Should I Oil?
 

Howdy. I'm back in CT after 3 months in FL (poor me, snort).

Should I oil my Baby Jane before I use it after being idle for so long? I ask because I think you can over oil too.

Thanks,

Cheryl

I am not sure about a Baby Jane. With a Bernina, I oil the bobbin mover and other areas as specified in my manual.

I don't know about your machine but when I oil mine, I oil and then sew on a scrap of fabric to make sure all is lubricated. It also allows any excess to ware or drip off into the scrap before I use it

Every bobbin race needs a drop of oil every now and then. If the bobbin moves it needs oil.

Not sure what kind of machine yours is, but from a maintenance perspective, it wouldn't hurt to run it a bit without any fabric or bobbin, with a bit of oil if you routinely oil it. That's what I do with my long arm when I haven't used it for a bit, on the advice of the dealer. Lets things get re-lubricated before you put it under load.

With both my long arm and my commerical (upholstery) machines I do oil if they have sat more than just a few days and allow to run for a short time before sewing (so any excess oil get absorbed). My DMS hardly goes more than 2 days without being used, but I do have a few that sit and they will at least get oil in the bobbin race. Almost any kind of machine (not just sewing) that sits for long the lubricant will pool at the lowest point and that is not where you want it when you turn it on.

STOP!!!

Check your manual FIRST to learn if your machine needs to be oiled. Some machines are self-oiling and sealed and do not require it. I have 7 machines, one of which is self-oiling. I didn't pay attention to the manual, oiled it, and made a big mess. Took me 6 months of sewing every day before it finally quit spitting icky brown oil out into the bobbin area.