Pfaff 130 No. 4

Another $10 130?  Yep.

But let's put this one into perspective.  It's filthy.  It's rusted.  It's crazing.  I'm crazy.  It's covered in varnish and it's almost frozen.  Is it salvageable?  Yes but it's going to be a lengthy process and I think this is the last project machine in a long time.  I've become faster and more proficient at the process but Pfaffs are notoriously dodgy, as their biases are so tight that they'll freeze if you wear cologne around them.

Here it is, many parts removed:

(Sorry for the bad lighting.  It's dark and dreary here.)

The owner left the machine in an unheated house in a really sketchy 'sunroom' whose roof leaked.  Thus, the machine sweated and froze repeatedly and the tension, etc. are rusted and the clear coat and paint are crackling.  There is dirt in every crevice as well as evidence of spider habitation.  (Too bad spiders spin rather than sew.)  They had left a spool of thread on the right pin and in the heat the plastic spool melted onto the machine:

I'm going to have to pry it off but very carefully so as to avoid taking the paint off with it.  (I managed to get some off but my plan of softening the plastic with mineral spirits has not worked.)  I've removed the tension completely and have yet to completely disassemble:

You can see that I've begun to clean it as it is.  If I can polish the check spring as-is, I may just soak in alcohol and then brush with kerosene.  The crevices between the fiddly bits need soaking but if I can polish what's reachable, I may not need a complete tear down.

Here is the hand wheel/washer/set screw/clutch assembly:

Here, I can use soap and water (and Bon Ami) on the Bakelite wheel as it has no metal.  The other parts will soak in alcohol (Who knows -- I may join them and get soaked in some alcohol, too) and get a thorough brushing, then polishing with Maas.

I haven't started on the most notorious part of all: taking apart the width knob.  I am going to hate it but on this particular 130 it's unavoidable: the thing is frozen solid despite repeated dousing of kerosene.

So, that's my Christmas Eve eve.  Grocery shopping later (including the extra large bottle of rubbing alcohol -- or gin, whichever is cheaper) and more Pfaff pfrustration.

I hope you're having an exciting holiday with friends and family.  I'm up to my ears in smelly rags and soiled Q-tips, kerosene and polishing grit.  At least I can crank the music.