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We have received many requests over the years to offer special decals for those venturing into the process of repainting their Singer Featherweight, and we are very pleased to now make them available! Please note, however, that at this time we cannot offer any advice for disassembly, what brand or products to use, the painting process or anything related to this type of Featherweight restoration, except what is already supplied in the decal instructions below. These decals are provided as a courtesy to those wanting a do-it-yourself (D.I.Y.) venture. Please read through all the material before proceeding.
After making many comparisons, these decal sets are extremely sophisticated for clarity and meticulous in design, catching all the details to restore your machine to accuracy based on the original era of your Featherweight. The Singer Featherweight restoration process just got better and is now so much easier for decal application!
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(Download a PDF of these written instructions here for easy printing.)
Tools Required:
Recommended Product Option: Walthers Solvaset (which can usually be purchased from most hobby stores). This is used after the decals have been applied and allowed to dry for 10 minutes. The Solvaset softens the decal to help it blend in to irregular surfaces and melts the edges so they blend in with the painted surface.
Application:
Are these decals an adhesive sticker?
These decals are not stickers and they must have a clear-coat applied over them after they are completely dry. It is recommended to wait 5-10 hours depending on ambient temperature before applying a clear-coat.
What clear-coat product is recommended?
The decal manufacturer recommends that you use a 2K catalyzed urethane clear-coat. There are many different clear-coat products available, but not all clear-coat products are compatible with water-slide decals, and some aerosol clears have components in them that can attack the decals. Several variables are also at play with technique, equipment, weather, humidity, ventilation, etc. that we cannot recommend a specific brand, so please use the sample pieces that are included in your decal set to test your clear-coat before using on your final project.
Is there a proper way to apply the clear-coat?
When spraying on the clear-coat, it is very important to lay down one or two "tack" or "mist" coats first and let it flash off for 15-30 minutes before applying wet coats. This helps to shield the decals from any possible reactions with the various brands of clear-coats. That being said, these decals have been specially coated with a very thin layer of inter-coat to help protect them from possible chemical reactions that may occur when using some clear-coats.
Can I use these decals without repainting my whole machine?
Yes & No. It's your machine so you can do whatever you would like to it! That being said, it won't work very well to just place them over your existing decals. While the black japanning paint on the Singer Featherweight was very hardy, you'd still have to remove all the clear shellac and old decals first. Then you could apply the new decals and a new clear-coat (but we cannot give any advice as to the best process for removing the old shellac). This process would still be done at your own risk and level of experience.
We look forward to seeing the beautiful machines you restore... Please feel free to send us your photos for Featherweight show-n-tell!