Class with Ray White

This past week I made the 6 hour trip down to Belleview, Missouri to take my fourth sewing machine repair course from Ray White. I have looked forward to every one of these classes and I always learn so much from whatever projects I get to work on over the three days. I also look forward to seeing what machines/projects the other students in the class bring with them because everyone is willing to talk to and learn from each other. As this was my third advanced level class, I felt more confident predicting how long each of my projects would take and how many machines I should take with me. This time I packed 7 machines into the car and I was able to finish up 6 of the 7 during my stay.  The last project turned out to be more involved than I anticipated, but I will get it finished up here at home in the next few days.

The projects that I took for myself included: a Bernina Nova that needed a foot control/power cord conversion kit install (Ray sells the kit and I was glad he'd be there to supervise my installation), a Bernina 830 that had a broken nose cover plate, a Simplicity Easylock serger that did not make a stitch and needed to be re-timed, a Singer 301 that needed new wiring and a tuneup, a Bernina 1130 and 1230 that had both been purchased recently and had not been tried out yet (hoping for minimal work needed), and a Singer 201-2 that ended up needing rewiring, motor-cleaning, and some restoration.

Bernina Nova

I started the first day with the conversion kit install on the Bernina Nova.  One of my customers had purchased the kit online from Ray's website and then I brought the machine and kit to Missouri to have Ray oversee my first installation of the kit. The directions in the kit are pretty straightforward and there are detailed pictures to follow, but it was not a fast process and I spent the whole morning on that project. Ray's approach to his advanced classes is that he lets you work on your own until you get stuck or until he sees you doing something that might hurt you or the machine. He is willing to answer any question that is asked, but he really does want to give you space and time to problem-solve on your own. I appreciate that. The installation went well and now the Nova control pedal does not race uncontrollably when she sews.

Bernina 830

The Bernina 830 came to me with a broken nose plate and a few scratches on her paint. Who knows what challenges she has faced over the years--perhaps a fall at some point?  The nose cover hinge was bent and the cover did not close correctly. This meant that the top cover would not close either unless it was forced and that was already starting to chip off more paint. Taking off the hinge and straightening it out was a great improvement, but it revealed that at some point this machine had actually had a replacement nose cover put on.  This new one is wider than the machine and it does not sit completely flush with the front and back. Since this is a machine for me though, I can live with the 'character' that this adds to the machine.

Simplicity 804 Serger

The serger turned into a time and labor intensive project. I was not privy to the history of this machine either and it seemed to have been tinkered with multiple times, possibly by multiple people. I don't know when the last time was that it actually worked, but it was hard to find a part of this machine that had not been tweaked at some point. This turned into a group project and two of my classmates were instrumental in figuring out how to get everything running smoothly again. I loved being able to consult with others across the table. Usually, I'm alone in my workshop---it sure was fun to collaborate in person.

Singer 301

The Singer 301 had frayed cords and the foot control got rewired. After a complete cleaning, lubrication, and tuneup she was sewing confidently. She came out of a cabinet and will go back in to that original one before I sell her.

Inside a Bernina 1230

The Bernina 1130 and 1230 were purchased after I knew I was going to Ray's class and I wanted to wait until I was in MO before I serviced them. Fortunately, it turned out they were both in great condition and just needed a cleaning and lubrication. I look forward to trying those out in the coming weeks. What are some noticeable differences between the two machines?

Singer 201-2

The last project was a Singer 201-2 that I had purchased earlier this spring. Last year I had a 201 that I wanted to repair, but it had too much rust inside the machine and the motor had water damage beyond recovery. So, this was a second chance to see why this machine is sought-after. A complete rewiring job, motor cleaning (such a messy job), and machine cleaning took me the entire last day of class. There are still several things I need to do on the machine now that I'm back home, but even without sewing on it yet I can see her start to reveal her charm and strength.

This class proved, yet again, to be a delightful way to improve my skill set. Ray, the other students, and the variety of projects available each time already has me looking forward to going back next summer.

Ray White's Sewing Machine Repair Class

Monday through Wednesday this week I took my second advanced sewing machine repair class with Ray White. I had taken the beginner class and my first advanced class this summer and was very excited about returning to Missouri for round two. This session was just as rewarding for me as the one this summer had been. I consider Ray to be such a passionate, patient, and knowledgeable teacher. He knows nearly everything about mechanical and electric sewing machines and he graciously shares all he has learned over the years with anyone who is eager to learn.

I am always excited to see who else has signed up for the class and what their motivation is for learning about sewing machines. Everyone comes with a different background and even though we’re seeking the same set of skills and understanding about sewing machine repair, there is variety in what people intend to do with their new expertise. In the three classes I have taken, I have met people who have a background in sewing (quilters, pattern graders, bloggers, tailors, hobbyists, upholsterers, garment makers ) and others who may have never sewn a stitch (tinkerers, shop owners, engineers, husbands whose “wives sent them”,  collectors). And whether we’re intending to go into the repair business or just want to service the growing number of machines in our personal collection, each one of us is exudes enthusiasm for the content of the class.

This year, I brought five sewing machines and one serger with me to work on over the course of the three days. The first machine was my Bernina 1120. This is one of my primary sewing machines, but it had developed a squeak and I knew it needed a good cleaning and tune-up. I was hesitant to open up this machine myself and was looking forward to having Ray there for support. 

Bernina 1120 circuit board

We opened up the machine completely and Ray shared some great information on Bernina care and maintenance. These are well-designed and well-built machines.  I was able to confidently clean, lubricate, and fix the squeak on this machine. When it turned out to be a squeaky belt, Ray suggested ‘lubricating’ it with a bar of soap. That was definitely a new approach for me, but it worked like a charm. Before this class working on Berninas was a bit intimidating for me, but now I feel confident and ready to take on my next Bernina.

Singer 401A

The second machine I worked on in class was a Singer 401A that I had picked up at the Goodwill. The 401A is a slant needle machine and this particular one needed a hook timing adjustment and a good cleaning. 

The third machine was a Husqvarna/Viking 21E in a charming teal color. This machine was from Sweden, had the instruction manual written in Swedish, and was wired with a 220 volt plug.  

The color on this machine is a treat.

Ray had a step up/down transformer that we used to safely convert 110-220 volts and after I got the machine cleaned up it sewed so quietly. This may be a new favorite machine for me. I intend to play around with this one quite a bit in the coming months.

On the second and third days of class I had two Necchis and a Brother serger to work on. One Necchi was a BU that was unbelievably filthy and I wasn’t sure it would even sew. One of my classmates took on the daunting task of cleaning up the machine and she did a beautiful job.  

The BU all cleaned up and wearing a crocheted spool pin cover.  Thank you, Barbara!

Then she and I worked together to get the tension correct and to get the machine sewing beautifully. Another classmate was instrumental in helping me to rewire and fix the foot controller. We had the foot controller completely apart and he came up with the creative solution of substituting a spring for a missing brass connector piece. I love seeing how different brains analyze a problem and devise a solution. The last task with this machine was to rewire the light and put in a new bulb. Thank you to another classmate who had brought a collection of LED bulbs that worked with most machines. This BU turned out to be a true group project and I thoroughly enjoyed working with my talented classmates. 

The second Necchi was a green Supernova that was already working when I brought it to class. It just needed a good cleaning and lubrication.

The last project was a HomeLock 634D differential feed serger. I had not used this particular machine, but I was hoping for a refresher course on servicing a serger and Ray was happy to accommodate. I got the machine all cleaned up early on the third day, but then we had a few setbacks. First, I realized I had left the power cord and foot control at home in Illinois Then, without the help of a manual, we figured out what type replacement needles it needed, but I didn’t have any with me and Ray didn’t have any in the shop. Finally, there were two tension knobs that were loose, but we could not figure out how to adjust them. Each knob was attached to a shaft that had a nut on the end, but those nuts were set into molded plastic and could not be turned to adjust the tension disks or spring on the shaft. Ray and I worked for quite awhile to figure out how to adjust the tension and even resorted to trying superglue at one point.  We could not figure out how the tension unit was originally installed at the factory and thus couldn’t see a way to make adjustments. So, this serger project came home with me to be continued at a later date.

At the end of class, we part ways and headed back to our various states spread across the country. I always find myself driving home a bit sad to be done with class and missing my new friends, but also reenergized and excited to see what new machines are waiting for me in the coming weeks and months. I truly appreciate the time this class gives me to learn about, implement, and reflect on my new and deeper understanding of sewing machines and sewing machine repair. Thank you, Ray White.  Now, let’s see, when I can sign up for my next class?