If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
I bought a used Babylock sewing machine (not a serger) at a yard sale for $40. The yard sale was at a storage unit that had been abandoned and the property owner was selling off the contents. It looked okay, the owner let me plug it in and use it long enough to determine that it was working. I took the machine home and cleaned it, then opened it up to oil it. There was a NEST OF ROACHES inside the machine!!! I saw tiny ones, medium ones, and big ones...............alive. Of course the first thing I did was carry it outside to my back yard and sprayed the blazes out of it with ant and roach spray. Now I am wondering do I even want this machine? That is, if the spray hasn't killed the electronics and/or motherboard. What would you do? Would you keep the machine if you could determine that the roaches were dead and gone? Do you think it would help to use an air compressor (my hubby has one) and blow the machine out? Taking the machine back is NOT an option. There were signs up all over saying "All sales final". I can't in good conscience sell this machine to anyone without disclosing the disgusting details........and frankly.....who would want it knowing that?
Any suggestions would be welcome. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
Micki wrote:
I bought a used Babylock sewing machine (not a serger) at a yard sale for $40. The yard sale was at a storage unit that had been abandoned and the property owner was selling off the contents. It looked okay, the owner let me plug it in and use it long enough to determine that it was working. I took the machine home and cleaned it, then opened it up to oil it. There was a NEST OF ROACHES inside the machine!!! I saw tiny ones, medium ones, and big ones...............alive. Of course the first thing I did was carry it outside to my back yard and sprayed the blazes out of it with ant and roach spray. Now I am wondering do I even want this machine? That is, if the spray hasn't killed the electronics and/or motherboard. What would you do? Would you keep the machine if you could determine that the roaches were dead and gone? Do you think it would help to use an air compressor (my hubby has one) and blow the machine out? Taking the machine back is NOT an option. There were signs up all over saying "All sales final". I can't in good conscience sell this machine to anyone without disclosing the disgusting details........and frankly.....who would want it knowing that? Any suggestions would be welcome. Don't use compressed air, all you'll do is blow critters and eggs into completely inaccessible nooks and crannies. If it were me, I would enclose the machine in a large garbage bag and set off a bug bomb/fogger. Then I'd take apart everything I could and clean it very carefully with a VACUMN. Set it aside for a few month and see if anything is moving. If not, it's a keeper, if there are still critters, use it as a boat anchor. Beverly |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
Micki wrote:
I bought a used Babylock sewing machine (not a serger) at a yard sale for $40. The yard sale was at a storage unit that had been abandoned and the property owner was selling off the contents. It looked okay, the owner let me plug it in and use it long enough to determine that it was working. I took the machine home and cleaned it, then opened it up to oil it. There was a NEST OF ROACHES inside the machine!!! I saw tiny ones, medium ones, and big ones...............alive. Of course the first thing I did was carry it outside to my back yard and sprayed the blazes out of it with ant and roach spray. Now I am wondering do I even want this machine? That is, if the spray hasn't killed the electronics and/or motherboard. What would you do? Would you keep the machine if you could determine that the roaches were dead and gone? Do you think it would help to use an air compressor (my hubby has one) and blow the machine out? Taking the machine back is NOT an option. There were signs up all over saying "All sales final". I can't in good conscience sell this machine to anyone without disclosing the disgusting details........and frankly.....who would want it knowing that? Any suggestions would be welcome. I'd try stripping all the coverings you can get off it off and hoovering it out thoroughly. Then clean off the ant and roach stuff anf lubricate properly. Then see how you feel. If ir runs OK, and you know there are no bugs left in it, you'll be fine. Little anecdote: We lived in Malta for a few years when I was a kid. When we moved to the flat, everything LOOKED OK But the first time mum turned the oven on, HUNDREDS of huge roaches (about and inch to an inch and a half long) crawled out! After she'd done screaming, she started on the landlord. Next day we got a new cooker! We still got roaches though... Dad heard scrabbling noises in the cupboard, and thinking it was mice, he set traps. The baid would vanish, the traps failed to trip. One morning he pulled the frying pan out to cook breakfast. There was a yell anmd an almighty crash! A 2" long one was in the frying pan. The crash happened when he tipped it out an flattened it! Broke a tile in the kitchen floor, and mum's fryingpan still has a dent in the bottom... After Malta, I STILL tap spaghetti on the counter to knock the weevils out! -- Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons http://www.katedicey.co.uk Click on Kate's Pages and explore! |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Beverly, Thank you for the bug bomb idea. I hadn't thought of that.
Micki |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
Give it a good vacuuming and see if it works after the bug spray. If it does, put it in a plastic bag and put it in the freezer for about a week, then leave it sealed in the plastic bag at room temperature for another two weeks. Then back in the freezer for another week, back at room temperature for two weeks. Inspect and clean again, then it should be fine. This is a very standard museum insect control technique that's easy on electronics. Not so good for ivory, wax, films, paints on canvas, wood glues and materials saturated with water, but should do fine on sewing machines. No, I've never seen a sewing machine infested with cockroaches, but I've seen telephones, computers, radios, television sets... Kay (old biologist) |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
"Micki" wrote in message ... I bought a used Babylock sewing machine (not a serger) at a yard sale for $40. The yard sale was at a storage unit that had been abandoned and the property owner was selling off the contents. It looked okay, the owner let me plug it in and use it long enough to determine that it was working. I took the machine home and cleaned it, then opened it up to oil it. There was a NEST OF ROACHES inside the machine!!! I saw tiny ones, medium ones, and big ones...............alive. Of course the first thing I did was carry it outside to my back yard and sprayed the blazes out of it with ant and roach spray. Now I am wondering do I even want this machine? That is, if the spray hasn't killed the electronics and/or motherboard. What would you do? Would you keep the machine if you could determine that the roaches were dead and gone? Do you think it would help to use an air compressor (my hubby has one) and blow the machine out? Taking the machine back is NOT an option. There were signs up all over saying "All sales final". I can't in good conscience sell this machine to anyone without disclosing the disgusting details........and frankly.....who would want it knowing that? Any suggestions would be welcome. I have seen all sorts of things in sewing machines. But then again I peek into far more than most people. Roaches, Mouse nests, the contents of a 5 pound box of raisins courtesy of a mouse I am sure, teeth, money, toys pencils pens etc. One note. There will probably be eggs left behind by the roaches. They hatch and more roaches. -- Ron Anderson A1 Sewing Machine 18 Dingman Rd Sand Lake, NY 12153 http://www.a1sewingmachine.com |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
Micki wrote:
Beverly, Thank you for the bug bomb idea. I hadn't thought of that. Micki You're welcome, and good luck. One thought I had after suggesting that is I don't know how much liquid bug bombs emit. It might be wise to heavily oil everything you can before bombing. Or follow Kay's instructions, probably safer. Beverly |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for all the great advice. I enclosed the machine in a large lawn and leaf trash bag and set off a roach spray bomb inside the bag. I left it on my back porch for a week. When I was brave enough to open it, I saw about 6 dead roaches (and some kind of worm!). I cleaned it thoroughly inside and out, then oiled it well. I then tested it, using all the stitches and functions and - amazingly - it works fine. I still don't think I want this machine, though. Every time I look at it I remember the horror of the roach nest.
Thanks again for the ideas, I appreciate all of you. Last edited by Micki : April 25th 10 at 09:12 PM. Reason: omitted my email address |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
Micki wrote:
all the stitches and functions and - amazingly - it works fine. I still don't think I want this machine, though. Every time I look at it I remember the horror of the roach nest. If it's any help, roaches do not spread disease like flies or rodents do, so if it's cleaned out, there is nothing there that could be a problem. You certainly can't say the same if it's had mouse/rat urine/feces on it. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I'll bet you've not heard this sewing machine problem before
Samantha Hill wrote:
Micki wrote: all the stitches and functions and - amazingly - it works fine. I still don't think I want this machine, though. Every time I look at it I remember the horror of the roach nest. If it's any help, roaches do not spread disease like flies or rodents do, so if it's cleaned out, there is nothing there that could be a problem. You certainly can't say the same if it's had mouse/rat urine/feces on it. Hm... Given that the 2" long jobs we had in Malta lived in the sewers, I beg to differ on that score! -- Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons http://www.katedicey.co.uk Click on Kate's Pages and explore! |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
OT - but sewing problem | frood | Quilting | 8 | November 17th 05 02:48 AM |
Sewing Machine Newbie With A Problem | Pete Holland Jr. | Sewing | 3 | May 24th 04 06:56 AM |
Frustrating Sewing Machine Problem | Suzie-Q | Sewing | 4 | May 14th 04 10:42 PM |
machine problem, help please | QuiltShopHopper | Sewing | 1 | March 29th 04 09:19 PM |
emb.machine problem | user78 | Sewing | 5 | October 13th 03 10:20 PM |