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Changing hinges? (Moderated by Sharon1952, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 11/24/08 4:14 PM ET
I got this sewing cabinet and had hopes of putting one of my vintage machines in it (Elna or Morse). I totally love it. It has a chair that pushes in to make it look like a cabinet when not in use. Plus has storage!
It ended up coming with a machine (Bel Air). I don't really like it and want to somehow convert the cabinet to hold one of my other two machines.
The hinges on the cabinet that hold the machine are pegs that insert into the Bel Air edge. My Elna doesn't have a spot for pegs to insert. Still have to check my Morse.
Has anyone done anything like this before? Suggestions? A place to buy different hinges?
Pardon the dust, the lady who had it did not believe in dusting. Ever.
-- Edited on 11/24/08 4:15 PM --
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It ended up coming with a machine (Bel Air). I don't really like it and want to somehow convert the cabinet to hold one of my other two machines.
The hinges on the cabinet that hold the machine are pegs that insert into the Bel Air edge. My Elna doesn't have a spot for pegs to insert. Still have to check my Morse.
Has anyone done anything like this before? Suggestions? A place to buy different hinges?
Pardon the dust, the lady who had it did not believe in dusting. Ever.
| From Bel Air Sewing Machine & Cabinet |
-- Edited on 11/24/08 4:15 PM --
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www.pinkededges.com
Posted on: 11/24/08 4:37 PM ET
In reply to Cat MacGregor
If your Morse is a flat bed machine, it should work, but it is all but impossible to adapt a cabinet that is intended for a flat bed machine to take a free arm type. Since the time when the other US mfgrs like White, National, & New Home shut down, the hinge placement on almost all of the flat bed machines was standardized on Singer's old set up. The one big exception was Sears, and they insisted that their flat bed machines be made so that they would not fit in any cabinets but their own.
Bill Holman
Bill Holman
Posted on: 11/24/08 6:06 PM ET
In reply to Bill Holman
What is the difference between a flat bed machine and a free arm type? I'm still really new at these sorts of terms.
Many thanks!
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Many thanks!

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www.pinkededges.com
Posted on: 11/24/08 6:51 PM ET
In reply to Cat MacGregor
A free arm has a kind of detachable part of the bed that slides off of folds down so that the bed becomes very small and narrow...so that you can slide a sleeve around it.
Here is a photo online that can explain it better than I can.
But cabinets for free arm machines have to support the machines from beneath the machine, so you can use the free arm, and cabinets for flatbed machines just have to catch the edge of the bed. Does that make sense?
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Here is a photo online that can explain it better than I can.
But cabinets for free arm machines have to support the machines from beneath the machine, so you can use the free arm, and cabinets for flatbed machines just have to catch the edge of the bed. Does that make sense?
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Michelle
http://cheapandpicky.blogspot.com/
http://cheapandpicky.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 11/24/08 7:57 PM ET
In reply to Michelle L
Totally does - my Elna and Morse are flat bed. My Viking is a free arm!
Thanks so much!!
(Is it bad I understand my sewing machines better than my car?)
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Thanks so much!!

(Is it bad I understand my sewing machines better than my car?)
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www.pinkededges.com
Posted on: 11/24/08 8:56 PM ET
In reply to Cat MacGregor
It's definitely possible, even with a free arm. You would have to find someone who has some ingenuity and craftsmanship. How it would work is that they would cut out the top of the cabinet and make a new top insert that can be removed for free arm sewing, and then re-inserted for flat bed use. They would also have to adapt the hinges to fit. Most likely, your machine folds down toward the front instead of the back. You may be able to reverse that, too, so that the needle is closer up front. If you have a vertical bobbin, your top insert would be in two pieces so that you can remove the front portion only of the insert to refill your bobbin. If you have a top refill bobbin you won't have to worry about that at all. This is the set-up I have (vertical bobbin), and my cabinet was custom built exactly that way, too, with the exception that my sewing machine does not fold down for storage. It remains on the top of my sewing center. I had another solid insert made for the cabinet, too, that fits in place of the two inserts and machine, just in case I ever wanted to remove the machine. Something's wrong with my camera or I'd post a pic.
BTW......................I love that cabinet........................very unique. It appears to be solid mahogany, too. You scored!!!!
-- Edited on 11/24/08 9:00 PM --
BTW......................I love that cabinet........................very unique. It appears to be solid mahogany, too. You scored!!!!
-- Edited on 11/24/08 9:00 PM --
Posted on: 11/29/08 10:41 PM ET
Thanks so much guys!! I got the Bel Air out and my Morse in!!!! Now I just have to finish cleaning everything!!


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www.pinkededges.com
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