Give a Used Sewing Machine a Makeover
When I received an old sewing machine cabinet for free, it also included a Kenmore sewing machine. I love old, used sewing machines and use them regularly (yes, “them” meaning I have several). I gave the sewing machine cabinet a makeover so I thought I’d give one to the machine itself. Painting an old metal sewing machine is really quite easy!
This is what it looked like before:
Once I removed the machine from the cabinet, I taped off the areas where I did not want paint – the throat plate, the needle and foot shaft, the presser foot lever, as well as the controls on the front. I also removed the belt from the handwheel and motor.
I applied a coat of rusty metal primer (<– affiliate link!) to the entire body of the machine, then applied two light coats of spray paint in a color I like to call “Obnoxious Pink”.
I also taped off the cord to the foot pedal and painted it as well.
I removed the tape then reinstalled the machine in the cabinet. This is not the original machine to the cabinet (even though I received it this way). Still, the color combo is fantastic!
Here are a few tips on painting an old metal sewing machine:
- Cover up the parts you don’t want painted with painter’s tape
- Use cotton balls to plug holes such as grease holes (for lubricating the inner parts in older machines) and the holes in the motor housing
- Always use a spray primer, especially on metal
- Apply the paint after priming according to the directions on the can – in my case, I could paint within an hour of priming and had to apply any subsequent coats of paint within an hour as well
- Pick a color that suits you!
To me, painting this old metal sewing machine was a good choice… It came out great and I love it! Now I can’t wait to sew something fabulous with it!
Originally posted 2016-07-05 08:00:50.
