18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Utah is apparently the place to find old sewing machines, tons available

one that has my eye singer model 66

Very simple, has a military surp look to it even :lol:

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Tons of singers, most ads lack details such as model...

this is a second option, comes with a cool looking cabnet for $150

What I really want is something that can do holsters...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

I don't know how well those will sew multiple layers of marine vinyl, perhaps they will.

I'd look for a Singer Slant-O-Matic Rocketeer:

The 66 is a collectible 'vintage' much copied machine, and for less you can probably get a decent 50's - 60's machine that will be up to multiple layers of vinyl. Much of the $85 asking for the 66 is for it's collectability.....

If you find a decent machine, at a price you like, you could PM WoodOnGlass, he's got a great bead on backyard boat builder sewing machines, what will & won't work.

Keep looking & you might score an industrial singer that WOULD do leather........ A long arm (not sure that's what it's called) industrial would be an awesome score........

 

[64osby]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

This one will sew 4 layers of vinyl with the right needle and tension. It was my grandmothers.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

hrm, how about this one for $250
Singer 211w155

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

actually that one is listed on leather worker... might be the one for me

I already cleaned the couch, where to find $250 :lol:

 

[dozerII]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Hey Chris, sorry to hear about all the problems with the vehicle, they can sure suck the money out of your wallet. I have a singer model 15 that will sew 5 layers of vinyl, real good machine.

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Hey Chris, sorry to hear about all the problems with the vehicle, they can sure suck the money out of your wallet. I have a singer model 15 that will sew 5 layers of vinyl, real good machine.

Yeah, I figured I would start to have things break.

The S10 has about 170k on the clock now, I bought it with something like 30 or 40k (had just come off of a lease), so I got lots of trouble free years.

I plan on keeping her as long as I can keep it running, even if I need to drop a new engine and trans at one point, that truck is like an old friend at this point.

I'll keep an eye open for a 15, my biggest issue with these ads are the lack of details.

The higher price ads actually list details, and include a "service" to the machine

Lower priced ads usually list a picture of the machine (if I'm lucky) and no details other than the brand.

What I have been reading about these old machines is you can sup them up a lil with a big motor and a different wheel...

that 211w155 is maybe at the low end of what I really want (ability to do saddle type leather), but it's kinda rich for my blood right now + it turns out it's about a 4hr drive...
I saved the guys ad listings so I can watch it, if I'm lucky if it's there in a few weeks then i know he will take a lower offer (maybe $150 if I'm lucky). + I have some time off coming up, a road trip might be fun.

and you have something that looks like this?

or is it more fancy looking?

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Guy listing a bunch of "serviced" machines has a singer model 15-88 for $180 (ouch)

I have seen a bunch of these in the ads with no details for much cheaper ^

or a "SINGER 401 A SEWING MACHINE Slant-O-Matic Foot Pedal" for $130

 

[dozerII]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Yeah, I figured I would start to have things break.

The S10 has about 170k on the clock now, I bought it with something like 30 or 40k (had just come off of a lease), so I got lots of trouble free years.

I plan on keeping her as long as I can keep it running, even if I need to drop a new engine and trans at one point, that truck is like an old friend at this point.

I'll keep an eye open for a 15, my biggest issue with these ads are the lack of details.

The higher price ads actually list details, and include a "service" to the machine

Lower priced ads usually list a picture of the machine (if I'm lucky) and no details other than the brand.

What I have been reading about these old machines is you can sup them up a lil with a big motor and a different wheel...

that 211w155 is maybe at the low end of what I really want (ability to do saddle type leather), but it's kinda rich for my blood right now + it turns out it's about a 4hr drive...
I saved the guys ad listings so I can watch it, if I'm lucky if it's there in a few weeks then i know he will take a lower offer (maybe $150 if I'm lucky). + I have some time off coming up, a road trip might be fun.

and you have something that looks like this?

or is it more fancy looking?

That one looks identical to the one I have.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Hey Gib, I'm sure it's in here somewhere, but could you re-post up the info you posted about using wax paper to smooth epoxy when you apply it. I'd really appreciate it.

Seems I'm not a very good epoxy applying guy :cold:

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

I used west system so my results could be a little different, however the trick is with using name brand wax paper.

I had the best results with Reynolds, the western family brand was cheaper and seemed to have less wax... I had to sand much of it off :facepalm:

I used a plastic painters mask to spread the epoxy around thick enough it would of pooled or run off the board, then cover the board with wax paper, overlapping the pieces a bit, using my plastic spreader as I roll it out to get that smooth no bubbles lay out.

Then use my plastic spreader to push the epoxy around nice and even removing any bubbles that might be left behind.

From here it's all about getting the spread where your happy, I even found once I get some epoxy on the edges I can use the paper to hold it there.
Rubber gloves help here, + I got sick of epoxy under the nails... :watermelon:
The stuff is almost as bad as 5200...

Depending on the cure time of the stuff your using, I would let it 8-10hrs and peal it off.

Summer time with the fast cure stuff I would peal off in 2-4hrs.

I had one batch I left on for a week... not good very hard to get the paper off

trial and error, I first started using it to keep crap from sticking to it, then later to get a thicker coating with less layers.

Then I started coating both sides at once to speed up my process times, that worked for the most part, but I got some uneven layers on the bottom side :lol:

Best part is the thicker layers it lets you apply, also great when your trying to repair...

If needed I can try and get some pictures here soon, I have some boards cut for the chief that are waiting for epoxy, but right now I'm in full carpenter mode.

Built a stand for the table saw via 2x4's last weekend, and got started on a sand blasting cabnet.

Next; shelves!


oh and that dewalt pawnshop chop saw I bought to cut the seat posts... I love it!

it does so well with angles, my table saw stand actually looks like I knew what I was doing :laugh:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Thanks, that helps

A good chop saw, even in less then skilled hands, is a great tool to have. Just try to keep the skilled & unskilled fingers outta the path of the blade........

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Not much going on, i have been catching up on some long overdue house work...

However i did get my wifes christmas present from my mother set setup, from 2 years ago lol

Nice fancy new singer sewing machine.

Has lots of stitch patterns and apparently overload protection lol

I have some old non marine vinyl i decided to make into a doggy bed.

And im glad i started with scrap...

How hard is it to sew in a straight line?! :facepalm:

The machine will go thru 4 layers of vinyl, but im finding i have to keep it very wet or clean the material claw thingy (under the foot) very often.

I decided to modify the garage sale sewing machine table so the machine sits flush with the top, it should make working with large stiff stuff easier i think... :watermelon:

 

[Grandad]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Hi Gib. When I was sewing my bimini, I found that using a thread lubricant (silicone??) made for the job was really helpful. The admiral's non-commercial machine was struggling and blew an overload fuse. Adding the lube saw us through the tough parts. - Grandad
Sewer's Aid Lubricant - Sewing Thread Lubrication & More

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

I also headed to joans fabrics last night, picked up some of their hd outdoor thread and looked at the price of foam...

Not cheap!

So i'll try and reuse the orig foam if i can.

I was also thinking about getting some sheets of the closed cell foam they use in life preservers for use in the pads, especially the backs that get bolted down...

Just a little more flotation... as i might end up installing a fuel tank in the nose for a lil ballast with that 140 sitting on the back, + i would love to use my 100lb 20hp merc as a kicker freeing up the 80lb 9.8hp to keep on the jet, or install on the nova later on...

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Hi Gib. When I was sewing my bimini, I found that using a thread lubricant (silicone??) made for the job was really helpful. The admiral's non-commercial machine was struggling and blew an overload fuse. Adding the lube saw us through the tough parts. - Grandad
Sewer's Aid Lubricant - Sewing Thread Lubrication & More

Thanks!

Ill check it out, i would hate to ruin this machine also...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

I also headed to joans fabrics last night, picked up some of their hd outdoor thread and looked at the price of foam...

Not cheap!

So i'll try and reuse the orig foam if i can.

Look for free couches on CL. The cushions can be cut down to fit seat & bolster applications. This might be a helpful thread for reference:
"Building and Upholstering a Bench Seat"

Sewing tips, vids, donor couch cushions & etc.........

 

[Gibbles]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

Thanks for the link, good info!

Long ago i cut some foam for a fitted case, tried to cut with a razor but i found it to hard to keep the thickness uniform.

On A gun forum they had instructions for a basic foam cutter using a transformer and guitar string (i had to upgrade to piano string, much tougher) it worked great, but i had a heck of a time managing resistance... i kept blowing transformers... but found an old NiCad battery from an rc car did the trick.

Pretty much you connect power to two ends, string heats up and with your string mounted on a frame you have some nice flat straight lines!

I had to use a spring on the string mount, as it got longer as it heated up...

The foam i used was pretty stiff, but the case inserts came out great.

I wonder how it would do with this type of foam...
If it comes down to it i'll toss another foam cutter together and post the results... :watermelon:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18' Starcraft Starchief OB Rebuild

$10 electric knife from wally world, or a $5 thrift store one.

After cutting the cushion down to size, mark the cushion for thickness. Set up a flat lumber thickness gauge and start the foam cut running blade along top of thickness gauge. Most boat cushions aren't much wider then twice the length of the electric blade, so if you use a thickness gauge to start the cuts, you should be able to connect those cuts w/out the gauge.

But using a hot wire might work on the cushion foam, it's not particularly dense foam.

Use some 3M spray adhesive on the cushion & cover the top & sides w/ plastic. Grocery plastic bags work. Somewhere in here, somebody started replacing their interior vinyl & found Charmin TP packaging plastic wrapping their FACTORY foam :facepalm:

If the couch cushion isn't firm enough, you might use a cushion cut in half (generally couch cushions are 4" thick) and buy thin, firmer 1" foam at the fabric shop and glue it to the 2" cut down couch cushion. Most marine seats cushions are about 3" thick. It'd be less expensive then buying 3" thick foam.

Slightly compressed when wrapped on 5 sides w/ plastic & vinyl, and stapled to a seat base, the couch cushion would probably be firmer then you'd think though.....


Looking forward to seeing the hot knife setup.:watermelon: