Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with sewing and repair

Correct parts for a Bernette/Bernina 812 sewing machine?

Perplexer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:19:01 -0800

Correct parts for a Bernette/Bernina 812 sewing machine? I'm a sewing novice, never owned a sewing machine. Thus, many of my pants and jeans are too long, some garments have the ugliest button threading ever, and I still have an unmended hole in my jacket pocket.

I picked up a Bernette 812 "Made for Bernina" at a garage sale for two bucks, and it appears to be in good working condition. I can't tell, however, since it is missing the power cord and foot pedal.

Does anyone know the proper parts for this unit? I can't find a service manual or a whole lot of information on this model, and don't want to order the wrong parts.

Thanks!!

Can Nylon/Plastic gears be recut in steel?

Tchad — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:46:03 -0800

Sewing Gear Filter: I have a number of sewing machines that have nylon or plastic composite gears that have broken. Some of them I can have replaced, some of them are no longer made. I am wondering about DIY bionic sewing machine parts. My machines have gears similar to these. Some of them are beveled drive gears as well.

I have some access to machine shop equipment and think I could probably make the gears myself with a little patience and a couple of books, but was wondering:

If the gears were originally nylon or plastic are there reasons that go beyond cost, noise, maintenance, and weight? As far as I know it is just a function of them being cheaper to manufacture, quieter in general, and requiring less lubrication.

If I grind or cast the same shape gear out of steel am I going to ruin the other components? It doesn't seem like I would, but I thought maybe they made the gears more flexible/fragile so that they break before bending other parts.

Are there any book or tips you know of for this kind of thing? They need not be specifically sewing related, but not having a degree or experience in engineering they need to be approachable.

I have tried to get answers from antique car repair shops, but none of them want to take on small work like this. I have tried google and dealerships, but most of the information seems to be proprietary - which is fine but a few of the pieces are so old that they are no longer manufactured.

Thoughts or ideas? These machines are so good I am willing to put work or money into them.

tent repair - sewing canvas help

bystander — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:48:19 -0800

Sewing-filter. I need to replace the fly-screens in a canvas tent. Hints/Tips? The canvas tent on my camper trailer (looks like this except 20 years old) has ripped window screens.
I am a sewing novice, but my wife is a sewing goddess. Will her Janome normal domestic sewing machine handle canvas? I've been quoted about $300 to get a professional to replace the screens in three windows. I reckon it is about $20 in materials, so will be keen to do it myself if it won't kill the sewing machine.
I figure I can get some help from the goddess, maybe even get her to drive, but I live in fear of hurting her machine - mefi hope me?

Sewing machine repair in San Francisco

Quietgal — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:52 -0800

Please recommend a good place to have a sewing machine serviced in San Francisco. My Pfaff 7570 is about 15 years old and needs a little preemptive maintenance.

I've kept it clean and regularly oiled the one part that users should oil, but now it's making an odd smell when I sew long and fast, so I think some of the "permanently lubricated" bearings need to be changed.

Can you recommend a good place in SF that can service it? Thanks!

Getting an old sewing machine fixed in New York/Jersey City

yarrow — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:06:23 -0800

Recommendations for sewing machine repair places in New York City or Jersey City? I have an old Singer 5525 that I paid $5 for. I think there's something wrong with the bobbin assembly. I work in the garment district, so you'd think I'd be set, but all the places near me seem to be focused on fixing giant industrial machines. Anyone have a suggestion for a place where they would be tolerant of my near-total ignorance?