Quiltingboard Forums - Oiling Your Vintage/Retro Sewing Machine

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sewing Guy (Post 6422464)

Had my own mother, and countless other people who brought me their own ruined machines because they never oiled them, just done this very simple way to get some oil on moving parts, those older retro machines may still have been sewing to this day instead of ending up in the salvage/recycling yard.

Now then, would I ever use this method? Absolutely not. I clean them and use military spec bearing lube. But there are many, many people who have these machines and they refuse to oil them at all.

The very kindest thing I can say is that you are preaching to the wrong crowd. The method you are suggesting is more hassle and work (and clean up!) than just brushing some lint out and adding a drop of oil (and I say that as a person who has a Necchi Supernova). I can guarantee that the person you describe: who cannot be bothered cleaning and oiling etc. could also not be bothered spray lubing their entire machine while it's running. The person you are describing has no interest in the machine itself, they are only interested in sewing and - if anything - are intimidated by mechanical things and probably even by cans of solvents and chemicals.

It's true that these people do exist and it's true that sometimes we do despair when a perfectly good machine is neglected .... but as a result, quite a lot of us can pick up beautiful machines bring them back to life, which is a very rewarding thing for those of us who can be bothered and see the value in such things. If you're truly 'in the biz' then maybe you should run some classes on (proper) maintenance for your more clueless customers? They're probably just needing someone to show them how easy it is.