Preventative Maintenance advice at Sew-E-Z, 757-488-9449, Portsmouth, VA

Preventative Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance is important for all your sewing machines; not only assuring reliable use and years of good service, but it can also help minimize expensive repairs. Here are a few tips to help ensure your machine is properly maintained:

Always use a new, sharp needle with every project. Needles dull with use, which can result in major and expensive repairs such as a damaged bobbin casing or a throat plate, machine timing, or require needle bar alignment and many more problems.

All thread, especially cotton thread creates lint and fuzz in bobbin cases, needle bars, and take-up levers. Did you know lint can build up and actually create a hard ball inside your bobbin case, which causes a variety of problems? Use good quality thread along with frequently cleaning the bobbin case, needle bar, and take-up lever. We recommend using brushes made from sheep fur, which is great for getting into all the little places that you can't reach or even see.

Oil your bobbin case every 8-10 hours of use. Place a very small drop of oil on the rim around the bobbin housing, along with another very small drop of oil on the bobbin wick, which looks just like a candle wick.

Static electricity can be very harmful to newer, computerized machines. Follow all manufacturer safety regulations and tips. Avoid walking barefoot or with socks on carpeted floors and then touching your machine. Keep a metal ruler or other small metal object near your machine, touching that first and then your machine can help reduce static discharge to your machine.

Lighting and power surges can destroy your machine. Unplug your machine when not in use and especially if there are thunderstorms in the area. Purchase a good quality surge protector to protect your machine from all the little power surges that can silently strike any time.

Never leave your machine in the car for extended periods of time. Extreme temperatures can cause condensation, small amounts of moisture to form inside your machine, which can cause minor and major damage to your machine. Always allow your machine time to reach room temperature before using.

Pulling thread back through the needle and tension discs when changing thread can cause lint, dust and other debris to build up. Instead, cut the thread at the top and then pull it down through the needle.

An annual tune-up is always a good idea. Whether you use your machine a little or a lot, oil and other lubricants can wear out or dry up, causing harmful or unusual stresses and strain on the mechanical parts of your machine. If you can’t remember the last time your machine was tuned up, then it probably time to have it done.

Industry standards recommend most sewing machines receive yearly tune-ups, based on an average of 4 - 8 hours of sewing per month. However, today’s high use embroidery and quilting machines can require a tune-up three or four times a year to keep the machine in top running condition and extend the life of the machine. It’s no secret taking good care of your machine on a regular basis will keep it working at its best, extend the life of the machine and provide years of good service.