dikman

There's something nice about a smooth even coat of grey primer, sometimes I think all it needs is a clearcoat over the top. It's looking good so far, that green looks better than I expected.

Great news, Tequila, you must be feeling very relieved.

These machines aren't well-balanced, the weight is slightly to the left-of-centre so if it's not bolted down it tilts down! I moved it in slightly from the left edge to shift the (substantial) weight of it over the leg, however it still wanted to tip the whole thing over!!! The bottom rail, carrying the two pedals, has a heavy duty steel ball castor mounted underneath at the end to give it stability. It hasn't fallen over - yet.

I originally fitted my 4500 to a "standard" table that came with my Pfaff 335. While it worked ok it just seemed clumsy and took up a bit of space, so I thought maybe I'd build a pedestal-type table for it. After much cogitating and considering all manner of construction - single square pedestal, round-tube pedestal, 4-tube table (like Constabulary built) and one or two other ideas it occurred to me that the simplest (sort of!) way might be to modify the existing table frame. So that's what I did. I found a piece of thick particle board in my stash that was exactly the right size and with some cutting and a bit of welding I now have a slightly more compact, and moveable, solution. The tricky part was getting the foot lift pedal to the left side, as I find it much more user-friendly having it on the left. First photo is the original setup, rest are the new one.

Under the circumstances that is pretty impressive!

All the best with the surgery, Don. Hopefully you won't have to sell off just yet.

Interesting modification but those extended legs have to affect the overall rigidity.

I tried it using a 2-ton arbor press but didn't have much success. After watching that video Dwight posted (thanks mate ) I think I see where I went wrong. I'll make an attachment for the press and try casing the leather first.

That was my first thought too. It wouldn't have any metal-flake in it either, just a straight classic green.

There's something about that nice slow mechanical rhythm..........so soothing..... You're doing well, Maria.

I'm amazed that you got it to turn over. Says a lot for the original design and build quality.

Ignore them, they're heathens and have no understanding of the finer things in life.

I too noticed that there is more than one way to thread these machines on youtube. I inadvertently threaded mine differently to the "usual(?)" way but it still worked. These machines appear to be fairly forgiving in operation, which is a pleasant surprise.

I'm not sure how you reached that conclusion?

Very nice job Doc. Especially cutting all those grooves!

My apologies for taking this off-topic - Button Lady, if you search google you'll find everything (and more) that you'll ever want to know about heat-treating steel. In short, re-heating hardened steel can remove the hardening, it can be re-hardened BUT the process will depend on the type of steel used. Back on topic, Woehlk, I'm impressed! You don't mess around, straight into the painting! Glad you know what you're doing.

If a part has been heat treated, i.e. hardened and tempered, if you re-heat it you run the risk of removing the hardness and making it soft metal. If that happens the part will need to go through the hardening/tempering process again. The heat carbonizes/carburizes the oil onto the surface which won't wipe off. Wiping the part with a solvent (mineral spirits, petrol etc) will remove the excess oil and should leave a blackened finish.

Another possibility, as long as the parts haven't been heat treated, is to heat them and drop them in oil (light engine oil, canola oil, olive oil - it doesn't seem to matter which one), this gives a nice black finish with some rust protection. It's a method used by folk who restore old stuff.

I agree with Jimi, I wouldn't repaint it as it looks pretty good to me. Plus if you're going to paint it you need to strip it down completely!

In that case it's a very neat idea.

This might be helpful.

Neat idea, does the pulley stack have bearings in it?

It sounds like the same "laws" that apply to Black Powder shooting are in play here, there is an element of magic mixed in it.

The problem is the Scots make many excellent single malts. So many choices........

Some sort of old medieval torture device?