Featherweight Fanatics Archives

2004

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http://www.FeatherWeightFanatics.com/fwf
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Featherweight Fanatics A Service of Sue Traudt's Valley Brook Botanicals

Digest of postings from Monday, January 12, 2004 

Welcome to all our new members!
To post a message - send it to: FWFanatics@ttsw.com
To post a message to the For sale list - sent it to: FWForSale@ttsw.com
To pay dues  http://ttsw.com/JoinLists.html
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From: Gypcdrmr2@aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:27:56 EST
Subject: Made my Day!

Hello Fluffies,
A couple of weeks, or maybe less, ago I posted a message looking for a 201 
for a friend who is a retired Paramedic/Firefighter. Today I went to Salisbury 
Maryland to pick up a 201 in a cabinet from Bob, who is a member of this group 
and an OSMG. He put it into the truck of my car, after removing the legs where 
it will remain until Neil comes to get it, at which time I will show him how 
to clean and oil and lube the machine and teach him how to use it.

Neil and some of his other retired buddies left lower Delaware with all their 
old equipment on 9/11 and drove straight to New York where they stayed and 
worked until they were no longer needed.
Thank you Bob for helping me to thank Neil for his selfless dedication to his 
fellow man. In a world where unselfish acts of kindness have become rare both 
these men have helped to pass along an act of good faith.

Now where did I put that GoJo and oil....

Jacque in a Lovely day in Delaware. 

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From: "Gayle DeForest" 
Subject: Bad bobbins
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 13:41:00 -0800

Thank you so much, Linda, for warning all of us about these bobbins!  I 
would suggest you mail your bobbin case to Jim Sorrell and see if he can 
get the bobbin out.
Gayle in Chico, CA

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From: "Gayle DeForest" 
Subject: Urgent housekeeping chores
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 13:29:32 -0800

I think I am also unfamiliar with the term "urgent housekeeping chores," 
unless maybe it would be the aftermath of a quake or something!  Being 
retired and having no family in this town adds up to very little 
housework for me!
Anyway...just wanted to say I took a workshop in Redding with quilt 
artist Ruth McDowell over the weekend and it was probably the best time 
I've had quilting in my life.  She is great--warm funny, and gives so 
much of herself the whole time, hardly takes a moment's break.  We all 
learned so much.  The only thing was I wished it had been 5 days, like 
the workshops at Asilomar in the spring, but I can never get into those 
so this 2-day one was great, and right in my hometown.
The Quilter's Sew-ciety of Redding, and especially Linda Ballard, the 
organizer of the workshop, deserve a huge hand for putting this 
together!
Gayle in Chico, CA

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From: Sarah O'Sullivan 
Subject: Truckload Sale
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:10:51 -0500

I figure I'd better chime in on this, as I'm apparently one of few with 
positive things to say.

I went to one of these in York, PA in Feb. 2002.  I did my research on 
Singer dealer sites first and had my notebook of model numbers and 
prices with me.

I purchased a brand-new-in-box Singer Quantum 5430, the "school" model 
with the Lexan body and metal gears, and I paid $200.  This was not the 
lowest-priced machine available for sale, but it wasn't the 
highest-priced, either, and I didn't get the impression of any kind of 
hard-sell or bait-and-switch.  While I eventually aspire to plunk down 
a couple thousand for a Bernina or some such with needle-down and the 
knee lift for the presser foot, I couldn't (and still can't) justify 
buying a sewing machine that's worth more than my current car.  
Someday.

I have been sewing on it for nearly two years now, both apparel sewing 
and quilting, and have had very few problems, none of which required 
professional intervention.  The only thing I really don't like on the 
machine are the snap-on feet, which move around too much for a 
consistent 1/4", so I've been buying standard low-shank feet to replace 
the ones it came with.  Some feet, such as the Big Foot for machine 
quilting, do not come in a compatible size, but most of the feet I've 
wanted have been available through Singer or White.  The dealer doing 
the show was from upstate NY, and was very helpful; he made sure I 
could thread the machine fully before I left the hotel where the sale 
was held, and gave me ample information for contacting him if there 
were any problems.

I do agree that the "sew & serge" thing the ads make such a big deal 
about is a bit of a mislead.  The attachment, which is pretty much 
identical to the overlock feet available through some notions catalogs 
(I think Clothilde carries them) allows you to do a single-needle 
overlock stitch, trimming the excess fabric.  It has been useful to me 
on a few occasions, for example I have used it to finish the edges of 
an extremely ravel-prone needlework fabric, but I only use it once in a 
blue moon.  To be fair, this is why I don't have a serger, either, 
because I simply don't have frequent call for one.  However, anyone who 
tries to tell you that it is a comparable replacement for a serger is 
either dishonest or crazy.  The salesman I met with, however, was very 
upfront about its limitations.

So, to sum up, I think it's yet another case of "caveat emptor":  if 
you go to the sale informed, and if the sale is being run in a 
reasonable and non-snake-oily manner, then it is possible to get a good 
machine at a fair price.  If you think you're getting a snow job, 
leave.  While it's almost always better to buy from a local dealer, we 
don't all have one.

Hope this helps,
Sarah

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From: "Steve Ward" 
Subject: 221 bobbin stuck
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:54:51 -0500

It's important when trying to get a stuck bobbin out of the case not to 
hold on to the case latch. That holds the bobbin in, and you'll probaly 
brake the latch off.

Steve
sewingdoc

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From: "Ann" 
Subject: The rewards of cleaning
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:31:00 -0500

Hi All

I just spent about half an hour oiling and cleaning my darling FW.  When 
I put her back together she made almost no sound at all, except a new 
pulling sound somewhere near the tension, I think.  Or maybe it is in 
the bobbin area.  The thread between the tension thing and the needle is 
really tight, at least tighter than usual for the tension setting I use. 
 Changing the tension setting only resulted in bad stitches so I put it 
back to its normal place.  Should I just sew on? 

I did run a pipe cleaner through the tension discs thinking they needed 
dusting.

Actually, my dear husband usually does these chores, but he is really 
too busy this winter renovating a school house for our daughter so I 
thought I could do it myself.  He did offer that the tension disc did 
not need to be cleaned out. 

Any help here?  Ann

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From: "Ann" 
Subject: Use a Power Bar
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:27:11 -0500

Get in the habit of plugging iron and sewing machine both into a power 
bar and then just flip the little switch whenever leaving the sewing 
area for a while.  It is simple and the little red light is a good 
reminder to turn off the hot stuff, iron and FW light.

>From Ann in sunny, snowy southern Ontario.  Love it. 

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From: "Bina, Lauren" 
Subject: NF Beacon
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 14:10:40 -0500

I recently inherited an old fashioned sewing machine.  The only writing on
it is "NF Beacon".  Can anyone provide me with info the manufacturer.  The
sewing machine is in a wood cabinet with 2 small draws on each side and a
manual foot pedal. thank you

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From: "Nancine & Matthew Pike" 
Subject: RE: FW Fanatics 1/11/2004
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 09:58:18 -0800

I have had a good laugh at the "urgent housekeeping" - but I have to pass on
a link (www.flylady.com) that saved my house - if you have heard of the
flylady, then you know what I mean.  I have not affiliated with her.  I just
love the help she has given me and let me enjoy a clean organized house that
also allows me to enjoy my quilt bug...

Nancine!
currently a victim of the California workforce reduction plan

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From: "Carol Garnaat" 
Subject: rubber feet
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 11:18:12 -0500

Hello all,
You can also get the rubber replacement feet, both for your machine and your
controller, from:
Guy Baker  in Peoria IL, www.sewingmachineparts.net
Glenn Williams in FL,   http://www.cox-internet.com/jjcfroyd/glenn.htm
I have dealt with both these gentlemen and they are very nice to do business
with.  NAYY, just a very satisfied customer.
In CA, possibly Jim Sorrell sewman@sunset.net may be able to help you.  He
also is a pleasant gentleman.  And of course, if you are "on the other side
of the pond" there is Graham who is always pleasant to work with.  I am sure
there are others out there that I have not yet had the pleasure to do
business with....
Carol in Mid-Mich

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From: Joyzquilter@aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 10:42:38 EST
Subject: Posting

I am enjoying your site so much as a new member.  Have been trying to read 
all the old listings and they are so informative.  Keep up the good work!  One 
question I need help with...I had no trouble removing the needle plate from my 
old FW to check for lint but on my newest FW it won't budge after removing the 
screw.  It looks in great condition.  Am I missing something somewhere?  It 
is the plate with 1/4, 1/2 etc. lines on it (221-k).  Would appreciate any 
advice or help.  Joy

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Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 09:41:25 +0000
From: Graham Forsdyke 
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 1/11/2004

To Lynda who wrote

>~  Today I did my FW maintenance class and ran across something
>frightful. I am wondering if any of you have seen the NEW Singer bobbins made
>for the 221 and 301........ a new FW owner, asked me why she 
>couldn't get the bobbin out of her case.  It was stuck fast...... 
>........the NEW packages were labeled "Singer Platinum" and were 
>designated for 221s and 301s.


It really is worth buying replacement parts from one of the 
specialist Featherweight dealers -- not me, trans-Atlantic postage 
makes me too expensive.

Reproduction bobbin area parts can vary greatly in quality and the 
specialist will have tested them before selling on. Don't be fooled 
by the Singer label -- not made by Singer at all but simply re-packed 
with the name and Singer will probably source by cheapness rather 
than quality.

But here's a suggestion to anyone running classes. Why not take a box 
of bobbins along with you. Bought by the 100 they are silly cheap and 
you could even hand them out to your students as a little gift.

Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
http://www.ismacs.net

http://www.singer-featherweight.com

Bert's Vintage Repair Book Book: 
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/bert/bert.html

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Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 09:14:27 +0000
From: Graham Forsdyke 
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 1/9/2004

Sally said

>I just had my featherweight in for it's yearly (sort of) checkup.  One of the
>things the technician did was to "adjust BW Release".  Probably a stupid
>question, but what is the BW release?


I can only guess he tightened the bobbin winder screw.

But here's a thought --- why not ask him?  (G)


Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
http://www.ismacs.net

http://www.singer-featherweight.com

Bert's Vintage Repair Book Book: 
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/bert/bert.html

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Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2004 23:04:46 +0000
From: Graham Forsdyke 
Subject: Re: FW Fanatics 1/10/2003

Mary said......

>She received a nasty burn.  Some handy inventor needs to come up with a
>clear cover for the light.


The problem with this idea -- which I've kicked around for a time -- 
is that any form of cover would

A reduce air circulation around the lamp

and

B  Get hot itself


To Carol who said:

>
>Can anyone tell me what size wire is correctly to be used to replace the
>wiring for a FW, and where I may purchase this wire?   The 
>replacement wire recommended by our electrical shop
>was too large and he could not get the plastic cover back on the part that
>plugs into the machine.

Happy to send you  some of the oval section wire we have had made.. 
No charge if you make up the terminal connections yourself. Please 
mail me.

With far better insulation now being used it's possible to use much 
thinner cord which gives less problems in fitting to the plug.

Graham Forsdyke
Purveyor of fine Featherweights to the gentry
ISMACS London
http://www.ismacs.net

http://www.singer-featherweight.com

Bert's Vintage Repair Book Book: 
http://www.singer-featherweight.com/bert/bert.html

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