The new-to-me Singer 411G came with spool pins in a horrible state. One was broken, the other one was sitting askew. A quick web search reveals that each pin consists of four parts – the actual pin, a rubber spacer, a plastic washer, and a spring nut. Replacing it requires removing the plate with the information on decorative stitches. The best description of the process and a list of alternative solutions can be found on this page. If you want to keep your machine close to original condition, then you can stop reading my article right now, and head over to the above link. I dislike the idea of replacing the bad design with the same bad design; I wanted steel spool pins.
This is what the pins on my machine looked like:
Here is what the pins I made look like:
The base is turned of cherry, the pins are made out of steel wire salvaged from a lawn sign some candidate planted on my front yard during the last election. The wire is 3/16″ in diameter (just under 5mm). The pins are friction-fitted into the wooden bases (I drilled the holes slightly undersized). The metal is sanded and polished to mirror finish.
The pins are held in the machine lid by a bit of hot glue. If I ever want to remove the pins, I’d have to heat the lid up using a heat gun or a blow dryer.
A very cool, elegant solution to the 411 ‘wonky spool pin’ problem: )
My ‘solution’ is explained on ArchaicArcanes informative video on YouTube, but both have the correct approach I think. Originality is not important for me. What works elegantly is.
The hot glue usage had not occurred to me: )
If you have, or ever get, a 431G you will possibly/likely have a problem with the throat plate fixings. I’m still working on that one….
Hi, John, thanks for commenting!
Are you the guy who came up with the chainring bolts approach? I liked your solution! The link to the pictures you posted does not work, so, without seeing it, I was wondering how you covered up the “socket” in the lid, where the rubber spacer was supposed to sit, and whether the pins would project above the top surface enough (I was concerned they would be a bit too short). What I like about your idea is how inexpensive and mechanically strong it is.
A 431G is on my list of wanted machines, for sure. Congrats on finding one. Hopefully by the time I find one the throat plate bolts issue will be figured out somehow. 🙂
The throat plate pins are an easy fix. The following machines can donate the pins and they’re a direct drop in replacement.
A non-exhaustive donor machine list:
417, 717, 719, 714, 717, 719
734, 724, 774, 776, 737, 750
755, 756, 758, 770,775, 778
900 (Futura)
920, 925 (Futura 2)
1060 (Athena)
2000 (Athena)
2001
We recently had a discussion about this in the FB group I created for support if you’re on FB.
Great, looks like John needs that information, thanks.
What’s the name of the Facebook group? I’d love to join.
Try this: https://www.facebook.com/groups/217203148658543/
Also, John moved his page to here: http://slant.zone/singer-slant-spoolpin-fix/
Awesome, it’s nice to see what it looks like, thanks a lot!