Misc Repair: Chagrin Repair Shop

There isn't much we won't try to fix. This page shows some of our projects.

Sewing Machines

The Chagrin Repair Shop restores old sewing machines including refinishing cabinets.

Singer 128. Repairs included: complete rewiring; lubrication; most parts removed, cleaned, reinstalled; bobbin winder restoration.

Case for Singer 128. Repairs to delaminated case. Shellac finish.

Singer 15-90 in a Model No. 72 Cabinet. Repairs included: complete rewiring; lubrication; most parts removed, cleaned, reinstalled. Cabinet extensively cleaned, repaired, and refinished.

Singer 13-15 and table. Restoring this machine began by cleaning it with a garden hose.

White 77. Lubrication, new "tire", and light cleaning.

An Old Sanding Station

The windings were mis-wired so the centrifugal switch never had a chance to engage. Repainting the stand would have been straightforward, but would have added to cost. With some new 6" x 48" belts and 9" discs this tool is ready to get back to work.

Found on a curbside. Motor hummed/buzzed when turned on and then eventually turned off.

The motor needed to be rewired. Sadly, the previous owner discarded the cover plate.

A Watchmaker's Tool Chest

This project balanced preservation with restoration. The following elements needed to be repaired: (a) The top panel was rotten along its long front and back edges; (b) The lid's brace was insufficient to hold the lid in place; (c) The lock was broken; (d) The key was missing; (e) The lock escutcheon was missing (but found inside the box!). The exterior of the box had a nice color but was stained and burned in places. Careful sawing of the lid's rear stile permitted removal of the panel, all repairs were made, wooden elements were refitted and glued, the piece was lightly sanded to reduce the visual impact of flaws without removing too much patina or age, and it was refinished with a padded shellac finish.

A tool chest restored to its sturdy, usable form.

A large "helper" lid stay was added. Original stay was woefully inadequate.

Lock repaired, escutcheon refitted, and key cut.

One edge of new wood on the panel is obvious. The opposite edge is new too, but mostly hidden by the groove it fits into.

Stanley No. 3 Bench Plane

This plane was rust-covered and frozen when we received it. After careful cleaning, lubrication, sharpening, and adjustment, this old plane makes shavings you can read through.

Preservation of a mistreated plane yields a wonderful tool.

The Stanley No. 3. Perfect for small jobs or small hands.

Shavings you can read through? That'll do.

Columbian Vise, Cleveland OH

An old rusty vise was a perfect candidate for electrolysis rust removal. Couldn't have been happier with the results.

A rustier vise you've probably never seen.

Almost as good as new.

Ford 660 Tractor Wheel

The Chagrin Repair Shop doesn't "do tires", but sometimes something just needs to be fixed. In this case, it was a restoration of a front wheel for a Ford 660 tractor.