforcing the regulations under the ESA that make selling or offering to sell endangered species parts or products illegal. "
10-02-2013, 12:38 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Not Here
Posts: 3,817
Originally Posted by Cecilia S.
Suze, I have no idea! But, so far, I am certainly enjoying hearing everyone's responses! I like it that we all have different experiences and can share and learn and even change our minds from time to time. And hey, if your LiquidTofu works, I will be keen to hear about it! :-)
What is the brand name of your LiquidTofu?
What is the brand name of your LiquidTofu?
I personally wouldn't use it, because it hasn't really been tested by someone else. I prefer not to be the guinea pig. Plus, I wonder what that would smell like if it goes off in a few months. I -like- synthetic in this case. No aromas to assault me with when the best before date is up.
Originally Posted by miriam
I think I have tried all kinds of oil. One of the worst machines I worked on was an old Singer 401G. I used 3-in-1 oil on it. Initially it worked. Then it set for a few weeks. The machine acted like it was encased in concrete. I think I tried everything to get the 3-in-1 oil off. Maybe it was a combination of the 3-in-1 oil and the dried up SM oil. I believe I tried kerosene with some success but I wasn't happy with the results. I heard of Tri-flow and Kroil but I couldn't find it locally. I had a couple really stuck machines and used kerosene or brake cleaner or xylenol to get the old gunk off, then re-oiled with SM oil. It was a lot of work. Then I found T-F at sew-classic. I had a machine that was pretty much frozen up. http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...r-t169127.html In a matter of minutes we had it unfrozen. I experimented with the T-F after that. I used it on the 401G and let it set for about a year. At first it was a little stuck but then it was right back to where it should be. I'm thinking the teflon is just like the stuff on your cook ware - I won't use it for that because it doesn't stick to the metal. I don't see any long term setting up from the T-F but I do from stuff like 3-in-1 oil and SM oil - lots of paraffin in it. I think it is the machines setting around that freezes them up. Use the machines. Turn them once in a while. You can always oil a machine with SM oil and another with T-F and see what you like best. For me, I'm liking the ease that they turn when the T-F is used. PS I agree with Joe.
I had 2 401As and a 301A that convinced me on TriFlow. Both 401As were seized solid. One I picked up from an estate sale, like yours Miriam it had not used for years. It had also been in a house fire. It remained in the house while it was waiting to be rebuilt, and the moisture did it no good at all. When I got to it, the handwheel turned, but the main shaft didn't. Nothing moved on this machine. You couldn't push the zigzag mechanism with both hands, the throat plate wouldn't budge.
The other 401A belongs to a friend. He bought it at a garage sale, and didn't even turn the handwheel. He bought it because it was the same as the one his mom had when he was growing up. Then he sat it in the closet for years. When I got to it, it was really sluggish, but the motor was "seized". 2 drops of TF on the top motor bearing to loosen the hardened grease, and a basic oil of the machine and it was running at full speed and quiet (ish) in under 5 minutes.
Similarly the 301A didn't turn, because the motor was "seized". I broke that one free with a little gentle rocking back and forth of the handwheel, but it felt "gritty". I dropped the TF into the bearing, and oiled the machine and the grittiness went away.
Originally Posted by Vridar
I would be interested knowing why Tri-Flow is better than other solvents dissolving paraffin and other hydrocarbon based lubricants than, let's say kerosene. A post in another thread mentioned the contents and I saw nothing better than the normal solvents. Does the Teflon have something to do with it? I can understand T-F, i.e., Teflon, being a good lubricant, but a solvent? May be.
It's also possible that TF, being a synthetic oil, like synthetic engine oil, may have a smaller molecule than its dinosaur equivalent, which lets it get further.
10-02-2013, 01:06 PM
#27
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Lorenzo, CA
Posts: 5,361
Originally Posted by Vridar
I guess that answers that question. Glad you didn't find any.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/laws/mmpa_regs_216.pdf
10-02-2013, 03:25 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Delavan
Posts: 468
I have seen the phrase of "silver"ing the decals on singer vintage sewing machines many times. What does this mean?
And in many photos of old machines, there seems to be a piece of material attached to the upper part if a sewing machine. It seems that there are pins stuck in it. Is this an old fashion pin cusion? Why not just take them off? I would think that sticking pins here would damage the paint.
PAINT. what happened to the red sewing machine with the white daisys on it. did the creator ever post a finished picture?
just full of questions tonight.
karen
And in many photos of old machines, there seems to be a piece of material attached to the upper part if a sewing machine. It seems that there are pins stuck in it. Is this an old fashion pin cusion? Why not just take them off? I would think that sticking pins here would damage the paint.
PAINT. what happened to the red sewing machine with the white daisys on it. did the creator ever post a finished picture?
just full of questions tonight.
karen
10-02-2013, 03:52 PM
#30
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Lorenzo, CA
Posts: 5,361
Originally Posted by wilburness
I have seen the phrase of "silver"ing the decals on singer vintage sewing machines many times. What does this mean?And in many photos of old machines, there seems to be a piece of material attached to the upper part if a sewing machine. It seems that there are pins stuck in it. karen
Those stupid cloths are meant as pin cushions and yes, the pins thrash paint. I was told the damage is nicknamed "diaper rash"
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