What type of brush does everyone use? My poor old brush that came with my machine has worked overtime and needs to be replaced!
Kaye

I clean my machine after every bobbin change and oil it , My machine has a much larger bobbin and a thread cutter, brand new 830.My older 930 from many years ago has never been cleaned in a shop, runs perfect still, I have done many years of sewing on it, but I make sure it is clean after every bobbin change, this helps me to remember when I cleaned it last , also put 1 drop if oil on the bobbin area, not on the bobbin itself, I have not always had a shop to take it to so I do it myself,Q tips and small brush works wonders I use and old electric razor brush works great According to my new dealer , I will take it in for a cleaning every year, so next year I will go to Flagstaff for an overnight stay and get it cleaned

I also have a Viking, and when I was using it all the time, I just cleaned the lint out and kept my area clean. If I did not use it for an extended period of time, I found that it just didn't work right and I would take it in to have it cleaned good and serviced, but it the cost was about $69.95. I just tried to use it after 7 years packed away and it only sews in reverse. I took it and my Feather-weight to be cleaned and checked. I have had my Viking for 33+ years and I miss it.

Someone in my quilting group said they were told not to use canned air because it can damage the electronics in the new machines.

My dealer said the Pfaff 2144 is one of the machines that you do not oil. I recommend that you ask a dealer whether your specific sewing machine requires oiling or not. :wink:

I found a brush at HomeDepot, that has lasted for about 3years.

I clean my machines about every 2nd project or sooner if the machine is not responding well. I use a small art paint brush and pipe cleaners and put 1 drop of oil in the bobbin area

Yep. I've also heard horror stories of where the needle broke and a piece went into the machine and actually wrecked the machine. I wouldn't have believed it, but I know the gal who told the story and I trust her. So now I make sure to remove the pins before I sew over them, or at least I do 99% of the time.

My Viking Designer SE doesn't require oiling but it needs to be cleaned professionally every year.

I can see that happening with the broken needle. If a large enough piece jams the gears inside, it wouldn't be good news!

I wish I only paid $69, I need to pay $150 to have mine serviced and cleaned.

I wish I only paid $150, my last cleaning cost me $245! I about fell to the floor and now it's back in the shop again, this time my computer board went out. Luckily (I guess) the board is covered by warranty but I dread what the labor will be.

I have a Viking 1+ and always clean the bobbin area before a big project or every month or so. If you google Jan Hennings site "Sew
Much for Retirement" she has some great tutorials for the Vikings. I printed out her instructions and always make sure I get the four screws back in place and indented properly. I also apply two drops of TriFlow on a Q-tip and wipe it over the area before screwing the plate back on.

I was just reading the manual for my old singer 327 and it talks about lubricant vs. oil and where to put each one. I've always had this one serviced (never a problem, just service) every few years whether I use it or not, and it seems always to run fine. I've had it since 1965 and it has moved lots of times with me. I ought to try sewing with it now, since I haven't used it since the Brother XR-52 showed up on my doorstep!

I clean my machines often and keep them maintained. It is not dificult to take out a few screws and take the backs off and give them a good cleaning.I am too frugal to pay some guy to do something I can do myself..LOL!

a lot of time we as quilters do a better job at cleaning our machines then the man that we take them, and it ok to do it yourself after all you have to save as much money as you can, this way you have more money to spend on fabric.
:D

I need to start doing that! I'm just scared I'll mess up the computer parts in there.

if you have any questions just ask me I have a small attament for my vaccum and it works great, it suck all the lint from the bottom of the sewing machine.

Gloria Farmer, I had one of those mini vaccums and it didn't work too well for me.

sorry, but what do you mean " ...in the wick?" also could someone define " clean the machine?" thanks so much

Wow! is there any way you could help the rest of us learn to do this as well?

The wick is the little piece of felt in some bobbin areas that hold oil and wick it to the parts that need it.

Billy

Cleaning the machine involves getting as much as the lint, dust, ect out of the machine. Also oiling your machine, changing the needle that sort of thing.

its not a mini vacuum is a connecting to the( house vacuum) and it connected to the big vacuum and it very small I bought mine at JoAnns

Oh, I see. I'll have to go check JoAnn's and see if they have that attachment. Thanks!

I have this attachment and it does work quite well. Remembering that you have it and where it is is the hardest part. I like the crevice tool the best.

Thanks, I will look for it on my machine.