A good oil for your sewing machine is key in ensuring that your sewing machine can continue to operate smoothly over many years. When you lubricate your machine often with a high quality oil, you will be protecting the internal parts of your machine from friction. After all, a sewing machine is made out of steel, and constant usage of the machine without lubrication will increase the pressure on the internal parts of the machine.
As the internal components of the machine are constantly experiencing friction, the pieces will start to wear off over a period of time, causing the machine to underperform. Luckily, there is a simple solution to this problem, which is to oil your sewing machine regularly. It is a very simple task that requires no prerequisite skills or experience to complete.
A sewing machine will require constant maintenance, just like any other appliance. Oiling your sewing machine is an essential part of maintaining the quality of the machine. Without oiling your machine, the metal components of the machine will start to wear down due to constant friction against each other.
In time, this would cause serious issues that would require more money for you to repair the machine. Therefore, making sure to oil your sewing machine on a regular basis can keep your machine in a great condition, and help you save money in the long run.
As mentioned, a sewing machine oil is meant to lubricate the metal parts of your sewing machine to reduce friction. It is an essential, yet affordable step that you should always take if you own a sewing machine.
Guide to Buying the Best Sewing Machine Oils
There are many types of sewing machine oils. Of course, you should be using the right type of oil for your sewing machine so that it can be maintained at optimal quality. In this guide, we will show you how you can look out for the most suitable sewing machine oil for yourself.
Is Spending on a High Quality Sewing Machine Oil Really Necessary?
There are many reasons why investing in a high quality sewing machine oil is necessary. Firstly, it protects your machine by reducing the wear of the internal metal parts of the machine. In addition, a good oil can help to prevent rust and corrosion of the metal components. This will help ensure that your machine can continue working smoothly, and keep your machine in a good condition for a long time. Furthermore, a good sewing machine oil can help to reduce thread breakage and prevent any humming or stalling that might impede the process of your work.
Types of Sewing Machine Oils
There are mainly two types of sewing machine oils – petroleum-based and synthetic.
For petroleum-based oils, they are meant to improve the performance of your sewing machine. These oils are highly refined and work best on moving metal parts. They help to protect the metal components of the sewing machine against corrosion and can minimise wear and tear. These oils can be used for both older and newer sewing machine models. In addition, petroleum-based oils can also be used for other household appliances that you might have. An example of a petroleum-based sewing machine oil is the Lily White Sewing Machine Oil.
Conversely, synthetic sewing machine oils are made more for industrial sewing machines. Therefore, they can be pricier than most petroleum-based oils. However, these oils can last a long time so they can ensure that your sewing machine delivers a high standard for years.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Oiling Your Sewing Machine
We have come up with this step-by-step guide to help beginners with oiling their sewing machine in the right way. Once you have your sewing machine and your oil with you, let’s get started!
Step 1: Make sure that your sewing machine is clean
You should always ensure that before oiling your sewing machine, it should be clean. First, you should check your sewing machine for lint that could have built up in hard-to-reach areas over time.
To do this, make sure your sewing machine is unplugged. Then, remove the presser foot, needle, extension table, stitch plate, throat plate, bobbins case, and the thread from the machine. With a lint free cloth and a stiff brush, remove any remnants of lint that you see. You might also want to use a pair of tweezers to remove lint from small parts. Once you are done cleaning, its time for the next step.
Step 2: Oil your sewing machine
Before you begin oiling your sewing machine, you remember not to over-oil your machine. Over-oiling it would do the adverse of improving the performance of your machine. Instead, it might cause your machine to malfunction and sabotage your sewing projects. Therefore, you should follow the following steps closely.
Firstly, you should find out where the moving parts are by turning the hand wheel to and fro. Once you have identified the moving components, add a small amount of oil to these parts. If you notice that there are other components that might experience friction, you can oil those areas as well.
If you have accidentally used too much oil, simply use a lint-free fabric or cloth to absorb the extra oil. After that, allow your machine a few minutes to soak up the oil. Once this is done, you can reassemble your machine and you are done!
Here, it might be good to note that the method of cleaning and oiling your machine might differ between various brands. For example, a Brother sewing machine would require more attention to the needle bar. You would have to oil the lower needle bar’s felt washer for every separate bar. This step has to be repeated until all washers are oiled. Therefore, it is always good to refer to the instruction manual that comes with your sewing machine.
Step 3: Oil your sewing machine regularly
Oiling your sewing machine should not be a one-time job. If you want your sewing machine to last you for a long time, you should regularly oil the sewing machine so that it can be kept in great condition. A recommended frequency for oiling your machine would be to oil it after every 50 hours of sewing.
Conclusion
A sewing machine is, no doubt, a big investment for most people. Therefore, you should try to make the most out of your investment by taking good care of your machine. Getting a good sewing machine oil and oiling your machine regularly is one of the best ways to do so. Not only will you get good use out of your machine, you will have a much better experience sewing.
As for why you should invest in a high quality sewing machine oil, there are several reasons. Firstly, it can protect the metal components of your sewing machine from wearing off due to prolonged exposure to friction.
Consequently, this can help to extend the lifespan of your sewing machine. This can help you to save money in the long run because you will not have to engage professional maintenance for your machine, and you will not have to purchase new sewing machines so regularly. Therefore, you should purchase the right type of sewing machine oil.
Furthermore, a well-oiled sewing machine will be able to operate smoothly and help you to increase the output of your sewing projects. However, you have to make sure that the oil is suitable for your sewing machine. You should always check the instruction manual that comes with your sewing machine to ensure you are doing the correct steps. In addition, check that the oil you are using has low viscosity, does not stain, does not dry out, and can lubricate well.
Although oiling your sewing machine is important, if you use the wrong type of oil, your efforts will go to waste. There are currently many types of sewing machine oils in the market, but not all of them are as good as they claim.
Some oils you should not purchase are the WD-40 oils or other similar oils because they are not lubricants. These oils are simply solvents which will do nothing for your sewing machine. Also, do not purchase the 3-in-1 oils because they will turn into sludge and this will make it even more troublesome for you to constantly have to clean up the oil.
In addition, you should watch out for sewing machine oils that have been around for a while such as those sitting around on your shelf. If they are not clear or colorless, these oils have probably lost its function over the long period of time and will not be able to lubricate your sewing machine well.
Hopefully, this guide has taught you all you need to know about sewing machine oils and how to lubricate your sewing machines properly. The next time you oil your sewing machine, be sure to refer to this guide again!
