Restoring a cast iron base. How far?

July 17, 2023 2:44 AM

I picked up an old Singer treadle seeing machine base at a yard sale last month. My original plan was to take it apart, make it left hand drive, and make a small lathe. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize I'll never do this. So I'm going to make an end table out of it.

I have a nice piece of butcher block (24x24) for the top, but I'm asking about the base.

It's got some surface rust, and the pedal is a little bound up. I figure my three options are:

Just brush it up with a brass brush, maybe the patina will look OK. Lube the moving parts so it works smoothly.

Brush it, then hit it with some POR-15 rust converter. It'll give it a nice black finish.

Strip it down to separate pieces, remove the rust, paint and reassemble. I'm a little nervous about this, because cast iron bolts are a royal pain to remove, and sometimes break.

posted by Marky to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Less is almost always more in these situations, let it wear its age as much as possible and whatever you do won't itself look dated in ten years.

That's a serious answer to your question but an equally serious answer to a question you didn't ask is please consider if the machine deserves this treatment. A 1948 Singer is my everyday (well maybe every month or two) sewing machine, they are wonderful machines and I'm actually on the lookout for a good condition treadle model. If it's complete and in good nick please don't.
posted by deadwax at 3:41 AM on July 17, 2023

I have a cast iron sewing machine as the base for a bathroom counter & sink. I painted it black and it looks great. The machine was taken by someone who rehabs them, a great, rare find. I have a 2nd base that I plan to use as a small desk; the machine was already one. I'd use the rust treatment. Rust is pernicious and I don't love the look. Disassembly is such a pain that, in my life, it would lie in pieces for a long time.
posted by theora55 at 8:33 AM on July 17, 2023

They make special polish for cast iron stuff like this called stove blacking. Use a wire brush to get the rust off and then apply the blacking over top. It will dry down and protect the metal from rusting. I wouldn't bother with restoring the treadle if it's just going to be a table.
posted by ananci at 1:02 PM on July 17, 2023

Thanks everyone. And don't worry, no sewing machines were hurt in this project, I just bought the base.
posted by Marky at 11:49 PM on July 17, 2023