Oiling is crucial to extend the longevity of your embroidery machine’s parts. Ensure to oil the machine before using it for the first time. Oiling prevents rust and corrosion, which keeps your machine running smoothly. You can use various types of oils, but beeswax is the most commonly used for oiling an embroidery machine.
Here, you will learn how to oil your embroidery machine and other relevant things. Let’s dive in.
Apply Oil
Apply oil to the gears and race, and clean them using a degreaser. You don’t need to apply oil when embroidering using a machine. However, oil can prevent the fabric from sticking to the needle and eases stitching. You can use a moisturizing spray/liquid in place of oil to add extra moisture to your machine. Ensure not to apply extra oils as that can damage your fabrics and machine.
Experiment with different oils until you find the best option. Every oil has unique properties, which make them the perfect option for specific purposes, like holding dye or preventing wrinkles. Monitor the condition of the springs and needles to check if they are wearing down. Replace them as required so you don’t experience any complications when embroidering with a machine.
Clean Gears and Race
You don’t require oil for embroidery machines. However, it helps to keep your gears lubricated and clean. Use a detergent/mild soap when cleaning the machine. Avoid using harsh chemicals that can damage the gears. Use a brush, dishwashing soap, or cloth soaked in hot water to remove a buildup on the gear teeth/shafts. Store your machine in a dry area so the parts don’t corrode gradually.
Adjust the Stitch Length
Adjusting the stitch length is necessary for the best oiling results. Try adjusting the tension in place of applying oil if the embroidery machine stops or gets clogged when stitching. Test your new settings on an unnoticeable fabric part first before using oil to protect the area. Monitor how much fabric gets pulled via every loop by checking the stitch width on your embroidery machine controller panel.
Where Should You Apply the Oil in Your Embroidery Machine?
You will need to keep the oil in the embroidery machine lubricated. You can do it by adding a little amount of oil to the work area whenever you use your machine.
Here are the parts of your embroidery machine where you should apply the oil:
Shuttle Hook
The shuttle hook is an element of your embroidery machine, which helps in moving the fabric from one side to the other. The shuttle hook has a housing and race, which help it to rotate quickly, and a bobbin hook that controls the tension on the thread.
Race and Housing
The race helps in moving the shuttle easily across the cloth. The housing keeps the shuttle in place and thus, you don’t have to keep adjusting it consistently.
Bobbin Hook
The bobbin hook holds the thread in place as you sew by pulling tight on it with needles at every end of the spool. The thread holding prevents stitches from stretching or getting uncompleted mid-sew.
What Happens if You Don’t Oil Your Sewing Machine?
The moving parts will gradually break down if you don’t oil your embroidery machine frequently. Industrial sewing machines and older machines require timely and proper oiling, while domestic embroidery machines don’t require that much oiling. Even if your embroidery machine doesn’t need oiling, you should give it a quick start before using it every time. Take extra care of your machine if you see any issues in the machine after not getting greased up for a certain period.
How Frequently Should You Oil Your Embroidery Machine?
You should oil your embroidery machine regularly to prevent it from stopping functioning and the fabric from getting damaged. You can apply a light grade of oil or a small amount of oil every time you use the machine. Replace the bobbin every three to four bobbins or after every day of sewing depending on your machine usage frequency.
Clean and lubricate your embroidery machine’s hook area to keep the machine operating smoothly. Oil your machine every three to four bobbin replacements or after every day of stitching, whichever occurs first.
Is Baby Oil Usable to Oil Your Sewing Machine?
Baby oil is not a good option to use for oiling your embroidery machine. As many oils contain high levels of mineral oil, they may cause damage to the motor or other parts. You can choose WD-40 spray lubricant or a high-quality synthetic motor oil instead of baby oil.
However, some people believe baby oil is a great alternative to sewing machine oil. Various types of sewing machine oil are created for serving various purposes. Certain oils may not be suited for applicability on an embroidery machine. You should experiment with various types of old before you understand which can be the perfect choice to oil your embroidery machine.
Refer to Owner’s Manual to Understand if Your Embroidery Machine Requires Oiling
You should always refer to your embroidery machine’s owner manual before doing anything with the machine that is not specified in the instructions. It can always help if you check the manual every time before your oil or service any part of your machine so you are always sure of what requires your maximum attention and when it should be completed.
The owner’s manual tends to list precise information if or not a specific part of the embroidery machine requires lubrication. The manual also specifies the amount of lube required for every type of part on various models of sewing machines. Ensure you consult your manual to find specific information on oiling the embroidery machine.
The Bottomline
Oiling is needed for an embroidery machine because of the reasons discussed above in this post. However, some people say that embroidery machines can work perfectly even without regular oiling. Thus, you will have to decode if oiling is required for your embroidery machine. Get in touch with the best oil provider today to buy the right oil for your machine.