How Often Do You Need to Oil Sewing Machines?
Regular maintenance of a sewing machine is essential to keeping your machine running smoothly. Cleaning and oiling your sewing machine habitually will prevent many problems common to sewing machines. Refer to your sewing machine's instruction manual for the proper places to oil. Does this Spark an idea?
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Oil After Each Day of Sewing
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Oil your sewing machine after about eight to 12 hours of sewing time. How often you oil your sewing machine is dependent on how much you use it to sew. Since most of us don't keep timers nearby while we're sewing, a good rule is to oil it after each big project. Be sure to run the machine by hand to distribute the oil through the machine.
Oil When You Clean
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Cleaning your machine after each project, especially big projects or projects involving fleece or batting that create lots of fuzz, is a good habit. Oiling your machine after each cleaning is essential since, during the cleaning, oil may have been removed from the parts.
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Oil Machines That Sit
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Even if a machine is sitting unused, it's a good idea to take it out and oil it occasionally to prevent the oil that's in it from drying out and gumming up. Run the machine by hand after oiling to work the oil through the parts.
It Might Not Need Oil
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Some machines do not require oiling because their parts are already infused with oil or are made of materials that do not require lubricant. Many computerized machines do not require oiling. Refer to your sewing machine's instruction manual to make sure your machine requires oil before oiling it.
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References
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