Sewing machine oil discussion

If you decide to keep it, you might try using kerosene on all the moving parts and oiling points to break up any gunk that has formed over the years. I've used this on all five of my antique machines and it works great. This was even in an original owners manual I have on one of them. Great offer you have though. Good luck

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Originally Posted by jmaddog151

If you decide to keep it, you might try using kerosene on all the moving parts and oiling points to break up any gunk that has formed over the years. I've used this on all five of my antique machines and it works great. This was even in an original owners manual I have on one of them. Great offer you have though. Good luck

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Great tip on the Kerosene :) If I run across a tension assembly, I may just clean it up and keep/sell it. They have great reviews. Just not a lot of info on the old Morse.

Be careful of kerosene on machinery. It can dry out the works and leave a residue that will attract lint and gunk. If you use kerosene for cleaning purposes make sure you clean that residue carefully and follow with an appropriate oiling. WD-40 (aka kerosene in a spray can) is one of the WORST things you can use on a sewing machine. Second only to 3 in 1 oil.

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Kerosene is a wonderful penetrant and will eventually work it's way into almost anything and free it up. More than one collector has simply put a whole machine head into a pail of kerosene and left it for awhile, with good, if messy, results. http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...gmachines.html

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Please note... kerosene is described as a penetrant, not a lubricant. If you want to clean gunk.. fine.... if you want to make the machine run smoothly once it is clean.... aviod it in favor of light weight machine oil. Never use Kerosene on motors unless you are willing to have an arc start a fire.

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Originally Posted by Ramblinrev

Be careful of kerosene on machinery. It can dry out the works and leave a residue that will attract lint and gunk. If you use kerosene for cleaning purposes make sure you clean that residue carefully and follow with an appropriate oiling. WD-40 (aka kerosene in a spray can) is one of the WORST things you can use on a sewing machine. Second only to 3 in 1 oil.

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Why is 3 in 1 oil bad? That's what my Grandmother always used on her machine. :confused: I don't want to hurt her machine now that I have it.

3 in 1 has a series of additives to the lubricating oil. It is extremely harsh and leaves a residue. _They_ say it can be used on sewing machines and maybe it was the best around decades ago. But lightweight sewing machine oil is specifically designed for fine machinery. It is easy to get now where ever sewing machines are sold. Even Wally World carries Singer sewing machine oil.