Hi, it's been too long, hope everyone is having a nice summer.
Recently, a friend here in Las Vegas (a machine knitter) had her friend from Los Angeles drop off two-(2) knitting machines for me to help her sell and two-(2) others are mine to keep if I wanted them. The ones she is looking to sell (due to moving out of the country) are a Brother 260 & Brother 930. These machines purchased from a rather well known dealer in the Los Angeles area. I've heard "things" about this dealer and had a not so good experience myself a few years back (another story).
She ordered the machines and did not open them. She decided to weave instead, ordered looms and never went back to machine knitting (she was returning to machine knitting).
When I picked them up I too did not open them, I got them home and this is what I found on the 260:
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| Yellowed and dirty |
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| You can see the original "white" is under the row counter |
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| More filth |
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| When I took off the tool compartment cover, it too was white inside |
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| Rusted |
The timing belt will only move about three inches before it jams, rust all over the machine inside and out (even the carriage is rusted), dirt everywhere (but that is an easy fix).
So, being the clean freak that I am, I took it apart, washed what could be and whitened the plastic, The transfer tool is now rustless (first rusted one I have seen). The plastic pieces, buttons, knobs and etc. are all back to their original color. I am working on the timing belt issue.
During the process of whitening I have changed my recipe and I find it works so much better. If you need to whiten your machine I can email you the whitening update along with instructions. I doubt I can get this working the way it should due to all the rusted areas & the timing belt jamming issue.
Please, buy only from a reputable dealer. There are many honest and trustworthy folks in the machine knitting community. Know what you are buying before you hand over your money!
I am preparing to teach at the Carole's Country Knits at Rocking Horse Farm seminar on 09/18 & 09/19. I have also been asked to participate in next years Finger Lakes seminar. If you are in the area stop by, the more the merrier!
So - how did it turn out? Is it in good working order now? I'm not worried about yellowing, but rust, missing and stuck parts are huge hassles. I recently rehabilitated a 270 that had missing parts, and it cost $250 just for parts.
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