Do Sewing Machines Need Tune Ups? (Explained!)

Many of you have grown up seeing your mother sewing clothes in machines, or you use a sewing machine to earn a living or take it as a hobby.

So naturally, you’re familiar with the humming sound of it. Tuning up your device makes the humming sound smooth, and the machine parts work efficiently.

Do sewing machines need tune-ups?

Sewing machines need tune-ups just like any other machine needs servicing to work correctly. Tuning up your sewing machine will make it run more efficiently and increase its lifespan. A regularly used sewing machine requires routined tuning and servicing by a professional annually.

How often should sewing machines be serviced?

Your sewing machine requires essential servicing like oiling and cleaning regularly. You should take your sewing machine to a technician at least once a year for its maintenance and durability.

If you’re regularly using your machine, it needs service regularly as well. You have to oil your machine every morning before you start sewing. The moving parts of your device require lubricants to function smoothly.

Services like removing the lint from bobbins and extra threads, covering your machine with a clean rag every time after you’ve completed your task are also important. Clean the lint and dirt regularly to have your machine work without any interruptions.

How to tune up a sewing machine?

Ten simple steps for tuning a sewing machine up-

Necessary equipment-

Lube or machine oil
Soft lint-free rag/ cloth
Stiff brush
Tweezers

Disassemble the bobbin area:

Your Bernia machine will have a stitch plate. Push it on the right and take out the bobbin, thread and bobbin case, presser foot, extension table and the needle. Machines other than Bernia have a drop in the bobbin area. Take it away too.

Clean and brush:

Start brushing the entire machine with the stiff brush and dust off the revealed parts thoroughly. Make sure there are no lint left. Clean below the bobbin load area. Use tweezers if needed.

Deep clean with mini vacuum attachment:

Use a mini vacuum attachment to deep clean the inside of your machine. Remove the bobbin case, bobbin case holder and bobbin hook and clean the area evenly. Follow your machine’s manual if other moveable parts need to be cleaned.

Add lube or oil:

The moving area of your machine requires oiling. Drip one drop of oil inside of the bobbin hook. Run your device once to locate the moveable parts and add oil. It is pretty simpler to add lube to your traditional machine.

However, your modern sewing machine needs unscrewing a few bolts or nuts before lubricating. Follow your machine’s manual instructions.

Check the bobbin tension:

Do a trial session of your bobbin thread, fixing a line in the bobbin case and have it on suspension. Your bobbin tension is accurate if it can bear the weight of the bobbin and casein that position. Unwind more thread by giving it a mild vibrate and adjust it by screwing in the tension spring.

Replace the rubber tyre:

If your bobbin winder has a wheel of rubber tyre, any wrong tension in the thread will cause it to crack or wear. Change it with spare ones.

Clean the tension disks:

Take a lint-free rag and slide it inside the tension disks by folding. It will remove any extra lint or thread pieces. Slide it in the same direction following the thread pull.

Clean the surface:

Take a fresh piece of lint-free fabric and clean the outer surface of the machine thoroughly. A vigorously cleaned machine will shine and sparkle.

Plug back your machine:

Examine the foot pedal by pushing it back in its place. Check the motor belt tension and adjust it with screws if needed.

Use grease to lubricate the motor bearings. Replace the brushes and bulb with a LED bulb. Use grease or mild lubricating oil in the foot pedals. Now, plug your machine back in and let it run for some time.

Add a new needle:

Reassemble the bobbin case and re-load your bobbin. Implant a new rust-free needle instead of the old one. Now, you’re all set with tuning your machine. Check your machine’s performance by sewing a few stitches on some fabric. It will help to sink any extra oil and run the engine smoothly.

When should a sewing machine be professionally serviced?

You should take your sewing machine to a technician at least once a year. It will help your device run smoothly and even increase its durability. A professional machine manufacturer is trained to detect any complications and would be able to advise you on how to use it.

No matter if you have a cheaper or expensive sewing machine, annual servicing is a must to keep running your device.

You can get teams of trained professional technicians from the manufactures. They are well-trained and experienced experts to help you keep your sewing machine in an exemplary configuration.

You have to clean your sewing machine deep and take it to a technician each year for servicing, repairing and replacing the damaged or broken parts.

How much does it cost to tune up a sewing machine?

Tuning up a sewing machine can cost you from 75$ to 100$ for the usual check-ups. This amount will vary depending on the shop and the morals of the repairman. But for any replacement or repair parts, the money range will increase.

However, your computerized embroidery machine is a bit expensive, starting from 100$ for casual check-ups, excluding the repairing or replacements.

Though tuning up your sewing machine can be a little pricey, you can save the extra bucks of buying another device if you regularly tune up and maintain it. It will also increase the lifespan of your machine.

How do you know if your sewing machine needs oil?

The frequency of oiling your sewing machine depends on the terms of how often you use it. You have to oil your device after every 10 hours of use.

If you use it moderately, then the machine needs oiling once a week. If you use it once in a blue moon, your engine would require oiling only once a month and work just fine.

Oiling your sewing machine regularly will run it smoothly and efficiently. But if you notice your machine’s sound becoming harsh and obnoxious and it’s having trouble sew your clothes, then chances are it needs oiling.

However, your electric sewing machine needs more oiling than the traditional singer sewing machine. Read the device manually in detail to know your machine type oiling.

How often should you clean and lubricate a sewing machine?

Cleaning and lubricating your sewing machine regularly are essential to keep your engine running. You should clean your sewing machine every time before you start sewing and after completing a project. Lubricate your sewing machine after every 10 hours of use if you sew frequently.

Clean your sewing machine and remove all the fabric residue, dust, lint after every time you’ve completed your task.

These particles may clog up in your engine and interrupt sewing. The Overlocker machine requires more cleaning than your average sewing machine because of frequent fabric trimming off.

Nowadays, most modern sewing machines come with self-oiling features. Read your machine’s manual and clean and oil the required parts.

The moveable parts will still need one or two drops of oiling once a week if you use it moderately. If you use it scarcely, then once a month lubricating will be enough.

How do I lubricate my sewing machine?

Five simple steps to lubricate your sewing machine-

Step 1:

Read your machine’s manual well, which oil has been referred to use in your device. Typically coconut oil or products made from petroleum are used to lubricate a sewing machine.

Step 2:

Clean and dust your machine with a lint-free rag before applying oil.

Step 3:

Add one or two more drops of oil into the moving parts of your machine. To be sure, check your machine’s manual regarding which components need lubricating since each device is differently structured.

Step 4:

Don’t use too much oil. Excessive oil can make your machine’s efficiency poor.

Step 5:

Apply a few drops of oil in the ring area where the bobbin hook is attached. This prevents the small components from malfunctioning.

How do you fix a sewing machine that keeps jamming?

Step 1:

If your machine keeps jamming, take a look at your device set up if it’s correctly set for the type of sewing you’re doing. Check the needle, tension, holder and thread type.

Step 2:

Try running your machine with the presser foot up. This position corrects the thread tension causing it to fall between the disks as they are wide open. It will prevent any double-layered or big knots of thread on your fabric’s back.

Step 3:

Change your needle after every ten hours of active sewing or full four bobbins. Put in a fresh needle every time you feel it is struggling or hit something other than the fabric.

With regular tune-ups and proper maintenance, you can add years to your sewing machine’s life, and it increases your machine’s efficiency as well.

Your unused machine may not work if you don’t tune it up from time to time. Hence take a moment to tune up and take care of your machine to keep it in good shape.