This is the most-asked question I’ve gotten recently, so I’ve put together a handy flyer with options and pricing. Here are the options I provide when asked what it costs to restore a treadle sewing machine.
How is the treadle sewing machine getting restored?
I offer 3 levels of restoration for the sewing machine itself:
- Mechanical restoration includes a thorough cleaning, unfreezing of stuck components, polishing of nickel-plated covers, lubrication, tension balance, and adjustments to return the machine to quality stitching. The exterior of the machine is cleaned, but not altered in any significant way.
- Cosmetic Conservation: A preservation approach to improve the appearance of the machine, usually paired with Functional Restoration. The machine exterior is cleaned, and damaged or crazed existing clear lacquer is removed. Touch-up black lacquer is applied to bare metal, and fresh shellac is applied via french polish. Wear on the decals will be visible, but the new finish prevents further degradation. See the image below for a “before” on the left with cloudy and crazed lacquer. The post-conservation new shellac is on the right.
- Repainting: A complete refinishing of the machine’s exterior. The machine is disassembled, stripped, primed, painted, and new decals are applied. All mechanical parts are cleaned before reassembly and testing, and nickel-plated covers are cleaned and polished. The machine body appears new. In the image below, the before is on the top, and after repainting on the bottom.
How is the treadle cabinet getting restored?
I offer 3 levels of restoration for the wood cabinets and leg irons:
- Basic Treadle Maintenance includes gentle cleaning, and oil or wax finish for wood surfaces, and cleaning and lubrication for iron components. Includes a new belt if needed.
- Treadle Conservation and Reconditioning includes everything in Basic Maintenance. Further, wood components get water mark and surface blemish treatment. A rejuvenating stain treatment and touch-up is applied to even out the appearance of the stain. Leg irons get gold emblems touched-up with fresh metallic gold paint. Leg irons will get reblacked and treated for rust. For later model painted treadle bases (not cast iron), surfaces get touch-up paint and fresh clear coat applied.
- Complete Refinishing includes stripping, sanding, staining and waxing the wood components. Leg irons will get gold emblems touched-up with fresh metallic gold paint, and will get reblacked and treated for rust.
The current costs are posted in the flyer as well as on my cabinet restoration page.
In some cases, drawers may be missing, the veneer on the top is separated or missing and needs to be replaced, or the wood top is damaged enough that it needs to be rebuilt entirely. I work with a local woodworker to ensure a high-quality, fine furniture level of repair or replacement for these situations, and those projects are priced individually.
How do I get the treadle sewing machine to you for repair?
Treadle machines are, by nature, heavy due to the iron parts. They can also be fragile if the wood has been exposed to the elements and weakened. This means the safest, least-likely-to-cause-damage method will be hand delivery, although that isn’t always possible.
Getting just the sewing machine to me
If you just want the machine worked on, shipping via UPS or FedEx can work. Costs will vary based on the machine size and weight, but as of 2026, a full-size machine like a Singer 66, 27, or 15 model will cost between $40-60 to my zip code, 30114. Machines should be wrapped in a protective layer of bubble wrap at least 2″ thick all the way around. Use a box at least 3″ bigger than the machine on all sides. Firm padding like paper, cardboard spacers, or sheets of firm foam should surround the machine. Include a paper with both my shipping address and your return address in case the box is damaged during shipping.
Delivering the entire cabinet in person
For entire cabinets, I can meet people passing through or living in the Atlanta metro area within a 10-mile radius of zip code 30114 at no charge. I do not have a storefront open to the public. Outside that radius, I charge for additional mileage at the current IRS rate.
I do attend several local quilt guilds in the East Cobb area and could arrange a pickup at one of those times and venues for no additional charge. Likewise, if I’m engaged to speak or teach at a quilt guild, I’m happy to arrange a pickup at that time and venue for no charge, assuming I’ve driven there. That offer does not apply if I’ve flown to the engagement.
Shipping a treadle sewing machine
Shipping an entire treadle cabinet requires a custom-built crate with sufficient padding to minimize the risk of damage. The process for shipping is:
- One of our custom crates is shipped to you with instructions on how to pack and load the machine into the crate to ensure it is securely packed.
- Once packed, I arrange a pickup from your location with the freight carrier. Surcharges may apply for residential addresses, and there may be restrictions on accessing your property that require certain clearance around your driveway and pickup location.
- Once I receive the crate at my workshop, I will film the unpacking to document the condition of the machine and cabinet in case it has been damaged in shipment.
- After the work is done, I pack the machine into the same crate and arrange freight shipment back to you.
- You will have a set number of days to unload the machine and prepare the crate to be returned back to me.
Shipping the full treadle sewing machine cabinet requires 4 shipments in total, two for the empty crate and two with the machine and cabinet in it. Rates will vary based on location, and more details on the estimated cost will be added to this post as they are available, but a safe estimate is several hundred dollars just for the shipping.
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