Singer Treadle Sewing Machine Cabinet Gets a Makeover in Duck Egg Blue

Carole
by Carole
This is my second Singer treadle machine makeover. The big difference between this one and my first, was that this time the cabinet was largely intact and could be made over. There was some damage as could be expected for its age (1911). A couple of broken off bits of timber and loose joints around the frame for the drawers but that was nothing that could not be fixed with a little wood glue. There was also some damaged veneer that was easily removed using a wet towel and steam iron. I dis-assembled the whole thing in order to clean sand and paint. First the cast iron frame was removed. The frame was sanded and cleaned and painted in Hammerite smooth black spray paint over a coat of Feronite rust converter. Then the cabinet - the Sewing machine was removed, then the drawers and then the frame taken apart and given a good sand and clean and any repairs necessary were made at this point. Then this baby was painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Duck Egg Blue. This is my first time using chalk paint. I can see why people like it so much!
I also painted inside the drawers using Minwax timber stain in Slate grey to give a washed effect to the inside of the drawers and to get rid of that orange brown colour and disguise any water staining. I was so thrilled that all the wooden decorative decals were still with this piece, although a few did need gluing here and there where they had started to lift off. I still have the sewing machine that came with this but will be selling the table as a dressing table/occasional table/hall table or laptop table. I was going to add a mirror but thought it should be up to the buyer to decide how they want to use it.
Update: This item just sold to a lovely lady who is going to put it in her hallway with a mirror on the wall over it.
Dressed for its photo debut! Necklace & scarf
Some light distressing to hilite the detail
Minwax woodstain - Slate in the drawers
Remove the machine
Repairs to drawer frames, glue and clamp
Damaged veneer was removed
Painting process, drawers first
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5 of 8 comments
  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Sep 26, 2016
    Really nice! I just got one of these to do over and I am thinking of painting it. The top veneer is damaged, but, the rest is pretty good. All the parts move freely, and the only thing missing is the band that works the gear for the treadle. Super excited to get started after seeing yours!
    • See 2 previous
    • Carole Carole on Sep 28, 2016
      Try looking for a belt on ebay. They do often have sewing machine parts from these old machines for sale. Sometimes even parts of the cabinets are on sale.
  • Liz Sutherland Liz Sutherland on Sep 27, 2017

    I have one with a very damaged cabinet and like this idea!

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