Continued thread
Had to tighten up the tension. This is a lot better.
#sewingmachinerepair #sewingmachine #antique #repair #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
#ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
3 posts2 participants0 posts today
Funky smells seemed to be almost entirely gone. A combo of sunlight, air, ammonia window cleaner, lysol, and Murphy's old soap seemed to do the trick. Just wiped all of the surfaces of the cabinet with a light coating on linseed oil, as it looked like the wood needed some protection after stripping off all the old stinky dirt, did not want to induce any wood cracking so opted to do it sooner rather than later. The oil should protect this cabinet and also will seal any stinky odor particles in. Needle replaced (in theory). Now just need to let this dry and then put on the belt, test the new needle position. #sewingmachinerepair #sewing #antiques #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
Vintage sewing machine with 116 years of grime mostly removed. Didn't remove the patina, but I suspect some of the funk on this piece is vintage cigarette smoke from back when everyone in the US was a smoker. #sewingmachine #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #sewing #restoration
Hmm, today's was "free sewing machine" day on Craigslist.
The other (nice) Singer disappeared, this one (crappy plastic Brother) also disappeared... but the problem on this one was a piece of broken plastic, and no parts available. (probably can jury rig a fix... but the new machines are FLIMSY).
#repaircafe #garmin #running #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle that’s another happy ending for this forerunner 45s. Buttons cleared and lubed, battery replaced, ready for more years of service. #aberdeenshire
Continued thread
Not working for a simple reason, NiCd batteries no good. One must weigh if it's worth replacing, however... NICDs are a PITA, as they drop below a certain charge and are toast. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #Electronics
Continued thread
Oooh, last tip, which I did not do for the last 5 chairs, but should have:
WINDEX (or similar) IS YOUR FRIEND
One of the hardest parts of these chairs is sliding the edges in and out. I wrestled with them using muscle power on the last chairs.
I finally wised up and sprayed a ton of window cleaner in the grooves getting it off and putting it back on, and it slid on and off like it was greased with butter!
(the windex evaporates or can be rinsed later).
Another sling chair restoration complete. This is the sixth I have done, but still learning/relearning lessons.
Lessons:
1. Sew the sling slightly smaller than the original (did that this time!) The sling will stretch with use.
2. Reassemble on cardboard or a soft surface to avoid dinging paint (failed! Forgot.)
3. Use tougher paint or clearcoat. (Camo paint is not robust, forgot it comes off easily. Ah well, it was free paint)
4. Need a fuller/full can of spraypaint. Ran out of paint cans twice, cans were only a bit over half full each.
5. Put end caps on before assembling chair (forgot, had to unscrew, put end caps in, reassemble a second time)
Spur of rhe moment sling chair on the curb fix. Started painting in black, but ran out of paint, then tried brown, but the paint is ancient (from some company called Lumber City, vintage label). So we are going Rustoleum Camo. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
I call this spin class routine "haul crap in a cargo trailer uphill before coffee". 
#BikeTooter #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #furniture #CarryShitOlympics
(Update: those more knowledgeable than me say this is a so-so bike, better to skip it and look for a better one).
https://ventura.craigslist.org/zip/d/simi-valley-free-speed-bicycle/7862530296.html
#RepairCafe starts #TechAmnesty to support #community
by Alexandra Bassingham, June 24, 2025
"A community project, which encourages people to bring in items to be fixed for free, has opened an amnesty point for unused #technology to be handed in and repurposed for others.
"The Repair Café, started by Biddy Hammond from Somerset, has helped hundreds of people since being set up in October 2023.
"It has two donation drop-ins a month, one in #BurnhamOnSea and the other in nearby #Highbridge. Items can also be donated at the information bureau on Burnham seafront.
"They now have almost 20 #volunteers, fixing items including #SoftToys, #upholstery, #electricals, and #clocks, which in turn, reduces items sent to #landfill sites.
"Ms Hammond said they are looking for an offer of a storage facility space so they can support the community even more
"Ms Hammond said it was after hearing a woman at a charity shop saying she could not afford to fix her iron, that she came up with the idea of opening a repair café.
" 'I thought it's such a simple thing to do to help people out and it's pointless buying a new whatever every five minutes, because items work for such a short while nowadays.'
"Repair Cafe volunteers also visit homes with a thermal imaging camera, to help people increase insulation with 'simple fixes in their homes like thicker curtains,' Ms Hammond added.
"She said after lockdown the repair cafe has built the community in quite a strong way, offering a service and a social space.
"Hugh Champion, one of the repair team, said: 'We have a good time, hopefully delight a few customers, and send them home with things they had written off that are back to working condition again.
" 'And people are so delighted when you help them fix something especially when it has high sentimental value,' he added."
bbc.comSomerset repair cafe's tech amnesty to support communityThe Repair Café was set up in 2023 to help community members fix home items for free.
Tech-Takeback: "We're on a mission to change the way the UK thinks about tech and 'waste' by promoting reuse"
https://www.techtakeback.com/
Tech-Takeback - Circular Solutions for Tech Reuse & RecyclingTech-Takeback - Circular Solutions for Tech Reuse & RecyclingTech-Takeback - Circular Solutions for Tech Reuse & Recycling
In more "recycling is just shipping your plastic overseas where it actually doesn't get recycled"
LA Times: Malaysia will stop accepting U.S. plastic waste, creating a dilemma for California
Los Angeles Times · Malaysia will stop taking U.S. plastic waste. What will California do?
Yes, plastic shopping bags harm sealife, water quality, and our health, and
Yes, plastic bag bans work.
Also, an encouraging update on progress toward an international agreement reducing single use plastics like coffee stirrers and cotton swab sticks.
#plastic #oceans #publichealth #climatechange #wildlife #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #fossilfuels
https://grist.org/science/plastic-bag-ban-beach-cleanups-ocean-conservancy-study/
Grist · Science says plastic bag bans really do work
Interesting, wine barrel converted to a bicycle rack. 
(clearly, no way to lock the bicycle there, but unique). #BikeTooter #wine #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
Glass bottles [sealed with plastic caps] found to contain more microplastics than plastic bottles
https://phys.org/news/2025-06-glass-bottles-microplastics-plastic.html
> Drinks including water, soda, beer and wine sold in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those in plastic bottles, according to a surprising study released by France's food safety agency Friday.
I wonder whether corks or rubber seals for canning jar could be a solution.
Phys.org · Glass bottles found to contain more microplastics than plastic bottles
Recycling plasting is a joke. Reduce.
Recycled plastic can affect hormone systems https://www.gu.se/en/news/recycled-plastic-can-affect-hormone-systems
> A single pellet of recycled plastic can contain over 80 different chemicals. A new study with researchers from University of Gothenburg and Leipzig shows that recycled polyethylene plastic can leach chemicals into water causing impacts in the hormone systems and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae.
University of GothenburgRecycled plastic can affect hormone systemsA single pellet of recycled plastic can contain over 80 different chemicals. A new study with researchers from University of Gothenburg and Leipzig shows that recycled polyethylene plastic can leach chemicals into water causing impacts in the hormone systems and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae.
So last Saturday was our second and thus last #RepairCafe in June. I predicted another quite session like the previous one, but everyone was very happy to point out that I got it wrong and we were almost as bust as usual.
We still get new people coming along to become volunteers and so I think that we're still pretty much getting it right. It's all about keeping people happy, isn't it? Short term by volunteering and long term but helping the environment.
Traeger smoker on the curb the other day. People do not know how to fix things. (Bypassed this, don't need a smoker... already have a charcoal one). #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #scavenging