OK, Lets go beyond the MSDS and get to the crux of the subject.
What works, what doesn't? I do not own nor use any modern plastic wanna be machines, all I have is old to vintage to antique. So I do need an oil with the solvents such as Tri-Flow for the older ones that have decades of oil build up. And T-F does do a great job with them.
However, T-F does have one annoying tendency. If the machine sits for a period of time, you'll need to re-oil it before you use it. I have many machines and some have set longer than a year between uses and I've begun to see this just recently. Since I've been mechanicing for decades and my motto is if it moves - oil it, I can live with it. But I'd rather not have to oil a machine after it sits for a few months.
So, what works? Alright, here is a true, first hand story about a machine that sat for over 20 years between uses and ran perfectly when it was used again.
Back in 1989 or so my mother retired her old straight stitch 15 Clone (my avatar picture) for a newer but still vintage Kenmore ZZ machine.
At that time her oil of choice was ....... 3-in-1. It did say on the cans back then it could be used in sewing machines, so why not.
The machine was serviced by my late uncle Charlie and set back as a back up machine. It set on the bottom of a particle board shelf that soaked up lots of water that seeped under the wall as the bath tub in our house started leaking. The case all but rotted away, molding and decaying around the machine. We left that house in 98 and came to IL >yuck, but that's another story.
In 2011 I remembered the machine, hunted it down and checked it out. In spite of over 20 years of non use, in spite of the case molding and rotting around it ...... when I plugged it in and pressed on the foot controller ..... she took right off like she'd been used just yesterday. I've rebuilt the case, but just gave the machine a cursory cleaning and oiling and I'm still using it. It's never missed a beat.
Here's some better pics: {
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...d-t200795.html }
What my uncle oiled it with when he serviced it, I do not know. Mom had used 3-in-1 oil in it for decades. That worked.
End of story, no moral or sermon here.
If you like oil that smells good, try Marvel Mystery Oil in the small plastic bottles. That is a very good oil and is still red like ATF.
I have used that in sewing machines and it works quite well. It's a light free flowing oil that I just might start using again.
Now, on to something else.
I remember that fellow SteveH mentioned but I can't remember his name. His claim to infamy here was bragging to everyone that he was a 30 year + sewing machine mechanic and he lubed his machines by using an aerosol spray lube and hosing the machines insides then just buttoning them and leaving it at that.
We, or some of us, tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but he received a very cold shoulder from 99.8% of us.
I don't quote MSDS facts or things like that because most folks doesn't even know that chart exists. Couldn't care less either. What they want to know is WHAT WORKS. I came to this forum with 11 years of internet forum experience and many forums under my belt. I spoke of only that which I knew and had personal experience with, but didn't try to come off as a know-it-all or superior type. In the last year several other guys have also joined with much more mechanical, machining, and other technical experience that I have. So I have had to listen more than speak. That's OK, I still say what I know.
Jamesbeat, your quote and reply to my comment almost read as argumentative to me, but not quite. You got called on it and explained. So I'll continue on. No big deal, welcome to the QB.
So, now my arthritic fingers are tired of typing and I'm gonna read some more.
It's what works, not what some chart says.
JMNSHO
Joe