Tastech

Thanks Kgg. I see you are into sewing machines as well and you have a 29k71 This one is for you . from this heap of rust to this beauty .Its a 29K53

Here is another one which needed more work as the base was cracked , so i made a new base and did the same trick with the shaft machining. Lucky i made a spare when i did the previous one . I pull everything down to the bare bones the clean and paint strip the parts . I soak every thig in an acid bath to remove the rust . I use a 20-1 water and phosphoric acid solution which only reacts with the rust . I leave it in the solution for 12-24 hours . Next is a wash and a wire wheel on the grinder to stop oxidization. I mechanically polish all the gears ,shafts and scews while i am waiting for the paint to dry . Whole process can take about 20 hours but i have got my system down to about 12 . I love doing them and gives me great satisfaction seeing what i started with and what i finished with . The aim is to get a write off and resurrect it so if works for another 70 or so years.

I had trouble uploading the photos because they were to big so i had to reduce the last one so it would send . I had quite a few attempts . I have the photos on my phone which i had to email to myself and grab them off the computer to post here . Is there an etiquette on how big or small my photos should be ?

Eh while i am here . a couple of photos of a Viln pederson skiver and trimmer .circa 1950 The round blade on the top was done and also no longer available. A Landis blade was the right diameter but had a different thread so would not work . The easiest solution was to machine a new shaft with the Landis thread. The thread is a left hand thread . The skiving blade is a stanley hand plane blade that i ground and sharpened to suit . It works like new and i use it everyday for shoe repairs

Thanks , when i restore i like them to look like a museum piece so it was intentional. The color is an engine enamel in spray can form . In Australia its called ford blue . Pre 1980's ford Australia pained their motors blue . I sometimes also refer to it as royal blue but that is incorrect . I like the engine enamels because they look good but they are also very tough and impervious to oils . I have quite a few restored machines from skivers to sewing machines . In another post i have some photos of restored singer 31K48 machines . search 31K48 and you will find them . My real love is restoring singer 29K patchers . If i find a thread on here i will post some photos or i might even start a new thread . Cheers TomE

Once again , Better late than never . I forgot i posted this original photo and i owe you guys an update I finished the splitter not long after i posted the previous post Here is the finished job along with its little brother . The both are very sharp and work smoothly and effortlessly and quite pleasant on the eye if i say so myself .

Part 3 . The image below shows the machine on its treadle frame which i sand blasted and had powder coated in a hard to describe hammer tone silver/black I have since moved it to another treadle frame with a smaller main wheel which gives me a lower speed and higher torque . Treadle frames can be a bit funny depending on what machine and what you are sewing I like the wheel of a 29k patcher because it is small and has 2 grooves equaling 2 speeds . This big wheel treadle frame now powers a 31K20 upholstery machine . I am yet to experiment with a servo motor but my hip is telling me to get one soon . I hope you guys find these photos interesting

Part 2 . This one is working well and in operation I use for shoe uppers . I have it on a treadle stand because i can go real slow to get around tight curves when doing brogues and very precise detail

Better late than never . As always seems to be the case . I have a couple of singer 31k48's . A beautiful machine as are all in the 31K series . I got mine from an old shoe maker mate and they really needed some love . They were working only just so i decided to go full restoration . Apart from being a shoemaker i am also a mechanical engineer with all the right equipment to do the job and a large workshop in which to do the work . I am not big on photos so i don't have any before photos but i did take the after photos . looks like i will have to post the photos in 3 different posts because the files are too big. Below is one i decide to paint white because why not . Its easy to see the sewing process and i think looks pretty good . It is missing 2 parts the flywheel which i dropped and cracked and a little funny looking spring that attaches to the bobbin casing which i know i fill find or retrofit one day .

Ok ,Here's the lowdown . Better late than never . I have an American ST Louis model A . My blade is 152mm wide 6" . 75mm deep 3" . 6.35 mm thick 1/4 inch. My blade is straight cut at an angle of 17deg off 180deg . From tip to where the angle starts is 20mm. I notice your machine has 2 screws on the blade mount plate which would correspond to 2 slots in your blade . My machine has only 1 slot . When i look a bit harder i see the ESTO has a slight outward curve to the handle while the American has a straight one .Apart from that all parts look interchangeable between the 2 Last week i got the urge to strip my machine down to bare bones and give it some love . Inspired by a youtube video i watched . ( video link below ) As of today it is down to bare metal and all the fittings mirror polished . My dilemma is what color should i paint it . Original color was black .When i got it 30 years ago it was painted ESTO green . Which frankly speaking has always been an eyesore . I am thinking powder coating it hammer-tone black with silver dimples or perhaps the bronze version . BTW Doug61 . Who chose your color scheme ? Did you channel your inner liberace ? lol . It looks very "festive " for lack of a more appropriate word Photo of work in progress below Restoration video link