How to Refinish a Singer Bentwood Case

In this video we show you how to restore and refinish a vintage Singer sewing machine bentwood case.
The materials you will need are:
Protective gloves
Scotchbrite or fine sandpaper
Paper towels
Methylated Spirits or Denatured Alcohol
Water based varnish and a brush
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section below.
I hope you enjoy this video and find it useful. if you do please give it a like and don't forget to subscribe, if you haven't already. - so you don't miss the rest of this series.
Find out more -
www.curio-heywood.co.uk
/ curioheywood
Music: www.purple-planet.com
#curio #crafttutorial #sewing

[@aliciasipocz8406]

I just got a singer 127 bentwood today, and if I can get the musty aged smell out, will be refinishing the case base and outside, so this is fantastic! Thank you!

[@miriamgronvold]

It's moments like this that reminds me why I love the internet. You can really find anything on here. This is exactly the information I needed. Thank you so much!

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

Glad to be of help

[@xosferens]

Thank you very much for this great, succinct video. It tells me exactly how to go about refinishing my mother’s 1948 99K.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

Glad to be of help!

[@veronicarar8227]

Great video, thank you very much

[@jss3018]

Thank you. I've got a case for a 128 and had no clue how to restore. You are great.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

Glad to be of help.

[@dustbunnycollector]

Thanks 😊 for making and sharing vid

[@davefarnsworth3020]

I just last night bought a 99k in a bentwood case on eBay. I'll be using your method of refinishing it. I like how you cut to the chase. Short and to the point. Thanks for posting this video.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

You're welcome

[@darwinellis3074]

You prolly dont care but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times you can stream all the latest movies and series on InstaFlixxer. I've been binge watching with my brother for the last couple of days =)

[@marcallen1957]

@Darwin Ellis Yup, been watching on Instaflixxer for since november myself =)

[@loriannpayne4483]

This video is just awesome! Thank you so much. I just cleaned my case and put furniture polish on it which keeps sinking in to the wood. Your video is the answer to the issues with my case! Woo hoo. I wonder if this method would work for the “coffin top” lid for my 1896 Singer Fiddlebase #12 machine? For that matter - the whole wooden treadle table?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

I don't see why not! It was common to use shellac as a finish on treadles.

[@marjohnsmusings3222]

Thank you very much. I will try this on the 1910 table! : ^ )

[@VintageNaehmaschinen]

Please use Shellack like it used to was. The syntetic lack would ´nt be good for your table over the time. Look how I did it kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYHJaYCsd8R2g6M

[@krisbeicher5020]

All your videos are so interesting. Thank you! I’m about to buy a Singer 66 with a case but the handle is missing, just the two holders sticking up. Do you know what I should search for to find a replacement?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

Try searching for Singer bent wood case handles on Ebay, or ask in Facebook Vintage Sewing Machine Groups - someone is bound to know where you can get one from.

[@patfrey7242]

Great video thanks! I have a couple I need to do. Is the methylated spirits the same as Mineral spirits here in the states? Thank you

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

I think it's known as denatured alcohol there. I'll double check.

[@degsn37]

Excellent, I think you are a fountain of knowledge! I will be using your method to restore my bentwood case. Two questions: 1. My case has much paint spatter on it..I tried lifting it off with a blade, but it damaged the case, as splinters of the delicate wood came off with the paint.. any tip on softening the paint/ safely dissolving the paint off instead of lifting off with a blade? 2. Does the new varnish coat method provide the same richness and even factory gloss finish as original shellac?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

Try sitting a piece of damp paper towel on the paint splashes for s couple of hours - this should work if it's water based, otherwise, paint thinners should work. This method gives as good if not better shine than the original finish.

[@degsn37]

@@CurioByBSpokeDesigns OK, much obliged to you, I'll give it a go! Great, will be nice to see a good clean lustre on the case again...Paint thinners is OK yes, not damaging to the delicate wood?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

@@degsn37 Thinners should be OK - meths may get it off too

[@degsn37]

@@CurioByBSpokeDesigns Perfect, thank you...

[@bella-bee]

Have you ever found a way to rid these cases of the fusty smell they sometimes get if stored in a damp place? Ooh I hope so! It’s the old glue I think. Thank you. Those cases look splendid

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

There's several methods of getting rid of the smell. You can put a dryer sheet in the bottom or a small dish of baking soda. The worst offender for causing a smell is old oil, which can go rancid. This is more common on machines with felt lined drip trays such as the 221 featherweight or the 401s and similar, although I have occasionally known it to happen with 201s.

[@joanneginever1890]

Hi have, just received a Singer 99 with bentwood case. Both machine and case in impeccable condition. I have query about the bits of wire like cages inside the cover. How do they align to the machine? There is a removable extension table piece. Does this, slide into one of these metal wire bits, and what is the, other one for please? Great video, thank you.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

The internals of these cases varied a bit. The extension usually has a twisting clip to hold it in place and the wires are usually to hold the oil can and one for the box of accessories. Have a look at my video on the croc case. You can see how they fit.

[@joanneginever1890]

@@CurioByBSpokeDesigns thanks so much. I have figured it out. The part with the screws that twists over the corner of the table is missing. However I have improvised using a bowtie shaped plastic clear twisty thing screwed in, and that does the job just fine. All good now. Thanks for your help 😊

[@marianclaudiuiancu3267]

Hi, excellent work. I also own a Singer sewing machine from 1925 and I want to recondition it. I have a problem with the case. It was hit on top and has a small depth, the plywood is a little cracked and clogged, but it is not penetrated, it is not a hole. I thought it might go somehow forced from the inside back to its original shape and reinforced with something on the inside. Can you give me some advice please? How can I fix it without causing any damage?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

Steam is good for softening wood, enabling it to be gently moved back into position - then clamp it until it dries into place. Then wood glue and clamp to fix into place.

[@marianclaudiuiancu3267]

@@CurioByBSpokeDesigns Many thanks!

[@ianedmondson6092]

Hi and thank you- very helpful. I am wondering why you didn't just recoat with shellac instead of varnish?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

We tried with a commercial shellac but wasn't happy with the results. Shellac isn't easily available here in the UK and the water based varnish us low VOC.

[@dee4174]

Do you have or know of any vudeos o restoring coffin box sewing machine covers? Thanks.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

no, sorry. I have restored them, but just used dyes to colour the wood and waxed them rather than varnish.

[@rafaelmunoz21]

What can I use in lieu of denatured alcohol? In California, USA it is not available? Thank you.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

I'm not sure. That's the only thing I know will soften the shellac. Perhaps someone else can help?

[@phillipstjhn26]

I have a case without a key, can you help me solve this problem?

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

You should be able to use a small, flat blade screwdriver (like a terminal driver) instead of a key. Keys are still available on eBay for these.

[@phillipstjhn26]

@@CurioByBSpokeDesigns Thank you so much.

[@phillipstjhn26]

@@CurioByBSpokeDesigns Would you need a bentwood case with a 127 inside?

[@adumont]

I'm sorry here not to be as enthusiastic as the other commenters, but isn't scotch britte and denaturated alchool super abrasive for the decal? In fact the decal turning silver sounds as a bad indicator to me. I don't believe the god color comes from the shellac, like on the sewing machines the decals are golden and will silver if you clean them using abrasive products or not take care. Also why not simply reapply shellac using for example French polishing technique? I'd rather reapply shellac on top of the case, mixing it with the old shellac. Anyway thanks a lot for sharing your technique.

[@CurioByBSpokeDesigns]

If you go lightly over the decal and take care it should be OK. I had difficulty in finding shellac (and had conflicting advice on how to carry out the French Polishing) and this finish is low VOC and durable.