Where to Oil Your Sewing Machine? How Often?

If you’re unsure of where to oil your sewing machine, read this blog to learn where to do it properly.

Many of the more recent sewing machines are pre-lubricated and do not require additional oil. However, it’s usually OK to add a drop or two in the bobbin case if you feel like your sewing machine needs it. The more often you use your sewing machine, the more often it needs oil. A good guideline would be every four months.

But where to oil your sewing machine? Starting at the top, it may be possible to unscrew and remove the top cover. A good view of the numerous moving parts that require oil is provided when it lifts off frequently.

Find out more about where to oil your sewing machine here.

Read More:

• How to Thread a Sewing Machine in Simple Steps?
• How to Adjust the Sewing Machine Tension Easily?

Where Do I Apply Oil on My Sewing Machine?

If your sewing machine needs to be oiled, you should apply it in a few different places. These can be found on your handwheel, your thread take-up lever, and the shuttle race in your bobbin case. You should also oil the other moving parts of your sewing machine.

1. Above the needle: When stitching rapidly, the needle bar travels up and down at a speed of about 100 mph. The Bight Moment refers to this movement from left to right. Both the link bushes and the needle bar, which transfer power from the top shaft’s rotation to the movement of the needle bar’s liner, need to be oiled.
2. Around the bobbin case: If you can get under the machine, put a drop of oil under it and around the metal/metal spool case. Two oil-required bush bearings, potential gears, and excentric feed cams are all components of the main bottom shaft. Keep oil away from any belts whilst working under the machine.

The first step in applying oil to your sewing machine is to clean it. For assistance, see How to Clean Your Sewing Machine. Only then should you add one to two drops to each location.

Find a diagram of the oiling locations in your sewing machine’s user manual. To find out what kind of oil or lubricant to use, consult your user manual as well. There are several distinct types.

Wipe off any extra oil after you have finished putting it on your sewing machine. It shouldn’t drip into your machine or end up on your fabric. Then, check your device. You must disassemble some parts of many sewing machines before you can oil them. After applying oil, check your machine to make sure it still functions properly.

How Often Should I Oil My Sewing Machine?

There is no universal response to this query. What you sew, how long you sew it, and whether you embroider quickly are all important factors.

Not just when the machine asks you to, it’s important to regularly oil your machine. When a machine makes a loud noise, maintenance is required! This can be done before, during, or, if you work on a project for a very long time, even while it is being completed.

How to Oil a Sewing Machine?

One rule to remember when lubricating sewing machines is to only oil moving parts! The reason is that lubricating moving parts reduce friction, wear, and tear on the areas, preventing unnecessary damage, whereas lubricating stationary parts just results in excess oil sitting in place, making things sticky and messy.

Unplug your device before continuing. The number of injuries that result from not doing this is unremarkable because they were all preventable.

You’ll need your user’s manual nearby when it comes time to physically remove your throat plate. Every model is different. Some require a particular tool while others have simple pull or twist tabs that release it. A quick online search for your sewing machine and model should turn up the manual if you threw out the original. When you remove the plate, carefully set it to the side. You don’t want to lose it or cause damage to it.

The area under the throat plate is where the most debris gathers. Usually, this trash consists of dust, fabric fragments, and thread snafus. The use of compressed air will only push the debris back into the more difficult-to-reach areas, so avoid using it. Instead, fling the dust up and out with a nylon brush.

Make sure to clean the dust between the feed dogs and the bobbin case inside your machine.

A sewing machine oil that is made specifically for sewing machines’ mechanisms is required. Your machine will be damaged by alternative oils.

After that, you’ll need to put your keen vision to use. See where the components of your machine touch the wheel while carefully rotating it. Then apply a small amount of oil to those pieces. To ensure that the oil covers the entire area, turn the wheel over a few times.

Reassembly is without a doubt the simplest part of the entire procedure. However, you must remove any extra oil before reassembling your machine. Your sewing machine and any extra oil working around it could be destroyed.

To absorb any lubricant, keep a small piece of absorbent scrap fabric close by. The entire machine should then be cleaned with a microfiber towel or dust cloth. Put your bobbing back in place, reattach your throat plate, and fasten it. After that, turn on your sewing machine and feed some test fabric through it with a little bit of thread.

Does Every Sewing Machine Need Oiling?

First of all, let’s make it clear: we are talking about home sewing machines. Industrial sewing machines that are in use almost constantly fall under a different category. If a domestic sewing machine were used in the same way as an industrial one, its warranty would likely expire sooner.

In theory, lubrication is a necessity for every sewing machine (and every mechanism) with moving metal components coming into contact with one another. Wear is a bad result of metal-on-metal friction. The majority of contemporary home sewing machines are actually made for only moderate use, and the manufacturers make an effort to reduce the amount of maintenance required on the part of the consumer.

Many contemporary sewing machines have plastic or Teflon components, which don’t require lubrication but wear out more quickly than metal components. The manufacturer does not advise additional user lubrication because other parts are already lubricated at the factory and will be used as intended.

Conclusion: Oil Your Sewing Machine

The moving metal parts of a sewing machine are typically the parts that need to be oiled and lubricated. These include the metal bobbin case, the feed dogs, and the shaft where the needle travels up and down.

If you sew frequently and work with materials that shed, like velvet, make sure to thoroughly clean your machine once a month. Otherwise, you can probably go three to six months without cleaning or oiling your machine. The only way to maintain your machine in the best condition possible is to clean it.

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