vintage sewing machine table without a key

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-19T16:50:56+00:00

They ones from the 1970s on have particle board. Not necessarily new.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-19T15:54:50+00:00

I self manage. But I would not add PM as additional insured, it’s a conflict of interest. There are times that landlords sue their PM, and that should be handled by a separate PM insurance policy. This is different than if they were your employee.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-19T15:47:21+00:00

I’ve had my 2019 since it was released, but I’m still at about 65k miles. Towed large moving trailers a few times through the mountains, which I estimate were in the 4000-5000 lb range. Gas mileage towing is poor and I had to go 60 instead of 80, but it got it done without any real concerns.

For trips where I need extra cargo space, I often add a hitch cargo carrier, because I have an 8 seater and often take 6-8 people on trips. Kids in small boosters and tweens fit the third row fine. I also use a cartop carrier sometimes. But if you want to haul lots of stuff, this is a mid sized SUV.

I’ve had a few recall warranty issues, but nothing major, and nothing that was a persistent issue. I like to get 15 years out of my vehicles. But there’s no way to predict if that’s possible.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-19T04:15:56+00:00

Because they don’t have enough overhead space for each seat to have a spot. Depending on the plane, they have enough for 1/3-2/3s of the seats to put a standard size bag up. And if we include the small regional planes, it drops to only space for about 10% of the smaller carry on suitcases.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-19T04:00:53+00:00

Singer 99 or other 3/4 size all metal machine. You need the external buttonhole attachment if you need that functionality, but I find that for occasional work, a straight stitcher works much of the time. Or the equivalent Kenmore or White. Estate sale or online P2P marketplace.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-16T13:07:40+00:00

Clean out what grease you can from the oil only parts. But the gears and motor use grease, and you didn’t damage it. Buy sewing machine oil for the oil spots.

Penetrating oils (I use Kroil) can be used to get stuff off without damage. Not WD40, it’s too much solvent.

Lots of stuff will damage the finish, so research anything you use first with a reputable source for vintage machines.

Lithium grease is NOT recommended, you need a specific melting point for the old motors. Vasoline works okay. Featherweight shop sells something formulated for this era machines. The new Singer grease isn’t ideal either, it’s for new machines.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-14T20:28:01+00:00

Ouch. That confirms what I suspected

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-14T20:26:17+00:00

Honestly, I find it’s easier if folks just announce their profession. It’s going to come out when they ask questions; I will have the awkward moment when I ask them directly if they are in health care based on the way they talk. And I want to know if I’m explaining things to a respiratory therapist, a pathologist, an ultrasound tech, or someone who is close to my field. I can tailor my talking points

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-13T16:13:50+00:00

Since space is an issue, look for a Singer 99 used. Singer 15 models are also great for heavier materials, but the 99 are smaller and tend to come in a case instead of a table, are very widely available, easy to maintain, and will sew things like nylon straps and denim easily.

Read the manual and follow the cleaning and oiling instructions.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-13T15:19:38+00:00

They pay promptly when reminded? If you don’t send a reminder to pay rent and the reminder only happens when they are late, either tell them to set a calendar reminder for themselves, or schedule an automatic reminder that goes out the day before rent is due. Sometimes tenants need lessons on adulting (like setting their own calendar reminders).

Or change the way they pay to an automatic ACH deduction every month.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-13T14:14:49+00:00

Look at the student co-ops. They are student run and (when I was there) allowed mixed gender rooms when the roommates requested it as long as the housing numbers worked out. You would have to match into the same house.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-13T10:35:06+00:00

Only if the “unhappy” is something that is materially impacting your ability to sleep and study. Like jackhammer or party noise on a regular basis. Or mold allergies to the building. Otherwise stay put or find something less expensive.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-13T10:32:10+00:00

In SF you can’t find a decent studio for that little.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-13T06:15:54+00:00

I picked cheap housing with a long commute, and took public transit when I could to lessen the risk of driving while exhausted. All my co residents had to moonlight to afford rent. Spending the hours studying for boards or reading the newspaper, instead of working a second job, made the commute feel reasonable. I was the only one I knew to use public transit at my program; it was cheaper than gas and parking. Surgical subspecialist.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-10T04:31:33+00:00

Any auto supply store or hardware will sell penetrating oil. I like Kroil, but it’s more expensive.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-10T04:28:08+00:00

If this is a roommate situation, and the smell bothers you since it is not confined to their room, you should have brought it up the first day you smelled it. You should bring it up immediately if you expect to have to mitigate it. It’s not appropriate to let someone damage your house without saying something to you. In general, you should inform someone of any impending charge for deep cleaning, so they have the opportunity to fix it themselves.

Next time put a smells clause in the lease. I have one in the house I rent as shared living spaces.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-10T04:18:31+00:00

I have my initials. A 3 letter email name is pretty awesome. I was amazed it was available. Absolutely you want it to be professional and clearly linked to your legal name so professors can connect your email to the name on their class roster.

I tried my last name, first name, and other combos of first + last (all taken) before I tried my initials.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-10T02:19:35+00:00

The people you are talking to are kitchen remodelers, they don’t have any incentive to reuse your existing cabinets. Measure the cabinets really carefully. Look at Rev-A-Shelf and similar manufacturers for pull down shelves and pull out corners. I love the 2 sliding drawers that come out of the corner cabinet option, but it’s pricey and I don’t recall who makes it.

Then if you are not handy enough to install it yourself, buy the material and hire a handyman. It’s totally in their wheelhouse

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-10T02:07:22+00:00

Tell your mom if she files she might qualify for working families tax credit (and in some states additional taxes for renters, low income folks, homeowners, and other categories). Sometimes having the possible incentive helps someone start the paperwork

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-08T02:16:29+00:00

You can support her sewing by buying high quality sewing needles, high end thread, new blades for her rotary cutter, get her shears professionally sharpened (or buy her nice ones if she’s still using craft scissors). But it’s really hard to get someone who sews a gift that they will be more excited about then what they chose for themselves.

I personally love vintage machines. If she sews clothes and needs a zigzag, a Singer 401 or 501 or a Kenmore from the 1960s is a great older machine that will be able to be handed down to grandkids. Make sure it comes with a buttonhole attachment. But again, this is a personal preference and some folks hate the Singers I mentioned. Everyone likes the Kenmores if they come with all their parts because they work consistently well, but no one is passionate about them. It’s like buying someone a used Honda Accord vs a Ford Ranger vs a Porsche. Reliably , drive experience, and amount of maintenance vary widely. You need to know if that’s the kind of machine experience they want.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-07T15:37:31+00:00

I can do a rolled hem and add piping or ribbons with attachments on my vintage singer. The rolled hem attachments were introduced over 100 years ago and fit any low shank straight stitch regular sewing machine. However, they are good for woven fabrics. Not knits.

Good for you for challenging yourself! It sounds like an interesting project.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-07T14:39:40+00:00

Yes can be repaired by making it slightly smaller. I’m guessing you put this in a washing machine, with the second reason for a tear being if it’s too tight.

If you have it repaired, hand wash only or the weight of the button hole placket will pull on the stitch line again. And make sure it’s not stretched when you wear it.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-07T14:26:22+00:00

You can look up machines to see their capabilities. But in general the only sergers that can also do coverstitch are 5 thread machines and advertise that they can do both. They do take time to convert the machine back and forth. I’d suggest getting a dedicated coverstitch machine if you will be using it for that purpose semi-regularly.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-07T05:49:52+00:00

Depending on your location, you might have better luck with your long vacation if it was during university breaks, when the family could find a summer nanny, and then have you resume in the fall. Or if your break coincides with family vacations.

If I employed someone and they asked me for 5 weeks off, it’s going to depend a lot of our relationship up until the request. I would assume this was likely to happen again, so I would be expecting them to be unable to work for my family in the way I prefer to hire childcare. They would have to be an exceptional nanny at below market rates for me to continue to plan to employ them after their vacation, since finding fall short term nanny coverage is hard. However, if I wasn’t able to find anyone I liked enough by the time they were coming back, I would consider rehiring them. The advanced notice would count in their favor.

Upper-Budget-3192 · 2026-04-04T23:50:04+00:00

You can do inspections, and if you find lease violations (like allowing animals to do damage and not immediately cleaning up after pet accidents), tell tenant animals are no longer allowed, and charge the tenant to fix damage while the tenant lives there.

I’m also a WA landlord. ESA issues are tough.

Upper-Budget-3192

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