Cleaning up a big mess

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
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well i am having the darn-dis time cleaning up my champion leather sewing machine. its covered with a thick layer of what i believe is maybe wax, oil and dirt. WD-40 seamed to soften it a bit but its still stuck on there. the thing is that this sewing machine is like a million piece jigsaw puzzle and its in perfect timing so i don't want to take it apart to clean it. what i would like to do is maybe use a solvent and let it soak then maybe with thumbs crossed take it to the car wash and pressure wash all the crap off. then set it in the sun to dry off to remove all the water then oil everything. i know the pressure wash is probably not a good idea but I'm really stuck on what to do. the gunk is almost like the gunk you would find on an real old engine, all Gross and gunky :rolleyes:. i was reading that break parts cleaner should dissolve wax and grease, I don't know how much of it is wax. i's probably mostly old oil that has sucked up a bunch of dust and dirt. Any help would be so great.
 
For cleaning old guns with dirt, oxidized oil powder residue I've used a solvent like trichlorethylene or boil it in TSP. Boiling a big machine isn't very practical.I do suggest you take the machine apart to check everything and make cleaning easier. Solvents can be kept on to penetrate and soften the gunk ,then brushed off with the gunk.
 
Go to a truck stop, get the detergent that they use to spray down the rigs. I bought it for our greasy equipment and it works great. Spray it down, let it soak a bit, then power wash. Repeat if necessary, but that detergent cuts it great, you can put it into an old Windex bottle.

Jim
 
might try carburator cleamer from your local auto store. made to soften oil and gas residue along with brake cleaner for a final degreasse finally you have to at least do a partial dissasemble to clean nooks and crannies. make pictures or drawings as you go to aid with reassembly also maybe something like hoppe's gun cleaner and small tooth brushes for scrubbing Good luck Uncle T
 
I would get a couple gallons of brake cleaner, or var-sol, and set the sewing machine in some sort of tub or trough ( outside,preferably). Spray the cleaner with a siphon sprayer and an air hose. You can strain the used cleaner in the catch pan and re-use it. I would NOT use any water pressure spraying. Once all is clean with the solvent, blow it off with only air to dry out the cleaner, then spray with penetrating oil. Let sit for a while, wipe down well, and you should be ready to go.
Stacy
 
Does it run correctly right now? If it does, I would leave it alone. Just blow off the loose dust with the air compressor and let it have it's aged patina.
 
To get it clean break cleaner may be your best bet, once its clean a few minutes at the end of the week cleaning the guides and wiping it down with kerosene will keep it nice and clean. I saw the other thread, where you wanted to avoid wax, but you probably need some type of thread lube no mater what kind of thread you go with. It takes some experimentation, but once you get the thickness of the wax/lube and the wax strippers adjusted there is not much mess, there is some build up on the guides, but it shouldn’t be slinging wax all over.

Todd
 
There's a good chance it's bees wax from stitching line.

Try (carefully) heating specific areas with a heat lamp,
and wiping the stuff off with a cloth or brush.....Bees wax
will become liquid at around 225F.....any plastic or rubber
should withstand that.
 
Stacy as usual has some solid advice. You could even use a set up like you used for your oil forge to spray it. I would like to mention another product called citra-solve. It will even cut asphalt tar.
 
I would not use anything with a lot of water or lye (degreasers, citra-solve, etc.) unless you can rinse and dry everything off thoroughly and quickly.

I would fill up a spray bottle with acetone, go outside, stand upwind and hose it down (no smoking! / no fumar!). Open the spray nozzle so it comes out like a squirt gun. If that doesn't loosen it up, wrap the machine in paper towels or rags, soak with acetone, then wrap with saran wrap (or similar) to slow evaporation. Let that sit for 10 or 15 mins, unwrap, then try the spray again.

Then throw out your spray bottle - the acetone will dissolve the seal in a few days.
 
brake clean should work like everyone says but be carefull around rubber . get a good brush and some solvent laquer thinner or simular and try lightly scrubbing first before using brake clean another cheap way is ether but wear a mask.
 
well i took the plunge and really started taking it apart. i have the pressure foot and awl head off. it will get a good cleaning and the i will go from there. i just really did not know where to start with taking it apart. but after looking at it for so long i have a good idea how it works so i dont think it will be a problem. this is really the onley tomake sure i get all the grit out of everything.
 
JT
You might consider taking a series of digital pics as you dissemble it.
Might help during reassembly, if your memory serves you as mine serves me
Tom
So.Ga.
 
Farmer Phil said:
Ditto on the digital. That way we can see too!
Click to expand...

ya i am taking pictures, its funny as i take something apart like this head. i look at something and say OK so this goes here and that goes here thats easy to remember. then i take it apart and I'm like what where did this come from and where does it go :mad:. so ya pictures are a good thing. I have found a sink full of water with some soap and ammonia works great for getting the gunk off.
 
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