| Kent's Hints Allow me to share some things about sewing machines that might help you. Surge Protectors I recommend a good quality surge protector for your sewing machine. But that's not all, even better is a line conditioner. A line conditioner will bring a low voltage system up to 110 volts and clamp a surge. A low volt condition is called brown. Brown outs can be just as harmful to electronics as power spikes. Surge protectors clamp voltage spikes and are rated by joules, the more joules the better, the closer the lightening is to your electronics, the more joules you need to suppress the spike. If it gets hit directly, there's nothing that can clamp it, so you really can't overbuy when it comes to protection. Although I've never needed it, all my surge protectors/line conditioners I've bought came with an insurance policy that if anything ever was damaged by lightening that was plugged into them. I've seen policies range anywhere from $5000-$50,000. Additionally, many electric companies offer whole house surge protection for a small monthly fee added to your electric bill, which might be worth checking into it. How Often should I service my sewing machine? I get that question a lot. The answer lies in 2 factors, time and usage. You have to be the judge of whether or not your machines need to be serviced. I'll try to give you some ideas to help you keep your beloved equipment in top running condition. Heavy user? If you use your machine every day, you are a heavy user. You should be able to perform basic lint removal, feed dog, bobbin case, hook area and needle bar area cleanings daily. If you have a more complex machine like most newer top quality brands, they aren't made to be disassembled and oiled by the user, they need someone experienced to take the machine apart. Now, just because the owners manual doesn't show you where to oil the machine doesn't mean the machine does not use oil. All sewing machines use oil. However the newer machines of today use special bearings, called sintered bushings that hold oil and don't need daily oiling, however, with time and use that oil dissipates and needs to be replenished. Heavy users need to have their machine serviced at least every six months. If you are that person , You really don't need me to tell you that because you already are in more often because issues are arising more frequently due to heavy use. What's a closet machine? It's a machine that spends all it's time in the closet. Is that your machine? If so, the oil in the machine still needs to be replenished even though the machine is not being used. At the very bare minimum every three years, Machines that aren't frequently used and are not kept serviced, can seize up and cease working. Many times the damage is irreversible, or very time consuming (read expensive) to reverse. Most sewers fall somewhere between a heavy user and a closet machine owner. The average sewer should probably have their machine serviced annually to keep their machine in top working order. A dirty machine can experience excessive wear. A machine with too little lubrication also will begin to stitch poorly and wear out prematurely. How about my embroidery unit, should it be serviced too? Actually, embroidery units are said by manufacturers to not need regular servicing. Now if your embroidery unit has a specific problem, we need to address it. But after you have 250 hours of embroidery on an embroidery unit, I recommend having it serviced. I do readjust the belt tensions that loosen with use and the gears get dry and need lubrication as well as clean out lint, thread and other foreign material that does work it's way into the embroidery unit.. Please feel free to email me if you have a question about your machine's needs. (more hints to be added) |
| Quilting by Vonnie 122 East Choctaw Ave. McAlester, OK 74501 918-420-5041 e-mail Shop |

