Making a TABLE out of the SINGER table

[@atrestorationplus]

Rebuilding isn't my first choice, but I will do it if the client requests it. It is better to use it, than throw it away. There were about 14 000 000 of these made in the world, so it is not exactly a rarity ;) The machine will be used as a spare.

[@andikocic1654]

What did you use for cleaning the iron cast?

[@atrestorationplus]

@@andikocic1654 Water.

[@milkywayexplorer942]

To me it's really a pity.

[@thez8495]

14mln of Singer? Because there was many other producers of sewing machines like this. Very nice final effect! :⁠-⁠) Do you use modified veneer to, or only natural?

[@vikik4714]

Did you keep the machine itself? I need some details from it. Are you willing to sell them? PLEASE REPLY 🙏

[@catherinewhite2943]

The table came out beautifully. I hope the machine itself found a good home with someone who will use it. Those old Singers are workhorses that never stop.

[@michellemcculloch]

It’s sad that the client didn’t want to restore the item as a sewing table. Sort of takes away from the beauty. But as always, your work is truly remarkable.

[@dennisbishop3842]

I 👍

[@Heymrk]

Better a functional table than a sewing machine stuck in the garage.

[@heatherinparis]

I came here to say just that!

[@samuelfellows6923]

And repurpose the treadle drive ~ cooling fan, generator - USB recharging, desk light (quite a large flywheel to belt a generator to) 🌿

[@sidereus7]

I wonder if they just wanted to use a modern sewing machine on top of it. That would be a cool homage.

[@chandarussell]

Well at least the table is still being used and as usual you did an excellent job. You know my Mum has one of these Singers and she still uses it. I tried once to get her a new electric machine a few years ago but she said she couldn’t see spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars on a new machine when this one still worked perfectly fine. I tried telling her the new ones did all sorts of other stitches that she had to do by hand at present and she just dismissed me saying people nowadays were to lazy and too untalented to do these stitches by hand. The sewing machine I might add belonged to her grandmother and my great grandmother and was bought new in 1898. I learned to sew on it myself. It’s nice to know some things never go out of style.

[@susank4878]

It's young compared to my new project: restoring an 1887 Steinway C grand piano. And one of these Singer treadle machines does something that not even the fanciest new sewing machine can do: it works during a power failure.

[@MsMary-mg3ho]

My grandma had one, too. My older sister inherited it, since she has especially good memories of it - she made her wedding dress on that machine. ❤

[@monicadepaulabomfim6052]

This video reminded me of my dear grandmother, who spent hours sewing with her Singer. With a hard and persistent work she was able to buy her house. Once again, the result of your work is magnificent. The sky is the limit for you! Bravo!👏👏

[@sharonlaster2767]

My parents did something similar, except that the machine remained and was functional. The machine folded down into the base and the side leaf swung over the top. We did not use the machine much, but used it as a side table. Thanks for the fond memories.

[@vanessalorenzoni]

I have tears in my eyes. My grandma had the same machine at her house… and I played so much with it! “Driving” the machine, open all the drawers! Wow!

[@coinkydink3984]

You did a great job... I enjoyed watching you work. I am an old lady, 80 yo. I currently have two projects going... adding veneer to the top of my desk, an antique rolltop. I believe it used to have leather on it, but I can't redo that. And the other project is turning a 1950's sewing table with drawers into a kitchen island. Actually the hardest part of that project is undoing the old screws and removing the hardware. I'm old and have a weakness in my hands. But... It's fun to make something new out of trashed furniture. 😊😊

[@nancyring8104]

I learned to sew on a machine just like this one!! (It was already an antique, even then!!)❤️

[@MOLLIMEDIA]

The gold paint detail was a nice touch. Beautiful.

[@lovingmayberry307]

My grandmother had one of these. Brought back fond memories, thank you. Beautiful work, as always.

[@williammcdonnell3748]

as a young apprentice sand molder, i took a hammer to 100s of those singer cast iron casings,when singer closed in Clydebank glasgow, our foundry sent all the apprentices to break up all the iron for smelting ,it was rather sad to see such beautiful workmanship being destroyed

[@janbaer3241]

That sewing machine is a work of art.

[@crazydoglady5]

I have a glass table made out of the Singer sewing machine bottom. My mom had it..and now handed down to me. I think a friend of hers made it. He did woodworking stuff. I loved how you highlighted the letters and stuff. gorgeous ..

[@cecoya]

Turned into a lovely table but personally I would have restored it back into a sewing table. I know that it can be returned to a sewing table but each person has their preferences. You do such beautiful work either way. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day

[@LadyLeigh]

You are one of my favourite restorers. You are always so particular about everything and that is what makes your work so superb! This is a beautiful repurpose of a classic sewing machine table. Wish I owned it! 🤗🇦🇺

[@heatherinparis]

The grain pattern on the veneer used to repair the table top is so beautiful❤

[@writerlisakaye]

My grandmother had one of these machines. Seeing this brings back fond memories. Thank you!

[@Rickster1100]

Love the little detail touches you add such as “clocking” the screws to matching positions. That is an old craftsman’s technique that makers of fine and bespoke shotguns perform. Respect!

[@dshey6802]

Delightful restoration of a good old friend.

[@Rev-D1963]

Another fine job Ahti. Indeed a lot of people squirmed a bit to see that old Singer sewing machine removed, but at least retained. They truly are works of art in their own right. Thank you again, as always, for your amazing work and videos. God bless. Rev. D.

[@ruthfedrau5546]

This brought back so many memories! My mother used to have one exactly like this one, but it would have been too costly to bring over from Brazil to Canada just 2 years ago when she passed on. Thank you! This makes a beautiful side table for the dining room!

[@simonwaters1965]

Nice Job. This video is like one of them songs where you don’t think about what it means, you just sit there and enjoy it.

[@Vickie-Bligh]

What a beautiful transformation. That will enhance any home. I wish I had my mom's old Singer. Her's wasn't a treadle but fully electric. I love seeing your work, Ahti. I could watch you all day.

[@barbaracatalano6299]

Beautiful!! Love that you saved the top. Most just replace it.

[@florianmalpica2849]

La sobriété et la qualité des images rendent bien le professionnalisme et le talent de l'artisan. Bravo c'est toujours un plaisir de regarder cette chaine. Il y a un coté zen très plaisant.

[@KylleinMacKellerann]

While I have and use one of these treadle Singers (Leather work and heavy sewing - it's perfect), you made a superb table out of it. Glad to see the actual base was resused as legs, and glad to learn the machine will be used as a "spare" for someone, although I have never heard of one of these treadle sewing machines breaking unless the user forgot to lube it occasionally. Mine's close to 70 years old and still works like new. Good work! It looks like new now, with the cleaning and shallac-ing of the iron leg base.

[@myrudram]

Thank you for sharing your skills and talents with us. It’s a real pleasure watching you work.

[@mardigra1916]

Excellent craftsmanship

[@RevdUp.Art.Fotografer]

Great table and it’s actually useable now. I love the silver highlights. I’m sure the customer is happy.

[@VeretenoVids]

I love the fact that you carefully padded the gold back on the logos. I have my grandmothers 1941 Singer, which is in her mother's beautiful Singer cabinet (1920s I think). I need to find the courage to help the bits of the top that have been through a lot over the years.

[@keithdonally3080]

An excellent piece of restoration. Really learned how to do a proper fill-in of the sewing machine area! Thank you so very much.

[@charleenwright4336]

Beautifully repurposed. As always, your attention to detail is amazing.

[@simonmcowan6874]

I made a larger table top for an old Singer machine like that, as my wife needed a larger surface area for making curtains and gowns, I restored the treadle action, still in use 40 years later, the machine still in perfect working order 110 years old.

[@northwoods3d]

i am one of the ones that squirmed when the machine was removed and the hole for it filled... I hate to see those old machines go unloved - even if there are millions of them. =P I was glad tho, that you kept the entire treadle base intact. The finished table is lovely and well done.

[@susanmullen7352]

You are amazing! I never tire of watching your beautiful work.

[@alipeacock3685]

My mum had a sewing machine just like that one ! Excellent job !

[@karencox3235]

At first I was sad to see that you chose to convert this sewing machine table into a regular table, but then I saw that the client requested it, so that is that. Such a piece of history! I'm glad you got to save the beautiful legs and pedal. Your work, as usual, was superb! Thank you for posting!

[@yx6889]

I have a few of these old singer sewing machines. They are absolute work horses! I appreciate that you kept most of the details of the original cabinet. The client always gets what they want. It's beautiful work! I wish that more people would restore the entire thing, but if sewing isn't your thing, I suppose that isn't reasonable.

[@SarHje]

Exactly the kind I learned to sew on.

[@bigboy9706]

Very nice transformation

[@marcusott2973]

Wonderful. Back in the days of landline telephones ☎️, my dad converted one of those as a telephone table. He fitted a bit of mdf in the hole, and being a watchmaker he covered the table in green felt. It still exists as a plant and flower table. ❤

[@susank4878]

I still have a landline telephone line, and an old MaBell telephone which can use it. The dial tone is a major third (two notes) and the upper note is A=440 Hz.If you are out in the country, and don't have a tuning fork and want to tune a violin, there it is.

[@garyrebholz4139]

Such a classic. I like the reuse idea, and even without the mechanical parts. These machines are still found all over the USA, and obviously elsewhere too.

[@lwilton]

At 7:35, originally there was a long spring wire (piano wire) in that notch on the top right of the drawer. It disappeared into the slots at the ends, and curved gently upward for most of the distance. This wedged against the bottom of the table and kept the drawer from rattling around and possibly working it's way out while the sewing machine was in use.

[@jomercer21113]

yes, these are often missing. I use a spring wire made for holding up insulation batts in the rafters to replace them.

[@jacquelinemcgowan8164]

WOW My mum had one of these machines and i used to love playing with the treddle, and it was ok until you got your foot stuck under it, and i like to look inside the little drawer, brings back so many memories xxxx thank you

[@cynthiat6505]

My grandmother sewed the clothes for the family on one exactly like this one. Gorgeous!!,

[@tattoosteveneo]

I’m so glad you did this. I have a old singer I’ve wanted to do this exact thing to. Now I know how 👍

[@mariaantoniagimenolete2136]

He trabajado mucho bordando es la cuarta generación que la tenemos y nunca me dejado tirada por eso le tengo un gran cariño y como si fuera de la familia,te mando un saludo

[@myraholmes1178]

Beautiful piece

[@frazzledhaloz3184]

I am just glad you saved this table! It’s beautiful! Hugs

[@MoniqueSmulders]

I love the way you take care of every detail

[@marcelozabala1086]

Mi abuela tenía una maquina igual a esa, la donamos para que siguiera ayudando a quien lo necesite, como siempre excelete trabajo, QUE MAESTRO...!!! GRACIAS🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🤜🏻🤛🏻🙋🏻‍♂️🇦🇷🇦🇷

[@didierlep1]

Très beau travail

[@michellemonksfield2171]

Great work as always Ahti. It brought back some memories as my mother had an old Singer treadle sewing machine just like that one when I was a small child.

[@lindavanderpool8392]

I have in my house my husband's great grandma's and I want to redo it. This though sad to watch gives me some ideas. You do awesome work. I'd like to see you refinish a Singer machine..

[@vikik4714]

Very interesting idea! Beautiful job!

[@larryk6330]

Very Cool! I love the sponge work on the lettering and metalwork. That 's a great technique. Grat work!

[@antoniawyatt9733]

Beautiful as always

[@fiberotter]

I have never seen one refinished except for the machine. I have my gr grandmother's that still works and I have used it.

[@melissabruner1224]

I learned to sew on one of these, because my grandmother was born in 1908 and used her same sewing machine all her life. It's strange that I can use one, but it worked very well!

[@LOTGiscool]

WOW! You've sure brought back some memories. I refinished an old Singer sewing machine cabinet back in the mid 1980s for a friend. The one I did had three drawers on each side and the fronts of the drawers were concave inward. I gave the metal stand a spray coat of Tremclad gloss black and sprayed the name and side medallions gold. I should ask my friend whatever happened to it.

[@lindasacco7635]

Beautiful job. I have a machine I need table top for that I have to build. The machines are a work of art.

[@Vikingwerk]

You do beautiful work, I hope whoever ends up with the sewing machine gets good use out of it as well!

[@lepint6671]

Always excellent. Love your videos.

[@gitie1791]

It is a great idea to make use of it… The table is very nice with the original Singer base… As always GREAT work, Regards Qc Ca

[@barbarabenware9701]

Beautiful!

[@peztopher7297]

As an American, it was kind of sad to see the classic Singer machine removed. But I'm sure there's a table somewhere that needs a machine. 😀 Coloring the relief gold on the ironwork was a nice touch.🤩

[@gloriarojogomezllanos9257]

Me gusta mucho ver sus videos.Sakudos desde Mexico.

[@lizmoore1313]

You make me so proud of you! ❤

[@girlnorthof60]

❤ this! Very cool when a furniture restorer (& a darn fine one at that) has a list of 'my favourite tools' in the description... and a gazillion clamps of all shapes & sizes. 100% 👍

[@lisahodges8299]

That beautiful machine finished! Birdy

[@sebastianoesposito8705]

Great job Athi, love the detail, that sponge work on the letters to make them gold, it's fantastic, but again I have to tell you it doesn't beat the rocking chair, in my opinion one of your nicest work! You are a little monster at your job! Thanks again for another nice job and other teachings!

[@sebastianoesposito8705]

Oh and I almost forgot! You are fantastic at giving the grain, the way you want! it's beautiful!!! Athi's signature, perfect restorations and works of art with veneering

[@atrestorationplus]

The name is Ahti ;)

[@sebastianoesposito8705]

​@@atrestorationplus typing error sorry!! :D

[@Yuliya78-05]

@@atrestorationplus так вот откуда АТ!🤭

[@janetedoratiotto258]

Very good restoration...my mother had one like this😃👍❤️🇧🇷

[@theresadelaney3255]

Beautiful.

[@vsemprivet]

Perfect, as usual. As someone who has "wooden" hobby as well, I've got a couple of questions, if you would be so kind to answer: 1. If I'm not mistaken, in some other projects you used iron for gluing the veneer. Why did you use weight and clamps this time? 2. What did you clean the iron base with and which paint you used to make the black finish? 3. What kind of laquer did you use as a finish coat for the table top? 4. Did you use "artistic" gold (I mean what is used in art projects) rather than gold paint/dust they sell in hardware stores? 5. I've got a similar item, but I don't have this clever and probably expensive setup you used to make hole in the table top. What would yoo do to fill the hole from the sewing machine if you didn't have your current setup? Thank you in advance and keep up your great work! It's always fascinating to watch what you do. Thank you!

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

It was an excellent rebuild. Well done, Ahti. The grain pattern for the top? Chef's kiss. Plus, it's a perfect desk for people with a nervous temper. One can read, exercise the legs and keep anxiety at bay, all at the same time. There's an underfolder with the hinged cover and two drawers at home. Don't know the model, but granma surely did a lot of sewing on it. Have a fantastic weekend, mate.

[@johnbradford9235]

Beautiful!!! 😎

[@imoldgreg13]

The looks really nice

[@78jog89]

Enjoyed so much! Thanks for the post, as always.

[@joesony5196]

it's amazing restoration, and the machine ? Where is it?

[@ImerioMatos]

my mom died just over a month ago. she had a sewing machine similar to that one. the table is four drawers: two on each side. we still have the machine though we don't use it anymore. but how much I would like to restore her!

[@lisajllewellyn3131]

Amazing work 🤩🤩

[@Cradley684]

Really nice work friend, have a nice day !!!.😀😀👍👍

[@truebloodaddict17]

Your work is as stunning as always I’m just sad that this client didn’t want to keep it a sewing table. Those machines are antique and can still be used today!

[@kelly33SR]

Stunning!

[@vinceianni4026]

Good job AT well done

[@brianvittachi6869]

My mother had a Singer just like that one. Sad to see the machine go but the table you made is beautiful.

[@LarryCrandall-z2w]

It's amazing half a would apart and you find a Singer sewing machines in Estonian. Would have been nice if you could have incorporated the sewing machine into the table somehow?

[@carlosandino821]

My maternal grandmother had a sewing machine identical to this one!

[@dawnhaynes7784]

Beautiful

[@glenncheatham1320]

So cool.

[@danieleserro1712]

where do you find the veneers?

[@dennisbeers]

Another fum video! I have an original three drawer two sided on from my great great grandmother.

[@debbieclark9333]

What did you use on the black metal stand? I thought I would have to paint the two I have, bit I see you did not.

[@OwlingDogDesign]

Very nice!

[@anusaratkothalanka1758]

Excellent

[@brandynpetersen8017]

Wow. An old Singer model 127 vibrating shuttle, in wonderful shape. And with the coffin head cover, instead of the fold up kind of treadle. That means that it's probably late 1800's. Would have to see the serial number to be sure. It's neat when you turn the top of those upside down and can see someone's fingerprints in the stain from more than 100 years ago. I always wonder who they might have been. Nice table too. Not even the Amish like those vibrating shuttle machines. They sew a perfect stitch, but shake like crazy, and don't have reverse.

[@pfadiva]

A lovely job. I have a similar table done by my dad. It's not as pretty as yours, as Dad is more of a utilitarian carpenter than a finish carpenter. It has two drawers on either side. My old Singer is similar to this one, but was converted to electricity sometime in the late 1940s by bolting on an electric motor to run the belt instead of using the treadle. It uses that same long bobbin instead of the round, botton-like one. It is a workhorse; it will sew anything you can get a needle through. Dad used it once to sew the name tags in his leather combat boots during his Army career.

[@maturefox1]

... cool job done, mate - congrats - like it a lot! 😉🦊

[@MikeB-gj8hf]

Great transformation! Was that cold blueing you did to the iron portion to get it black like that?