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Steve Bondelid |
Mechanic
TipsThis weeks tip:
Q: How can I get rid of the smell from the case of my Singer "Featherweight?*
A: Try a mild solution of Murphy's oil soap and water on the inside. Using just a damp sponge, wipe it, then rinse it off. Leave it open to dry in the sunshine or in a dry place. Afterwards, put a bar of Safeguard soap, in it's little box, opened inside your case. Leave the box of soap inside your case for about three weeks, sealing the entire case inside of a plastic trash bag. Do not open the bag. Leave the bar of Safeguard inside it all the time, as a permanent deodorizer.
Previous tips:
“What’s that sound”
When I service a sewing machine or serger, the first thing I do is replace the needle(s) as all adjustments are referenced from a straight, sharp needle. A dull or bent needle can cause skipped stitches, broken or shredded thread, and believe it or not accelerated wear of the finished product! When you sew in most fabrics, a needle doesn’t actually punch through the threads in the fabric, it goes through the holes BETWEEN the threads. When a needle becomes damaged by hitting a pin, or just gets dull from use, it can acquire a chisel, mushroom, square or other destructive shape. This causes the fabric you are sewing to be ripped a fraction of a thread at a time when each stitch is made. Your project is wearing out before you even finish it. Nice, huh?
If you hear a slight “popping” sound with each stitch, change the needle because it’s dull.
If you hit a pin even once, that needle is a goner. By the way, hitting a pin is a real “no no” for any machine, especially at high speed. It damages the hook assembly, and can throw of the timing, or break gears. Think of it as similar to a car crash!
If you’re not sure whether to replace the needle, remove it and drag the tip across the end of your finger very lightly. Turn it around and do this several times, feeling for ANY drag. If you feel even the slightest drag from the tip, it’s damaged, and needs to be replaced. Take a look at it with a high power magnifying glass if you have one.
At least 50% of the machines coming in for service have dull or damaged needles in them when they arrive.
There are different needle diameters for different threads and fabrics, as well as different needle points for jeans, synthetics, leather, etc. Ask anyone at Island Fabrics to help you with needle selection if you’re not sure which is best for your particular sewing application.
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Most
sewing machines should make smooth mechanical sounds. They should not
sound like a threshing machine with knocking, or scraping noises. Notice I
say most machines, as there unfortunately are a couple of exceptions. As
most machines last a long time, and mechanical problems develop gradually,
you may have become accustomed to abnormal noises without even noticing
them. Steve
Bondelid, Needles breaking often? The needle timing and needle/hook clearance are critical to good machine performance. These critical adjustments are just a couple of the items checked and adjusted during Steve's 30 point tune up. He makes sure that your machine meets or exceeds these critical specifications, and provides a sewing sample after the tune up. Loopy thread driving you loopy? It may be as simple as a drop of oil on your check spring, or it could be a bit of thread stuck in your tension discs or bobbin spring. Don't put up with a poorly running machine. Your projects ought to reflect your talent, not an out of tune, cranky machine. Usually in only a day or two Steve, our in-house Bernina trained technician can may your machine sew like new. Tension off, or not consistent? If your machine shows ANY signs of rust, it may have a rusty bobbin spring or bobbin case. Island Fabrics carries new bobbin cases as well as new Bernina sewing machines. Steve, our Bernina trained technician, can tune it up, making it sew like new! Love to sew, but hate the poor results your machine is giving you? Puckering fabric is usually excessive or inconsistent tension. The cause of skipping stitches, is usually a matter of resetting the timing. Timing adjustments are performed by our in-house technician as part of a 30 point tune up.Do you hate to sew because your machine performs poorly? Machines often go out of time, or get "cranky" very gradually. Try a single drop of oil on the bobbin hook race. It may make a lot of difference. If not, bring it in to Steve, our Bernina trained technician. In a day or so, your machine will purr. Does your machine sew easily with only a little bit of pedal pressure? A properly operating machine should be able to sew slowly with control. If it doesn't, there may be too much internal friction. Bring it in for its annual 30 point tune up and in a day or so Steve will have your machine running like a clock.Remember when you oil your machine that too much oil is as bad as no oil. It attracts thread bits and dirt which will cause binding and wear. A single drop is all it takes in most spots that require oil. Most machines need several different kinds of lubricant in different areas of the machine. Steve, our in-house Bernina trained technician knows which lube to use for gears, races, and bearings, and can make your machine a pleasure to use once again.
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