Fuzz in your gears - When and Why to clean your Machine
You got fuzz in your gears - no wonder your so jerky, loud, and a real pain!
Okay the ins and outs of cleaning the fuzz build up in your machine! You dirty thang you! (your machine not you, I mean I don't know you sew)... hmmmm.
Where do you look for fuzz in your machine? The number one place is the bobbin case area. Fabric and thread fuzz alike can build up in your bobbin carriage and cause all kinds of havoc.
Okay so you know where your bobbin carriage is right? Yes! No? Maybe...
Alright - The bobbin carriage
/ case looks like this. See the pointer there, that is your carriage and hook. Where is it you may wonder, it is under the needle plate bed, two screws hold in place.
How do you get to it - really?
Okay.
Take your bobbin cover off if it is a top load drop in bobbin, if you have a front load then open it up, it is a little easier to get to if front loading. Now, you took the cover off (usually a see through plastic cover where you drop your bobbin into your machine). LOOOOOOOOK!
Oh my!
You have not cleaned this out have you; in a very long time. Those of us who have been sewing a long time, usually remember to do this little bit of maintenance regularly. RECOMMENDED between each project, more depending upon the fabric and thread being used. Flannel, minky, fleece, wool and any other fuzz making fabrics can create a huge amount of build up; as do cheaper threads.
Okay, so you got the cover off, the bobbin out and your looking into the hook carriage area. That little black thing sitting in there. Yep that funny looking thing right there.
Okay, there you have it, this little ditty pops right out and back in again when you line it back up when replacing it. Now lift it out gently so as to not displace any mechanics.
NOW LOOK at ALL THAT FUZZ! OH! shame shame shame. Just Kidding it happens to all of us, usually after we hear a loud knocking, banging, your machine starts bouncing all over the place.
Here we go. Get yourself the following:
Now, you have everything including some good lighting, your machine is turned OFF and you are ready to commence the task. Take those swabs and just gently remove all the built up fuzz. Then, take the lint brush to brush any out of the carriage area you may have not gotten with the swabs. Then take the tooth brush and brush over your feed dogs to remove any stuck in the teeth stuff, sort of like flossing them. Okay, you did all that - Now what?
Do it again!
Yep repeat but don't rinse!
Continue with those few steps until you have the area cleaned, this is different for front load bobbins - see photo.
This case is different as well, it is all metal, and if you have this type of machine, you should be able to just pop out the case and clean it out relatively easily with your lint brush. (This is the one you put a drop of oil back into, check your users manual for sure on this one).
Okay, look good? Yes. Well just blow a little air in their from your mouth, NEVER USE CANNED AIR! The use of such can blow things into things that don't need those things in them! Get it, Don't do it. Especially on Computerized machines, it can cause all kinds of havoc, due to... well you ain't supposed to do it is all! Nuff said!
Okay it is all clean and ready. I do put a small drop onto the case (that black thingy) in the center when I clean it out, just to help the movement.
Now, put it all back together!
Really?
Okay - Here are the steps!
Now, listen to your machine sounding like its a Cadillac! Yep quiet ain't it! Yep that's a clean mo' cheen! Yes, you have a happy little machine now, and it will do well if YOU keep up on every day maintenance and yearly take to the guy who charges you lots or not to give a good cleaning and reset. Yes, it is necessary unless you have unlimited funds, or access to machines of your choice. If you do. Well... call me we can be BFF's!
Okay your machine is clean: a basic course. Your users manual will tell you all the steps, and if you get lost. Google it or YOUTUBE it! Lots of vid's on it. It is really easy to do, and is a necessary evil. It can get messy too. AND IF YOU HAVE A HUGE FUZZ BALL post a pic on QPI PAGE!
Have a good one y'all.
Remember a quilt left unfinished (is what)? That's right: "a quilt waiting to love".
Happy creating!
Okay the ins and outs of cleaning the fuzz build up in your machine! You dirty thang you! (your machine not you, I mean I don't know you sew)... hmmmm.
Where do you look for fuzz in your machine? The number one place is the bobbin case area. Fabric and thread fuzz alike can build up in your bobbin carriage and cause all kinds of havoc.
Okay so you know where your bobbin carriage is right? Yes! No? Maybe...
Alright - The bobbin carriage
/ case looks like this. See the pointer there, that is your carriage and hook. Where is it you may wonder, it is under the needle plate bed, two screws hold in place.How do you get to it - really?
Okay.
Take your bobbin cover off if it is a top load drop in bobbin, if you have a front load then open it up, it is a little easier to get to if front loading. Now, you took the cover off (usually a see through plastic cover where you drop your bobbin into your machine). LOOOOOOOOK!
Oh my!
You have not cleaned this out have you; in a very long time. Those of us who have been sewing a long time, usually remember to do this little bit of maintenance regularly. RECOMMENDED between each project, more depending upon the fabric and thread being used. Flannel, minky, fleece, wool and any other fuzz making fabrics can create a huge amount of build up; as do cheaper threads.
Okay, so you got the cover off, the bobbin out and your looking into the hook carriage area. That little black thing sitting in there. Yep that funny looking thing right there.
Okay, there you have it, this little ditty pops right out and back in again when you line it back up when replacing it. Now lift it out gently so as to not displace any mechanics.NOW LOOK at ALL THAT FUZZ! OH! shame shame shame. Just Kidding it happens to all of us, usually after we hear a loud knocking, banging, your machine starts bouncing all over the place.
Here we go. Get yourself the following:
- Cotton Tip swabs
- Tooth brush
- Nice little lint brush (hint: that's what that funny looking thing is that came in your package with all those feet).
- Some paper towels or soft cloth
- And for some machine oil recommended for your machine.
Now, you have everything including some good lighting, your machine is turned OFF and you are ready to commence the task. Take those swabs and just gently remove all the built up fuzz. Then, take the lint brush to brush any out of the carriage area you may have not gotten with the swabs. Then take the tooth brush and brush over your feed dogs to remove any stuck in the teeth stuff, sort of like flossing them. Okay, you did all that - Now what?
Do it again!
Yep repeat but don't rinse!
Continue with those few steps until you have the area cleaned, this is different for front load bobbins - see photo.
This case is different as well, it is all metal, and if you have this type of machine, you should be able to just pop out the case and clean it out relatively easily with your lint brush. (This is the one you put a drop of oil back into, check your users manual for sure on this one). Okay, look good? Yes. Well just blow a little air in their from your mouth, NEVER USE CANNED AIR! The use of such can blow things into things that don't need those things in them! Get it, Don't do it. Especially on Computerized machines, it can cause all kinds of havoc, due to... well you ain't supposed to do it is all! Nuff said!
Okay it is all clean and ready. I do put a small drop onto the case (that black thingy) in the center when I clean it out, just to help the movement.
Now, put it all back together!
Really?
Okay - Here are the steps!
- If you took out the hook replace it, carefully!
- Now put the case back in (there is a little dot on the case, line it up with the other dot or triangle
on the assembly). You can see it just in this pic towards the front of the case to the right, near the thumb that white area very small. See it? Yes! GOOD! - Now with it all back in place, you can replace needle plate bed (THE METAL PLATE) you removed the two screws from. Ease it back into place and replace the screws NOT TOO TIGHT! Jeez! We do not want to strip those since; well they help to keep everything protected including you!
- Now Hand crank your wheel TOWARDS YOU, NEVER AWAY! Why timing (whole other topic). Just follow me, TOWARDS YOU SLOWLY! Do we have good movement, nothing making noise, hitting anything, or otherwise? No? Yes! YES!
- Okay you are good to go, load a bobbin and needle back into your machine (you removed the needle right)? If not well, you got poked and it hurt. Next time take it out!
- Machine threaded and bobbin in - foot back on - yes we took the foot off too. It makes it so much easier. You will know this next time! Okay, got all back on? Yes?
- AGAIN HAND CRANK the WHEEL TOWARDS YOU! Anything hitting, clanking or otherwise? NO! YOU DID IT!
Now, listen to your machine sounding like its a Cadillac! Yep quiet ain't it! Yep that's a clean mo' cheen! Yes, you have a happy little machine now, and it will do well if YOU keep up on every day maintenance and yearly take to the guy who charges you lots or not to give a good cleaning and reset. Yes, it is necessary unless you have unlimited funds, or access to machines of your choice. If you do. Well... call me we can be BFF's!
Okay your machine is clean: a basic course. Your users manual will tell you all the steps, and if you get lost. Google it or YOUTUBE it! Lots of vid's on it. It is really easy to do, and is a necessary evil. It can get messy too. AND IF YOU HAVE A HUGE FUZZ BALL post a pic on QPI PAGE!
Have a good one y'all.
Remember a quilt left unfinished (is what)? That's right: "a quilt waiting to love".
Happy creating!
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