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Machine. Maintenance
I gave my main machine a good clean and oiled the bobbin hook for Christmas sewing. While I was at it, a thought occurred to me.....when was the last time I used my other machines. It's been a while so I cleaned and oiled them all and sat and sewed for 1/2 an hour on them all. I want my backup machines in good working order in case my main machine has to go for a check up. When was the last time you used your backups?
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My default machine is a Singer 401 (1958) but I wander regularly among my machines, all of them vintage. And then there are the new acquisitions, which have to prove themselves before they're admitted to the herd.
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My backup is my mother's Singer 301A. I sewed on it last summer when my main machine was in the shop and again last month to try out my new walking foot I got for it. I do need to use it more often to keep it in tip top shape.
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I haven't Tartan. I did just have it go in for service around August but have not had a chance to test it out.
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Excellent reminder. You would hate for your main machine to need service only to find your b/u is also sick. I'm lucky. One at home and one at the cottage. Use them both frequently, but not simultaneously!
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I have four machines set up in my sewing room and three portables in cases. I rotate the portables when going to sew days and I sew on each of the machines in my sewing room. I have one set for paperpiecing, one for decorative stitching, one for fmq and machine quilting, and one for piecing blocks. I clean and oil each one myself.
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I took my small portable to a class a week ago. A few days before, I cleaned and checked it--and realized that it had been sitting since April!! I will try to be much more diligent with giving it a regular workout.
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With over 50 machines I have back ups for my back ups. I switch machines when the mood strikes me and do a clean/oil when setting a machine up to use. Since I service my own machines I have no need to take them in. Every new(to me) machine gets a thorough going over before I use it.
Cari |
My niece just died and left a Wheeler & Wilson treadle machine from the 1890's I think. I will have to bring it in, clean and see if it runs, and then sell it. I hate to sell it but the electric bill left is $950. I have no choice.
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Since I started accumulating vintage machines and realized how easy it is to service them I do it pretty regularly. But the last 6 months most of them are in my son's basement (which is dry) waiting for us to move. We are very close and I will finally have my own sewing room and a basement with a workbench already there so I'm really going to be able to keep up with it. Can't decide which ones will live in sewing room. I only have two in cabinets. A treadle and a 66. I have gotten to enjoy the smell of a freshly oiled machine. Crazy right??
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