oiling/servicing machine
07-02-2014, 04:47 PM
#11
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: home again, after 27 yrs!
Posts: 19,388
the only place i put any oil is under the bobbin in the little hole. I try to take my machine in once a year but sometimes it's two years for it's checkup. Do not oil the machine yourself. Especially if you do not have the correct machine oil.
07-03-2014, 04:35 AM
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 246
My Bernina is professionally cleaned once a year. Lint buildup is done regularly with every bobbin change and a drop of oil every third bobbin. I also have a Viking that you are not supposed to have to oil. I clean the bobbin lint but am wondering how to "get into" it to clean better. I can unscrew the throat plate but where else/how to do anything else?
07-04-2014, 01:32 AM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: north Alabama
Posts: 1,862
Oh my goodness, I need to take my machines in for maintenance now. Really, it's been about 4 years for my Brother emb-sewing machine
, and I've had my other machines for about 2 yrs. now without prof. maintenance, just regular home cleaning. But in my defense, there's been a lot of illness in my family, so no sewing time for some (much) of that time. I just need to find out where to put a drop of oil on my "no-oil" machines between maintenance visits. Thanks for the reminder!
, and I've had my other machines for about 2 yrs. now without prof. maintenance, just regular home cleaning. But in my defense, there's been a lot of illness in my family, so no sewing time for some (much) of that time. I just need to find out where to put a drop of oil on my "no-oil" machines between maintenance visits. Thanks for the reminder!
07-04-2014, 04:47 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: El Lago Tx Originally from Upstate NY
Posts: 654
I usually fill six bobbins and when I use them up, it is time to give my machine a really good cleaning and oiling, but when I change bobbins, I do clean out the bobbin area of any lint. That seems to work great for me.
07-04-2014, 05:03 AM
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
Originally Posted by Terri D.
I can sort of tell when my machine needs a bit of oil, because it begins to sound a little too noisy. I also clean and oil it after finishing a project, and if I'm sewing with flannel or doing some serious piecing, I vacuum quite frequently throughout the project to avoid excessive lint buildup. You can do intermediate maintenance yourself, but, like taking babies to a pediatrician for their annual check up, the same thing applies to your sewing machine baby. The Bernina tech in my area says if you're taking good care of it in between service checks by him, every 18 months should be good, unless the machine is getting some seriously heavy use, then he recommends once a year.
07-04-2014, 06:24 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Horse Country, FL
Posts: 7,341
I use the small brush that came with my machine to clean the bobbin area every time I change the bobbin. I oil the bobbin every so often, depending on how much I've used the machine. Otherwise, I take it in to the repair shop once a year for a general tune up.
07-04-2014, 06:26 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,116
I have been advised that the oil is impregnated into the working parts of the computerized machines. Therefore you shoul best have them serviced professionally. However, I do all of my manual machines myself. Regular cleaning and maintenance on all types should be the way to go, I would think. The machines cost as much as a car so I take as much care of them.
07-04-2014, 07:54 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Posts: 939
I try to remember to brush out the bobbin area every change, but it is usually every two or three bobbin changes. I also take my vacuum cleaner hose and vacuum the area periodically. (I am always amazed at how much lint comes out.) I usually oil when the machine starts to get noisy. My manual cautions against over oiling. My machine has been professionally serviced twice in the 10 years I have had it. Once was at the end of the warranty period and it was free, the other time was when it needed a repair.
07-04-2014, 10:33 AM
#20
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I would never oil my sewing machine myself, mainly because I have a computerized machine and haven't a clue where I would oil it. I try to clean out all the lint from around the bobbin case and underneath it frequently, but when the machine doesn't sound quite right, or I can't get good stitches, she goes in for a check up and a check.
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