If you have a Singer vibrating shuttle machine such as the model 27/127 or 28/128, this is some preventative maintenance that you probably need. Because the steps are the same, this applies to all vibrating shuttle machine for any manufacture. It’s really easy to do and it will assure that the bobbin tension is smoothContinue reading “A Tutorial – Cleaning the Bobbin Shuttle from a Singer Vibrating Shuttle Machine”
Category Archives: Tutorials
A Tutorial – One Very Important Disassembly Tip for Your Sewing Machine Restoration
Wow, I haven’t posted for a while but I just can’t get this topic out of my head. Maybe because I have been getting more interest from folks contemplating a restoration on their sewing machine and I am worried they don’t know this very important fact. To me, this blog is like putting a messageContinue reading “A Tutorial – One Very Important Disassembly Tip for Your Sewing Machine Restoration”
A Tutorial – Threading a Vintage Singer Slant Needle Sewing Machine Models 401A, 403A, 404, 501, and 503A
Introduction It occurred to me that some folks may have questions on how to properly thread a vintage sewing machine. It also occurred to me that it has been a while since I posted a tutorial. This tutorial is a a remedy for both! Some machines thread one way, while others thread another way. IfContinue reading “A Tutorial – Threading a Vintage Singer Slant Needle Sewing Machine Models 401A, 403A, 404, 501, and 503A”
A Tutorial – Restoring A Kenmore Sewing Machine Motor
I have had a number of folks ask me to do a tutorial on restoring a Kenmore sewing machine motor. Since I have done several types of motor restorations, I think now is the perfect time to fill the gap. It just so happens that I am in the middle of a Kenmore restoration, soContinue reading “A Tutorial – Restoring A Kenmore Sewing Machine Motor”
A Tutorial – How to Restore a Singer Model 101 “Potted” Motor
Introduction This tutorial follows several requests for a tutorial from folks who want to restore the motor on their vintage (possibly antique) Singer model 101 sewing machine. I am restoring a 101 and I thought that this would be a great opportunity to capture these steps since I am doing it as part of theContinue reading “A Tutorial – How to Restore a Singer Model 101 “Potted” Motor”
A Tutorial – Replacing the Motor Belt on a Kenmore Model 158 Series Sewing Machine
Someone asked me today on how to do this so this tutorial covers the motor belt replacement on the majority of Kenmore 158 series sewing machines. It does not apply to the 158.1030 or 158.1040 sewing machines because the motor attaches differently. Depending on the model of your machine, you may or may not needContinue reading “A Tutorial – Replacing the Motor Belt on a Kenmore Model 158 Series Sewing Machine”
A Tutorial – Mixing a Custom Color Black Paint for Singer Sewing Machines (and Others!)
In every black Singer sewing machine restoration, I find small paint chips on the edge of the bed, balance wheel, and often on the sewing arm. While usually they are small cosmetic imperfections, in a sewing machine restoration it is important to address them. The problem that I faced was that there is no blackContinue reading “A Tutorial – Mixing a Custom Color Black Paint for Singer Sewing Machines (and Others!)”
A Tutorial – Disassembling and Cleaning a Singer Model 27 Tension Assembly
This is a simple tutorial with a lot of pictures. While it is pretty simple to do, there are enough parts that it can get confusing when putting them back together and remembering how the parts fit together. To complicate the topic, two different tension assemblies may look the same, but they are fixed toContinue reading “A Tutorial – Disassembling and Cleaning a Singer Model 27 Tension Assembly”
A Tutorial – Reversing the Plastic Yellowing on a Kenmore Sewing Machine
Vintage Kenmore sewing machines are great in almost all respects. They are durable, reliable, tolerant to changes in fabric and tension adjustment, and even with little maintenance will run without complaint. All Kenmore machines made before 1975 have all metal construction in the sewing mechanism and body. All but a few do incorporate some plasticContinue reading “A Tutorial – Reversing the Plastic Yellowing on a Kenmore Sewing Machine”
A Tutorial – Adjusting the Presser Foot Height on a Singer Model 27
This tutorial is in response to a Customer who has a Singer model 27 with the presser foot so low that she can’t use the machine. This tutorial is geared towards Singer and other machines where the presser foot bar is held in adjustment by a single set screw. The machine is a 27, butContinue reading “A Tutorial – Adjusting the Presser Foot Height on a Singer Model 27”
A Tutorial – Restoring a Vintage Sewing Machine Motor
Recently I have been answering a number of questions from folks requesting information on how to restore a typical vintage sewing machine motor. I thought I would take an opportunity to answer these questions and show the process in this tutorial. There are many different brands of vintage sewing machine motors in service today andContinue reading “A Tutorial – Restoring a Vintage Sewing Machine Motor”
A Tutorial – Re-Lubricating the Gear Case on a Kenmore Model 158 Series Sewing Machine
If you have a vintage Kenmore 158.somthing sewing machine, this tutorial applies to your machine. There is lots of information about maintenance oiling and cleaning your machine. This regular maintenance should not be ignored, and if done regularly will extend the lifespan of your Kenmore to near infinity… well, a long time. But what aboutContinue reading “A Tutorial – Re-Lubricating the Gear Case on a Kenmore Model 158 Series Sewing Machine”
Building a Craftsman Quality Select Pine Sewing Machine Base for a Full Size Kenmore Sewing Machine
Fortunately for us, most Kenmore sewing machines were either provided with a cabinet or a portable sewing machine case. Also fortunately for us, the plastic cases that Kenmore used have proven to be very durable. Even after 35 or 40 years, the many Kenmore cases I have seen are in good shape. Sure, there mayContinue reading “Building a Craftsman Quality Select Pine Sewing Machine Base for a Full Size Kenmore Sewing Machine”
Building a Craftsman Quality Oak Sewing Machine Base for a Full Size Singer Sewing Machine
Old black vintage Singer sewing machines are a testament to the concept of quality lasting over time. Every Singer restoration convinces me of that. Like their machines, Singer also built high quality cabinets for their machines, and their portable Bentwood cases are still in circulation in good condition today… I’m talking 100 years or more.Continue reading “Building a Craftsman Quality Oak Sewing Machine Base for a Full Size Singer Sewing Machine”
A Simple (But in Depth) Comparison – The Difference’s Between a Singer 201-2 and a Singer 15-91
I have seen this topic more than once… Folks comparing the Singer Model 201-2 to the Singer Model 15-91. problem is, for many of the comparisons the information is not complete enough to be useful, or at least the comparison is not “apples to apples”. I thought that I would weigh in and give youContinue reading “A Simple (But in Depth) Comparison – The Difference’s Between a Singer 201-2 and a Singer 15-91”
A Tutorial – Selecting the Proper Sewing Machine Needle is the Key to Success
I have been seeing a lot of debate over this topic recently and thought that I would weigh in to simplify the topic… at least from my point of view. While this topic can get much more in depth, I am taking the “50,000 foot approach” and looking at the subject to boil it downContinue reading “A Tutorial – Selecting the Proper Sewing Machine Needle is the Key to Success”
A Tutorial – Replacing the Bobbin Hook Race Felt on a Singer Model 66 and 99 Sewing Machine
This post is intended to clarify the procedure for replacing the small red felt found in the bobbin case of a Singer model 66 or model 99 sewing machine. I have seen posts on this topic that tampers with the thread clearance mechanism and while accomplishing the task, disturbs a critical adjustment in the mechanismContinue reading “A Tutorial – Replacing the Bobbin Hook Race Felt on a Singer Model 66 and 99 Sewing Machine”
A Tutorial – Restoring a Singer 201-2 or Singer 15-91 Balance Wheel
Restore a balance wheel? What in the world does that even mean? Well, I just completed a tutorial on restoring a Singer potted motor. As I got to the end, it dawned on me that the process naturally incuded removing and reinstalling the balance wheel. Well, the balance wheel on these two machines is notContinue reading “A Tutorial – Restoring a Singer 201-2 or Singer 15-91 Balance Wheel”
A Tutorial – Restoration of a Vintage Singer Model 201-2 and 15-91 “Potted” Motor
First a picture for those wondering what a Singer “potted” motor is… A potted motor a direct gear drive motor where the motor housing is attached to the back of a so equipped Singer sewing machine. The motor drives the sewing mechanism via a gear on the balance wheel. The motor case protrudes from theContinue reading “A Tutorial – Restoration of a Vintage Singer Model 201-2 and 15-91 “Potted” Motor”
A Tutorial – Cleaning an Antique Singer Model 15K Sewing Machine
I previously posted a blog on cleaning a vintage Singer sewing machine, but I did not show you what kind of results you can expect to obtain. Well, I thought that this Singer Model 15K was a perfect example to show you. Manufactured in 1918 this machine has achieved antique status. It is kind ofContinue reading “A Tutorial – Cleaning an Antique Singer Model 15K Sewing Machine”
A Tutorial – Restoring a Vintage Singer Grease Wick Sewing Machine Motor
I have received several comments from readers on how to rewire their old Vintage Singer sewing machine. The need for this is all too common on the 1950 and earlier vintage machines. While the sewing machine itself is built to last neigh on forever, wires do not. Typically, the wires become brittle and the insulationContinue reading “A Tutorial – Restoring a Vintage Singer Grease Wick Sewing Machine Motor”
A Tutorial – Removing The Balance Wheel on a Kenmore 158 Series Sewing Machine
I received a comment from a gentleman asking for information on how to remove the balance wheel from his Kenmore 158.1755. I can see how this seemingly simple task is mystifying, as the balance wheel becomes stuck and trapped by the motor belt before it clears the machine. Thinking that this blog would help him,Continue reading “A Tutorial – Removing The Balance Wheel on a Kenmore 158 Series Sewing Machine”
Professionally Restored Vintage Fine Quality Sewing Machines 