Basic Sewing Series - Lesson #4

How to Oil your Sewing Machine

*This post contains affiliated links

Today I'm showing you how to oil your machine.

It's a good idea to oil your machine every two to three months if you use it a lot and at least every six months if you don't sew that much.

You may prefer to have your machine serviced by a professional,

but I am a bit frugal and save the few rand by oiling it myself ;)

 What you need:

  

1.  Screwdrivers* of different sizes.  I am considering to buy a whole set of screwdrivers, because my machine has screws of all shapes and sizes and I struggle to loosen some of them.

The magnetic* kind would also be very handy, because most of my machine's screws are embedded into the cover and this makes it hard to hold them when screwing them back in.

2.  Machine oil* - the colourless kind is best, because the yellow coloured oil tends to become sticky over time.

3.  Cloth/tissue - I like to wipe away any dust and oil spatter as I go.

4.  Old towel - to lay the machine on, when you are working on the underside. 

Small bowl - to keep screws together 

  

Important!  Always unplug the machine before doing any maintenance.

  

Move the needle to its highest position.

   

1.  Start by oiling the shuttle race

  

and the shuttle hook.

 Go to lesson #3 - how tho clean a sewing machine 

to see how to remove the shuttle parts.

  

2.  Unscrew the needle plate and oil the gear underneath.

Dust as you go.

Then replace the needle plate and screw it in place.

  

 3.  Loosen all the screws to take off the top cover.

My machine has screws at the top, back and sides.

Only the left side (where the bulb is) and the back panel can be removed.

 

Put all the screws and small parts in a bowl.

  

4.  Remove the left part of the cover by gently moving it up and out.

It is a bit tricky, because there are small plastic hooks holding it in place.  Be careful not to break them!

  

Make sure that the presser foot lever is in the upward position before removing the back pannel.

See the perfect little rectangular gap for it!?

  

5.  Remove the back cover, note any parts that fit through the cover, like the presser foot lever and power inlet does on my machine.

   

6.  Now simply oil the marked parts.
The parts that need oiling on your machine may differ from mine.
Consult your owners manual for specific oiling points.
You can also turn the hand wheel to see which parts move.  Any moving parts that create friction, need oiling.

 

7.  Replace the parts in reverse order and fasten the screws securely.

Now, make sure that the presser foot lever is in the down position, so that it lies flush with the back of the machine, before laying the machine on its back to work on the underside.

8.  Place the towel on your worktop and lay the machine on its back.
Also remove the extension table.

9.  Loosen all the screws at the bottom of the machine and remove the panels.

10.  Oil all the marked parts.

11.  Replace all the panels.

And that is how to keep your machine in good working order.
You will notice that it runs smoother after a good oiling.

Remember to sew a piece of old fabric after oiling your machine as some excess oil may stain your fabric.

Next time we'll discuss choosing the right needle for your project.

See you then!!

Best Wishes
RC

♡