How to repair the old singer sewing machine

Ter163134
by Ter163134
Do I remove the top surface of the machine (wood) and how can restored?
  8 answers
  • Jeanne Jeanne on Jul 14, 2014
    My husband uses a gel stripper (from Home Depot) to remove the lacquer and then sands off the stain. When the wood has been well sanded and then tacked off it is ready for new stain. We use a Minwax stain applied with a cloth and a Minwax wipe on poly. Usually we add two coats of poly and then steel wool it. Tack again and two more coats of poly. (Maybe a fifth coat of poly for the top). Then he goes over it with an orange oil and bees wax rubbed with steel wool. Wipe off the excess and you will have a beautifully restored piece.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 15, 2014
    It looks like your veneer is badly damaged. Are you planning on using this as a sewing machine or just a decorative item? You can remove all the veneer and sand down the wood. Then you can put on a dark stain and varnish. Be sure and post photos when done.
  • Harriette Brice Harriette Brice on Jul 15, 2014
    With damaged veneer the gel stripper may loosen the glue holding the veneer even more. Maybe remove sand smooth and stain. I have an old machine which I use for decorative and at times I still use it for sewing as it works well. It has some bubbled veneer, which I will not attempt to refinish, I leave it as it is. One never knows if the stripper will remove the glue until it is too late.
  • Sherri Wilburn Sherri Wilburn on Jul 15, 2014
    I had my grandmothers singer in the exact cabnet - I took the veneer off and sanded it down with a light honey oak - it turned out beautiful !!!!!!
  • Ter163134 Ter163134 on Jul 16, 2014
    thank you, I do want to use it as a décor & will remove the veneer!
  • Ter163134 Ter163134 on Jul 21, 2014
    Thank you for you help & now I know what to do, problem resolved!
  • Toolpro Toolpro on Jul 06, 2016
    Mine had loose veneer I carefully injected wood glue under the veneerwith a syringe and then weighted the whole thing down. Once dry I removed ( don't remember how-it was 35 years ago the old finish) and applied polyurathane. It has held up well. Until recently I kept my small portable in the machine area. Recently I rehabbed the original machine and have it on hand just in case I need to sew during a power outage!!! ha ha