Cleaning the bobbin area
 

I take the needle plate off, and disassemble the drop in bobbin area. I poke my tiny brush into any and all crevasses I can find and clean the feed dogs. It probably takes me 10 minutes. I am always shamed when someone says they clean the bobbin area with every bobbin change. I am just impatient to get back sewing (or maybe lazy!). It takes so long, so I do this every 2nd bobbin change, and just brush out the case & hook area on the alternate changes.
Recently I have found that several of my fellow quilters consider my quick brush out version 'cleaning the bobbin area'. They seldom take the plate off, like maybe at the end of a project or if they break a needle.
Just curious how you define 'cleaning the bobbin area' and how often you do it.

Every time I change the bobbin. I don't think all those fuzzies are good for my machine.

If not every bobbin change then every couple bobbin changes, I take the whole area apart (as much as possible) and clean out the lint. Remove needle plate and I too go into as any little holes as I can with a brush. Occasionally use a mini vacumn to give a deeper cleaning. I miss the days when I could get into the "inners" of the machine to really feel like I have given it a good cleaning.

I try to clean and oil my baby every Sunday but I am not always good at keeping that schedule. I too "am just impatient to get back sewing (or maybe lazy!)".

I consider how you describe it --taking off the plate - as cleaning out the bobbin area.

Well I'm really lazy I guess because I only take mine all apart after a project or even 2 if they are small. I clean out the bobbin area without removing the face plate every 1 to 2 bobbins and I use the "bushier" pipe cleaners (only white so it's easier to see the lint) plus a tiny brush. I use Aurifil or Presencia which my Babylocks love, and never have a lot of lint. Now if I'm using a material like Minky or flannel I clean thoroughly more often.

I clean mine every second bobbin also. Don't need to overdo it either. LOL
We're doing fine. :thumbup:

On my quilting machine I clean out and oil after every bobbin change. After every project is done I take off the needle plate and give it a really good cleaning and oiling. On my regular sewing machines I'm not as faithful in the cleaning out (no oiling on these) but I'm trying to do a better job and more often since getting back into sewing again.

On my one machine with the drop in bobbin, I pull out the bobbin case and clean after every bobbin. I only pull the needle plate a couple times a month, unless I notice build up around the feed dogs.

My other machines all have vertical bobbins and are a little less finicky than the drop in bobbin. My main quilter, the PQ1500s gets a quick brush out when I change the bobbin if I think about it, or if I notice lint build up. I pull the needle plate twice a month and clean that area when I oil the machine. Same with the VX560 and the Featherweight.

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Every time I change the bobbin. I use Qtips to grab all the fuzz. Then I add a drop of oil to the hook area. My big Bernina has a big bobbin. If I had a smaller machine I'd probably do the oil every other bobbin.

I have a front loading bobbin on both my Bernina and my longarm. On the Bernina I take off the plate and clean as you describe, and oil every 3 bobbins. My normal thread combo is Aurifil in the top and Bottom line in the bobbin.

The longarm I brush out the bobbin area and oil every bobbin change. I only remove the needle plate to brush out between projects. I have found I get 90% of the lint with the brush out and there are no feed dogs to be concerned with on the LA. I also usually quilt with poly top and bottom so don't get much lint. Definitely notice the difference when am working with a cotton thread, even really good cotton thread has more lint build up than poly which has very little. When I use a less expensive cotton like connecting threads or even YLI I get loads. Superior King Tut is not so bad.

I clean the bobbin area after each project or if I notice poor stitch quality.

I brush out the bobbin area after every change. But, I only take the plate off after the job is through. However, on my longarm, I thoroughly after every bobbin!

With my sewing machine, I take off the plate and remove lint after every second or third bobbin. There isn't anything I know how to disassemble beyond that. I'd like to get one of those little vacuum units eventually.

I peek at the area above the bobbin case with every bobbin fill (mine is a vertical bobbin), but only tear it down to clean and oil after every quilt. I change the needle then, too.

I try to clean after every project.

I'm trying to be more diligent by cleaning with my small brush every few bobbin changes and when I finish a project. Occasionally I take the hose of my vacuum cleaner and put it over the opening, with the bobbin out. I usually put a thin cloth over the end to see what I am pulling out. If it has been a while, I am always amazed at how much is up in there that I cannot get with a brush.

Every bobbin change if sewing with linty fabrics like flannel, and every other bobbin change otherwise. I totally dis-assemble the bobbin area. and I bought a vacuum attachment that I use to get into areas that the small brush just cannot reach. You would be AMAZED at the amount of lint that these suck out of your machine!

I clean out usually once a month or so and use those vacuum attachments made for cleaning computers, sewing machines, etc. I have a thin rubber hose that fits on one of those little attachments and I also use that to clean my dryer where the lint collects. I got my attachments at Menards and it cost about $12 dollars - well worth it.

My machine repairman suggests using a makeup brush ( think blush applicator brush) to clean out the bobbin area. He said it picks up much more lint debrie than the little brush that comes with the machine. He also suggested getting the small vacumn attachments that come in a package at Home Depot and Lowes.

Depends on the fabric I'm using. If flannel, there is more lint and requires closer attention. I use a little brush and then put a few drops of machine oil on a Qtip and swipe around the case and down as far as the Qtip will go--just don't drop it! Am always surprised how much lint sticks to that tip. Do not use canned air as it only redistributes the lint inside the machine.

I have been doing mine when I wind a new bobbin. When I start a project I fill several bobbins. When they are going and I have to wind some more, I pull and clean my bobbin area including using a vacuum with a small attachment I have for sewing machines. I worked in a quilt shop that repaired machines and that is the advise he gave me. I never use can air, I have seen what that will do with an enclosed bottom to the machine with a drop in bobbin. My older machine that is not drop in, I will use can air, since the whole bottom is open. I do not oil my newer machines since the user manual does not tell where to oil, I let the service man do that once a year. My older machines I do follow the manual on oiling also. Keeping your machines purring is important.

Do a good cleaning after a project, not every bobbin change. Goodness.

This what I do unless I see what looks like extra lint or if I have bird's nests (not often thank goodness).

Not until the fuzz bunnies wave their ears and say " we're here!"

I used to fill as many bobbins as I thought I needed to finish a project. Now I only fill two, when they are empty I know I need to clean. Cotton thread leaves so much lint, also flannel fabric'

Are you saying you only oil about every two weeks. I know I'm oiling too much (every 2nd. bobbin). The oil is coming out the bottom. I used to oil as per my manual (2-3 drops per port), now I'm using one drop & it's still leaking out the bottom.

I take the plate off and clean the feed dog area when I think I haven't done it in a long time. The thread I use has very little lint so there isn't much lint collected in the bobbin area at all even after a few months. I think most of the lint comes from my fabric. I oil when I think about it. Really I don't baby my machines that much, just try to remember that they do need care every now and then.

I clean out the bobbin area after every project, or before I start the next one - which ever you want to say it. But sometimes if the thread throws off a lot of lint I may need to do it sooner. I judge it when I change my bobbins.

I'm afraid I'm guilty of not cleaning my machine as often as I should, however, when the sound of machine when sewing changes, I know it's time to clean and dust (I usually only do this for my sewing machine, not my apt. LOL-kidding, but my DH does the vacuuming, mopping and the laundry as I can no longer do those things). I also heard a tip on Fons and Porter the other day where a woman used a chenille stem to clean her machine, I tried it and it works really well.

on the DSM (drop in bobbin) I'll brush out fuzz without taking off plate, etc each bobbin change. I take it all apart and brush ("chip" paint brushes do a nice job on latching onto any fuzz) out all nooks and crannies and put A drop of oil on the wick at the bottom of the bobbin area, maybe on the main needle rod if I clean it too. My machine is built so I'm not suppose to oil it between maintenance check-ups but I do use this little amount of oil at the end of about every big project. Since I sew daily and switch around projects this is not done on a set schedule. More often if using flannel, etc.

On the long arm I will brush out fuzz each time I replace a bobbin (big ones) and pull the plate about once per month. If I'm using linty fabrics or a cotton thread I will also use canned air to get the bobbin area clean once finished with quilt. The Long arm I oil about every 8 hrs of use(whole machine) and bobbin area each bobbin.

I'm guilty of being lazy. I don't clean my machine as often as most of you, probably every 6 to 8 weeks and only oil when I do a thorough cleaning. I sew most days so probably should do it more often but just want to get back to sewing.

I brush out the bobbin area when changing bobbins. Only take the plate off every so often. When I FMQ I oil the hook every bobbin change. Had one machine since 2008 and never been serviced. I figure I am doing fine.

Same here...but if I have more than one project going at a time, I try to remember to change my needle and a bobbin cleaning about every (estimated) 8 hours of sewing.

I'm one who doesn't clean very often. Never had any troubles with that. My machine just goes and goes and goes! ! !

I took a sewing class where a repair man spoke to us. He said it is cheaper to take the time to clean your bobbin area than to have to replace something because the lint threw the machine out of time. I clean and oil my machine often. It is worth the time.

I am embarrassed to say that I don't clean my machine as often as I used to. I am one those who never matches their thread to a project, as I use only white, taupe (dark and light) and black thread colors. I wind a lot of bobbins with my Arifil thread and really don't get much lint in the bobbin area.

However, I do keep an eye on the lint and if there is any lint I clean the area immediately and then put just the tiniest of drops of oil in the bobbin casing where the metal bobbin wears against the metal casing. You should always use a tiny amount of lubricant (oil) where there is metal to metal.

I have my machines cleaned by a professional once a year whether they need it or not. So far, (knock on wood) I haven't had any problems and I have been sewing since the 70's.

I clean mine often and I take it all apart and use a pipe cleaner as well as my brush to clean it all out good. I'm hoping to keep this as my main sewing machine until I can't sew any more!! ;-) I even unplug it whenever there's thunder in the area.

Yes, the users manual for all three of my vertical bobbin machines note that you should oil a couple of times a month. I use my PQ1500s every day, so it sometimes gets oiled a little more frequently. I put several drops of oil in each oiling point and also on the bobbin hook, then (without thread in the machine) I run it at high speed for a short time (under a minute) to see if I need to mop up any excess oil.

Some machines with vertical bobbins like to have the bobbin hook oiled more frequently than what I do, but you'd have to check your user's manual to determine how frequently your machine should be oiled. I've never oiled a machine after just a couple of bobbins.

Check your manual to see what kind of oiling schedule they suggest.

Rob
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