Wool sewing machine wicks
 

I was cleaning my recently acquired Necchi, and I ended up removing the wheel and saw that the wick had deteriorated and was causing problems. I have been wick hunting all day and finally found a place and thought I would pass it along.

Google McMaster-Carr>
Scroll down until you see raw materials>
click on felt, when that page comes up>
on left side bar click on cord, when that page comes up>
click on extra firm white F1 and then choose the diameter you need.

At 5 foot lengths it should last awhile.:)

http://www.mcmaster.com/#felt/=p7sjsa - cord on the left
Grainger discontinued it. I know sew-classic sometimes has it. I think I could go 5 foot pretty quickly if I got to all the ones that need it. http://shop.sew-classic.com/Motor-Be...nch-WICK-3.htm she shows 3/16 size.

Thanks- this is what I need to replace the pads on several cabinets.

Okay, you all have me worried now. I've just been using my own wool felt. I've made it for needle cases that I make for sewing friends. Should I not be doing that? I figured that any wool felt should work. It is just for keeping oil there to saturate whatever part is needing oil, isn't it? Do I need to buy some special wool felt for this purpose?

I think you can use what ever works. I think that wool would make nice pin/needle cushion in a needle case - I never thought of that. I was seeing that you can also use it for polishing.

You can use any wool felt or cotton packed tightly. I use it in the oil wicks of my old shuttles for oil the shuttle race. I agree with Miriam as long as it can be shaped it will work. You just need it to hold lots of oil to be released slowly.

I think synthetic fabric might be a problem if the oil breaks it down

You are very welcome, I like that they have all kinds of felt too. I also found out last night that the Necchi yahoo group I joined a few days ago recommends this sight for their wicks.

My wool is real wool, not synthetic. I really dislike that synthetic stuff. I make my own felt... just take wool fabric and wash it in the washer.... hot water, agitation.... does what your mom told you not to do. It felts. I've even spun some wool yarn and knitted it up to make wool slippers, then wash and keep washing till they are the right size for my feet. I check by putting the wet slippers in the bath tub to try them on. When they're the right size, I just rinse them, squeeze out as much water as I can, and hang them to dry. I love those warm wool slippers. And it's great to know that I haven't done anything awful by using my own wool felt for those oil wicks.

Jean, you are right it isn't hard to make wool felt. I'm thinking about trying to make a wick. I wonder if shrinking some strips and then rolling them up to dry would work. Or wet some already shrunk up strips to dry in the size I need... Some experimenting is in order.

I would love to work in wools and wear it too but I am allergic. So buying it already made in a nice neat little package for my sewing machines that I can handle with gloves works the best for me.


You're right it isn't hard if YOU CAN, I unfortunately cannot.:( I was on may way to being a fiber artist when I helped my friend with her Angora goats. My arms broke out in blisters within 20 minutes. It was awful, I cried. I had to sell my lovely Angora rabbit trio I just brought home.

Kudos to those of you that can work with it, I'am envious.

I can relate - all I have to do is look at certain weeds and bam I'm covered.

I'm so sorry, sunflowerzz. That has to be awful.

Oh Jean, thank you for those words. It fairly broke my heart because my friends and I were all getting into wool and buying looms and our animals for wool and I envisioned a small farm with llamas and angora goats and sheep etc. I already had chickens, goats and rabbits and was starting small with wool with the trio of Angora bunnies. Jeepers it still hurts to talk about it. Didn't think it would after all of these years. sigh....

Sending big hugs :hug:

Thank you so much. :)

Wick purchase update
 

I just wanted to update this thread and say that the wicks arrived very fast and they were perfect. I measured for my Necchi wheel and cut it with a single edge razor blade and it was a perfect fit. I wasn't sure how much oil to add to it but remember someone saying about 12 drops along the whole wick so I did and now the hand wheel turns great.

The woman that takes the phone orders ( because I had questions before buying) was very nice and they do not have a minimum. If you need wool felt I totally ( yes I am Californian ) give my stamp of approval for McMaster-Carr.:thumbup::)