machine servicing

[Therese's Mommy]

How often do you get your sewing machine serviced? I have had mine for probably 3 or 4 years and have never had it serviced. Last fall/winter I cleaned out the bobbin area, but otherwise I haven't done anything to it These days I am using it almost everyday. I have lots of projects in the queue and hate to take it in, but I have this huge fear that I am going to be up against some deadline and it is going to stop working on me. Anyway, how often? How much does it usually cost? What exactly do you ask them to do?

Thanks ladies!

Beth

[sewchris2642]

For starters, you need to clean, delint, and oil (if recommended) your machine about every 8-10 hours of sewing, depending on the fabric. Check your owner's manual. It wil tell you what maintaince your particular machine requires. In general, the bobbin area needs delinting, the needle uptake area above the needles needs checking for lint and a drop of oil needed in both places. Replace needles as needed; as often as every project, if the needle nicks a pin or hits the throat plate, change it. A damaged/bent needles will cause skipped stitches, stitches not forming at all, snags in the fabric, tension problems. You'd be amazed at how many problems can be solved by delinting and changing the needle. The manual probably has a section on problems and how to solve them. Treat your sewing machine right and it will serve you for years.

In all the years I've been sewing, only one machine has needed to go in for repairs. And was because my son unscrewed the tension disc assembly all the way off and I could get it back together properly. That machine needs to go in again but this time it's because it need to be rewired. The wiring is all shot due to age. I inherited the machine from my mil who sewed dh's clothes on it. The machine is about 50 years old.

[justKate]

Funny, I was coming here with the same question.

My mother's sewing machine has finally really broken after 20+ years with NO maintenance. It's an old Husquvarna (sp?) and there are only two places that will service it in her state (MD). One of them told her it's beyond repair....

So I need to look in to see what I should be doing to maintain mine!

[sewchris2642]

Out of the 4 machines I own, 3 of them are more than 20 years old. 1 (Kenmore, bought new in 1982 or 1983) needs a new foot control which is no longer being made. Other than that, it works fine. The one I mentioned above in my previous post needs new wiring and it will run good as new. I just haven't taken it in yet. The third is a 1950-51 Singer Featherweight that is still working good as new. I use it to sew on bridal and special occasion gowns. My newest machine is about 10 years old. It's also a Kenmore. I do regular maintenance on all my working machines. I delint and oil regularly. About once a week, I take apart the bobbin assembly, delint the whole area and oil where indicated in my owner's manual. Every time I change bobbins, I check for lint. I change needles regularly. Sometimes, depending on fabric, with every new project. Don't sew over pins and don't pull on the fabric behind the machine. That can bend the needle and throw the machine out of time.