No seriously.

You’re not imagining things.

I recently pulled out Jane, a 1935 Singer Featherweight, and experienced a slight tingly feeling as I started to sew. After a few minutes, I swapped out the foot pedal/power cord to another modern one. Same thing happened again. Concerned, I set the machine aside, thinking something was wrong with the electrical wiring.

Later on, I researched possible causes and solutions to my tingly problem. Taking Jane to see Mr. Marc – the local sewing machine repair guy – is my last resort. I wanted to try to fix it myself first. You see, Jane has been my learning machine. Last year, I took her apart and put her back together at a Sew Purty Workshop. About the only thing I haven’t redone is to rewire the machine (because it didn’t need it).

VSM discussion boards suggested that re-inserting the plug the opposite way might solve the tingly problem, (look under October 2012 heading) but I needed to use a voltage meter to test the circuit to be absolutely sure. Could not quickly locate hubby’s voltage meter, so I went to HD to pick up an inexpensive pen-like voltage meter to keep in my sewing machine tool box.

Result: Turning the plug corrected the circuit and no more tingly feeling. Just for fun, I turned the plug back the wrong way. The voltage reader showed red all over the machine. Every metal surface of my sewing machine was now live and conducting a small amount of electricity. Once I flipped the plug the opposite way, everything was green again. If the voltage tester remains red regardless of which way I insert the plug, this means the machine has electrical issues that need to be addressed. Just to confirm what I’d learned, I repeated this process with a second power cord and again with my Singer 301A. Same exact thing happened each time.

Huh, what? I’m no electrician, but let’s see if I can explain.
Modern electrical plugs have one blade slightly longer/wider than the other. It’s a safety feature. This helps you know which way to insert the plug into the outlet to help keep things grounded properly. Vintage power cords and their replicas typically have two prongs that look identical, even though one side is still wired to function as the “grounded” (i.e. wider/longer blade) side. Keep in mind, however, that your machine will still work with a vintage/replica power cord regardless of the way the plug is inserted. That tingly feeling or your voltage meter will be the only way to know if you’ve inserted it correctly. Hint: Place a sticker or make a mark on the side of the plug that that has the “grounded” blade, so you’ll always know which to insert your plug to avoid that tingly feeling.

Grab a pool noodle and head to your local hardware store. Ask for 1/2″ Charlotte pipe – it’s a straight PVC pipe with 1/2″ INSIDE diameter. My pool noodles are from Dollar Tree. The diameter of the inside hole is 3/4″ wide. Your pool noodles may be bigger. Not to worry, Charlotte pipe comes in a variety of widths. Remember, though, that PVC pipe is measured by the INSIDE diameter, not the outside diameter. Hence, the 1/2″ wide piece of Charlotte pipe fits inside the pool noodle’s 3/4″ diameter hole.

Vickery Hardware in Smyrna, GA cut the PVC pipe for me to 9″ lengths (my preference – cut to whatever length you like). I marked the center with a Sharpie. I merely slide one pool noodle up to the mark, then twist the other side on to meet. The connector is long enough that I do not feel the need to reinforce the connection with duct tape.

Cost: $1.32!

This sticker adorns my Elnita EC30 and elicits comments at various sew-ins I attend. Some folks give me a hard stare (don’t care!), but most chuckle and agree 100%.

People are so tightly wound these days. The media/politicians are constantly spinning every last little thing so hard left or hard right, it’s getting more difficult to find the truth that lies somewhere in the middle. It’s also impossible to get away from it here due to all of the shenanigans going on between the “cop city” debate, Trump & friends indictment, nonstop coverage of any crime or shooting in the ATL and the various Atlanta institutions competing to see who can be the most politically correct with regard to DEI.

Personally, I do not want to see a Biden/Trump rematch in 2024. In fact, I would like both gentlemen to retire and get out of politics. Let’s have moderate candidates with common sense step up to the plate and run for office in 2024. This is the type of leadership our country so desperately needs. I don’t care if the person is Democrat, Republican or Independent as long as they “act like they got some sense” and make our country and its everyday citizens the priority once again. It appears the “silent majority” has had enough of all the foolishness. It’ll be interesting to see how things play out over the next year.

One things for certain, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride!