Sewing machine maintenance - PEP BB textile.straw.sewingmachine

Here's what I did to try and get this BB:


Sewing machine that needs cleaning


The part that needed cleaning most. Do you see the fluff on that rag? And then there was even more!


New bottle of sewing machine oil. The old one was empty.


The cleaned and oiled part ('spool house') put back in order


Here are some spots that need oiling. Sorry, I didn't manage to make a good photo of me oiling


Clean machine, ready to start sewing again

You're right, the Manual is missing.
When I bought it second hand there wasn't a manual.
I searched for it on the internet. The best I could find was this website http://www.naaimachinehandleiding.nl/naaimachines/naaimachines-husqvarna which has manuals of many sewing machines (in Dutch). But ... not this one.
I did find one of exact the same type, for sale with the manual. Here's the photo of that manual, maybe when it's sold that photo will disappear ...


Does this count?

Here is my submission for the Textiles - Straw - Sewing Machine Maintenance BB.

To document the completion of the BB, I have provided the following:
– the manual of your sewing machine (I have the manual)
– the sewing machine before cleaning, showing the parts with lint/fluff
– the sewing machine after cleaning
– how you oil the parts needing oil, show the bottle of oil in the photo
– if applicable: how you grease the parts that need greasing - no greasing required

I used an air compressor to blow out the machine after I removed several covers.  I also used a brush to clean the tension mechanism then oiled the machine before putting the covers back on.

Finding the manual is a big part of sewing machine maintenance.  I would say it's the most important part!

For example, my sewing machine is a thirsty beast.  She needs a basic oiling every 20 min of use and every single time I sit down.  But if I put oil in the wrong place, it dissolves the rubber and finding a new O-ring the right size is very expensive.  If I don't oil enough, then it will quickly wear out.  Metal on metal without oil = not good.

But other sewing machines will die if you put a drop of oil in them.  They need no oiling at all.  They have sealed compartments with grease.  They can go for about 5,000 hours between needing deep maintenance.  

And then there are some that need some oil sometimes.  Once a month?  Once a year?  Once an hour?  And only need oil in specific places.  Foot piston?  Needle piston?  bobbin winder?  

Every model is unique.  knowing what THIS specific machine needs is a big part of what this badge is about.

So, if you cannot find the manual specific to your machine, you need to find one close enough and explain why you feel that it is close enough and how it differs and how not having the correct manual influences your actions.  This is going to be pretty hard to certify and might end up not passing.

Another option is to find a machine with a manual?  A friend's machine?  Something for $2 at a yard sale or thrift shop?  Some libraries lend sewing machines.

r ranson wrote:Finding the manual is a big part of sewing machine maintenance.  I would say it's the most important part!

....
Every model is unique.  knowing what THIS specific machine needs is a big part of what this badge is about.

So, if you cannot find the manual specific to your machine, you need to find one close enough and explain why you feel that it is close enough and how it differs and how not having the correct manual influences your actions.  This is going to be pretty hard to certify and might end up not passing.

Another option is to find a machine with a manual?  A friend's machine?  Something for $2 at a yard sale or thrift shop?  Some libraries lend sewing machines.

You are totally right R.
I really wanted to find the manual of my machine, but didn't succeed (throughout the internet). I did find some manuals of other Husqvarna machines from the 1960s. Maybe they are close enough for use ... but probably not close enough for the BB

My old Husqvarna is serving me very well for many years (about 15 yrs now). At the moment there is no need for finding a 'machine with a manual', except for getting this BB (and no, this isn't a good enough reason for me)

Here is my submission, this is the first time this machine has been serviced in 14 years! Now I know how to do it, I've got no excuse 😁

document your completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pics or video (less than two minutes):
– the manual of your sewing machine (can be a link to the manual online)
– the sewing machine before cleaning, showing the parts with lint /fluff
– the sewing machine after cleaning
– how you oil the parts needing oil, show the bottle of oil in the photo

My sewing machine is a circa 1950 Singer treadle machine. I love this machine, and have moved with it many times over the years (no regrets, even though it's very heavy!) It is a real workhorse, going straight through multiple layers of denim without fuss, and even, on one occasion, 6 layers of nylon feedsack. I was starting to hear a bit of extra noise while sewing, and so consulted the manual, and oiled the bobbin case, the drive shaft for the needle, the drive shaft for the bobbin housing, and the treadle itself (not pictured). It's running quieter and a bit smoother now, which is great.

The manual recommends oiling daily, but it is generally agreed by people who run old Singers that this is way over the top, and potentially even detrimental to the machine. I have been recommended to only oil it when there starts to be slight resistance sewing, or the sound of the machine changes. Manual (both hand crank and treadle) Singers run very quiet compared to electric machines, so it is easy to tell when things require a bit of care once you've gotten familiar with the machine.

The oil I used is sewing machine oil with a handy very fine metal applicator. This is absolutely required for this type of machine, as the oil points are some distance inside the machine, and a plastic dropper won't reach!

While working on my other BB, I noticed my machine making some pretty grind-y sounds, so I figured I'd clean it out. I forgot to take a pic of the lint before vacuuming it out, but it was pretty gross. I did miss a spot though that I got a pic of me pulling out. There was more just like it on almost every inch of the left side of the machinery in the bottom basin, but almost none in the top part of the machine.

This is my Singer Merritt 2404, I got this machine second-hand, but I had one just like it growing up- my sister got the original. This one came with the manual and some oil so that's what I'm using.

The manual and relevant pages:



The oil:


I just oiled all the points that the manual said to, vacuumed out the lint, and picked out what I couldn't get with the vacuum. I found my little lint brush when I opened the front cover, so I went back and brushed the spots the manual highlighted.

Section	Before	After
Top
Bottom	before oiling, but after vacuuming
Front
Action!	Some lint I missed underneath where the bobbin sits	Oiling the last...joint?

I cleaned and oiled my mom's Singer Heavy Duty 4432 sewing machine! My goodness, it works nicer now; I sewed a test-swatch and and was amazed by how smoothly the stitches flowed.

After 2 quilt projects this winter, my sewing machiene definately needs some TLC. Here is my bobbin box with fluffy denim lint. I used a vacuum for most of the big debris, then used baby wipes to "dust" off the outside. Afterwards, I took off the foot and needle and got to the dirty work; brushing around all the important parts, oiling just where this video recommended. https://youtu.be/hJCRfpO_MVo The oil I am using is not labeled. But it is the oil that came with my Bernina. After the oiling, I was missing less stiches, and making less grinding noise, which was SO nice!
Here is the closest manual, still in print. It has the same features as my machine: https://www.bernina.com/en-US/SupportData/Out-of-Print/BERNINA_1260_manual

Ooooh, this is exiting, by first ever Badge Bit submission! Lets hope I don’t screw this up!

I was inspired by the Clothing patterns based on rectangles thread and decided that it was time to dig out the old sewing machine my mother-in-law gave to me.


To show I’ve completed this Badge Bit, I have provided proof of the following as pics:
– the manual for my sewing machine
– the sewing machine before cleaning, showing the parts with lint/fluff
– process of cleaning the sewing machine
– the sewing machine after cleaning
– oiling/greasing only the parts that need oiling or greasing (The manual said not to lubricate anything else than the ”groove on the shuttle” [I have no idea if those are the right english words]

Yay, I got approved! Lightning fast! Thank you!

Wanna hear something funny? Right after I did all that maintenance and was feeling super duper happy for it, I noticed that the handwheel (again I have no idea if that is the right english word, I really have to start studying sewing jargon) was stuck. Ha. Ha.

Is there a badge bit for fixing a jammed sewing machine..?

I know no one probably reads these threads but I just have to tell about this somewhere…

I FIXED IT!

Saana Jalimauchi wrote:Right after I did all that maintenance and was feeling super duper happy for it, I noticed that the handwheel (again I have no idea if that is the right english word, I really have to start studying sewing jargon) was stuck. Ha. Ha.

I did some research and found out that there basicly is no instructions available for taking these things apart because you’re not supposed to do that. Oh well, I took a screwdriver and pointed it at places and watched what happened..! I found a lot of dust, vacuumed it and showed a bit of that great brush to places that vacuum couldn’t reach. Then I started to slowly spin the handwheel and eventually it started to get unstuck! I’m guessing the lubricates were kinda hardened or something.

Here I am doing test swatches and trying to figure out the right tensity for the yarn (string? What is it?? I seriously need that sewing dictionary…).

I feel awesome!

I bought my machine new in 2002, and thankfully, haven't misplaced the manual. I haven't used it in awhile so it definitely needed maintenance.

before cleaning and oiling

Owner's manual and quick-start threading guide

Cleaning instructions in the manual

Needs cleaning!

Brushing away surface dust, picking out lint with tweezers, deep cleaning with a few drops of sewing machine oil on a q-tip

Clean! (looks so much better)

Oiling instructions in manual. I used Lily White Universal Sewing Machine Oil.

Applying oil as per the manual

Cleaned, oiled, and ready to sew

My needle fishhooked so I figured I should clean it while I had it apart. I wound up cutting the needle with cutting pliers. The machine was extremely linty, but still well oiled so I only reoilled it where I wiped it off removing lint.

I know I have my sewing machine manual but I must have found a really safe place for it the last time I reorganized my sewing space. I have attached a link to the manual for my machine at the end.

I took apart the bobbin area and brushed it out then took off the upper cover to oil it.

https://www.singer.com.tr/assets/img/uploads/product-files/7640_en.pdf


I included a link to the printed sewing machine manual for my machine.

Hello, fellow skippers!  I am not sure that this inherited sewing machine had ever been maintained before this.  It was a great way to learn about my machine and get it set up properly.  I am sewing better than ever after this completing this BB!

Machine maintenance before I embark on Halloween costumes.

My machine manual prohibits oiling, as shown in the last photo. But I gave it a well-needed clean up.