Kitebuilder.com

EBGB · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:02 am Post subject: Simple Little Thread Oiler

Was shopping around the local commercial sewing machine repair store, and ran across a couple of pretty fancy thread oilers. One was magnetic, fairly large, and $38.00. The other was plastic, but had a reservoir on it the size of a whole bottle of Sewer's Aid, and $60.00

Neither of these would fit on my machine in the normal thread path, and if they would, there was not metal up there to stick it to.

So I made a little oiler out of a couple of 1" pieces of Velcro - 1 side sticky-back hook, and 1 piece sew-on loop.
I punched a 3/8" hole in the hoop side, then sewed 1/2" pads of folded flannel to the center of both sides (think Band-aid).

You stick the sticky-back to your machine in the thread path, lay your thread on it, then stick the loop side on. Pull the thread so it runs straight through the oiler, then add a couple of drops of Sewer's Aid through the hole in the top.

The hook side of the Velcro keeps the thread tracking true through the oiler. It applies just the lightest of coats of oil to the thread - seems like just enough to keep the eye of the needle from gumming up when sewing through tape.

Oh. If my wife asks, you don't know where the holes int he flannel sheets came from. Embarassed

_________________
Take care,
Take flight!

Don Ostey

knotronda · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:00 am Post subject:

I have the tendency to avoid sewing through sticky parts. But, this sounds really inventive. hmmmm

Someday when I make a sewn kite, I will have to consider this idea.

kr

KiteSquid · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 8:07 am Post subject:

This is not just for stickey parts...

If you have trouble sewing FAST due to heating of the needle and it either detempers and becomes dull fast or you are using fuzzy thread and are tired of pulling all that fuzz out of your machine...

it is like bonding but done at the machine.

Btw, Thread oilers are originaly ment to go onto industrial machines.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

wdrwilson · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 10:40 am Post subject:

This is excellent...

I use Guterman (sp?) polyester thread and the only down side is the lint. So if I can use a simple home made oiler to reduce that as well as reduce needle gumming I am all for it Smile

THANKS FOR SHARING!

Cheers,
Bill

KiteSquid · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 11:19 am Post subject:

Sure... We are glad to share.

BTW I beleive that "Sewers Aid" is just Silicone oil.

You should be able to pick it up at a lower cost in a larger bottle.

You want to oil your thread only as much as is nessesary to stop the heat/lint problem but not so much that it throws off your tension too much (lubricated thread will requier a little more tension so adjust after sewing some test stitches) and so it does not discolor or leave big spots of oil on your kites........

I am saying TEST on some scraps and use only a little oil/lube

BTW you can also just get a can of Silcone Spray from the autoparts store and spray the thread on the cone/spool. A litttle oil goes a long way!!!!

Spray it and leave it in a plastic bag for a few days before use.....

I would spray it before winding bobbins.... so top and bottom thread gets the same treatment.

If you are alergic to Silicone DONT do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also if you paint or use epoxy or other adyesives you want to wash your hands really good after using the silicone. Also watch the overspray.... Silicone is a GREAT repelant of adhesives and paints!!!!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

KiteSquid · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 11:23 am Post subject:

EBGB,

Can you post a photo of your home made thread oiler?????

It sounds like a GREAT idea!!!!!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

EBGB · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:31 am Post subject:

I'd second what the Squid said about using oil very sparringly. If you're seeing any kind of residue anywhere on your machine or fabric, you're using too much! Silicon is very slippery stuff. You don't need much.

"Sewer's Aid" is just a silicon oil with a fairly light solvent - other brands will likely work just as well.

There's lots of reasons to oil your thread. Keeping glue out of the eye of the needle is only one.
On my first machine (an old Singer) I had to take apart the tension disks to remove a piece of thread that was wrapped around the shaft. I was surprised to see some substantial grooves worn by the thread - the previous owner must have been sewing with manja!

A few pics are Here

For scale, that's 1" wide Velcro

Pardon the floral print flannel and the poor workmanship. Embarassed

_________________
Take care,
Take flight!

Don Ostey

wdrwilson · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 10:29 am Post subject:

Thanks for the pictures...

Very nice. when I am sewing through glue sometimes I will use sewers aid directly on the the top thread spool. This will be much better.

--Bill

Dorsal · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:07 pm Post subject:

Y'know, I didn't get from the description, but after seeing the photos, that seems like a GREAT idea! Thanks Exclamation

Stan · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 762 Location: San Diego

That's a clever gadget and avoids saturating a entire spool when you only need oil for a few seams. This might work especially well for sewing through taped Mylar.