Why, When, Where, and How to Oil a Bernina Sewing Machine
It may be a greasy, messy job, but it has to be done. That is if you want your Bernina sewing machine to operate like a ‘well-oiled machine’. A lack of oiling is not good for the machine and may end up costing you thousands of dollars in repairs or replacement costs.
When to oil your Bernina sewing machine is not really gauged by the amount of passing time. It is measured by the number of bobbins you use. Depending on your machine that could be about every 2 to 5 bobbins.
To get all the facts about oiling your Bernina sewing machine, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to take care of your expensive sewing machine properly.
Some Oiling Tips to Follow
Before we get to all the steps in coiling a Bernina sewing machine we need to pass on some important tips:
- Always oil before you start sewing. Never do it after. The oil spreads throughout the machine more thoroughly.
- Only use high-quality oil. Keep away from those oils that have resin or acid in them.
- Follow the manual. If you do not have one visit the Bernina website to get a download for your particular model.
- Do regular maintenance checks when you oil your sewing machine.
- Remove all needles when doing your oiling. Safety first.
How to Oil Your Bernina Sewing Machine
There may be slight differences between the different sewing machine series so oiling your machine may not be exactly like the process that will be described below. The key thing to remember is that regular and proper oiling needs to take place if you do not want to waste your investment.
Items you will need:
- owner’s manual.
- sewing machine oil.
- medium bristle brush.
- can of compressed air.
The oiling process:
- Step #1 - Warm-up time - The Bernina sewing machines need to be at room temperature. If they are cold they may need about an hour to warm up.
- Step #2 - Open the top cover - inside the cover you will find little red dots. These tell you where you need to put the oil. Use the owner’s manual to help you.
- Step #3 - Open the side cover - again you will need to use your owner’s manual to help you find the right spots to oil. The red dots are there as well helping you out.
- Step #4 - Remove the Stitch plate - brush and/or blow out the accumulated fluff. Do this around the shuttle and the feed dog as well. This should be done at every oiling time.
Where to Oil a Bernina Sewing Machine
The owner’s manual will have the exact location for each model in a Bernina series. You need to consult that book to make sure you get the right spots when oiling. The 7 and 5 series may have included its special oil to use.
Don’t try to find an alternative as that option may not work as well as the oil that came with the Bernina sewing machine. One spot that needs to be oiled is the hook area. First, wipe it down and then remove the hook.
Inside the hook are 2 felt pads. Place 1 drop of oil on each pad. After that, you should place 1 drop of oil on the hook race. When you do this, you should not add oil to the reservoir under the stitch plate.
You might want to sew a few stitches on a piece of useless fabric to soak up excess oil. As for other machines, there are red dots in the top cover section and the side cover section that indicates where you need to oil.
Check your owner’s manual for your specific machine to make sure you get the right spots. The key here is not to over oil your Bernina sewing machine. Over oiling is almost as bad as never oiling or under oiling the machine.
What Oil Can I Use for Sewing Machine
A check on the Bernina Website does not provide a specific brand of oil. Some of their machines will come with their own oil to make sure you are using the right one. If you are in doubt you can check with the owner’s manual or talk to a Bernina dealer to get the name and or the oil.
Generally, though, sewing machine oil is white mineral oil. Its light viscosity means that it should not stay on the gears and not clog your machine. This oil is clear and has no odor either.
If you are trying to locate this oil in the store, it may be sold as sewing machine oil or just plain machine oil. If you are not sure, ask the clerk or go to a sewing machine sales or repair shop to get the right kind.
One little warning, you should not substitute oils. Cooking oil and automotive oils are not made for sewing machines and their viscosity will be too high letting the oil clog your gears.
Those oils may also ruing any fabric you run through your sewing machine. Also, 3 in 1 oil is another version you should not use. The same reasons that were given above apply.
Why Oil a Sewing Machine
The Bernina sewing machines, all models, are precision machines. They are designed to work creating intricate designs,m stitches, etc., and in doing so they have a lot of internal parts that may seize, get clogged or just wear out if they are not oiled properly.
Or if you do not oil regularly, the performance of your sewing machine will decrease leaving you with some very unsatisfactory results. When those events take place, you are looking at some costly repair bills, lost sewing time and ruined fabric.
To put it another way, sewing machines are like cars. They are filled with metal parts that can get hot if they rub together without lubrication. When that happens the metal expands and stops working.
The metal parts may get bent out of shape, lose their precision craftsmanship or just break. What oil does is prevent those things and other ones from taking place. With oil, the metal parts slide by each other without causing any problems, heat build-up and so on.
Regular oiling is in your best interests as well as in the best interests of your pocketbook. No one wants to pay Bernina prices repeatedly when those expenses could have been avoided with a little drop of oil.
When to Oil Your Sewing Machine
For some Bernina sewing machines, you can wait till you have filled 2 to 5 bobbins before taking the time to oil your sewing machine. Other machines, like the Bernina 830, it is wise if you place a drop of oil to the hook system every day BEFORE you start to sew.
When you need to oil the machine in the bobbin area, you need to open the bobbin case door and hold the bobbin assembly still. Then turn the handwheel towards you till you see the copper wire underneath.
When you see the wire, add one drop of oil to it and replace the bobbin and close the bobbin case door. If you do not have the Bernina 830 series sewing machine then you should consult your owner’s manual for the correct time to do the oiling.
For other models of sewing machines, there is a word that for every 10 to 20 hours you sew, you should stop and oil your machine. This will keep your sewing machine in top shape and performing as you expect it to.
It can be a tedious chore and one that is not as much fun as sewing but it needs to be done if you want to continue getting joy out of your sewing time.
How Often Oil a Sewing Machine
One rule of thumb, and this is just one possibility, states that you should oil your sewing machine after you completed your sewing project. You do this after every sewing project is completed.
Of course, there is some flexibility here as your machine may not need oiling if your project is small and does not take a lot of time to complete. You would have to be the judge of that. But you should not let a lot of time or a lot of small projects delay your oiling time.
The other item to consider is over-oiling. You do not want to put a lot of oil on your sewing machine. While your machine has lots of metal parts that tend to rub against each other, your sewing machine is not a car.
It does not take a lot of oil to get the job done. Some machines usually call for 1 to 2 drops of oil and no more than 3. As you can see from the information above, some Bernina’s need only 1 drop of sewing machine oil.
What that tells you is that your bottle of sewing machine oil should last you a long time. Make sure to check with your owner’s manual to see how much the manufacturer of your sewing machine recommends.
It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when you are paying a lot of money for a Bernina sewing machine.
Cleaning and Oiling a Bernina With a CB Hook
One of the first pieces of advice that you need and it applies to any brand of sewing machine you use, you should take your machine in once a year to a qualified repairman for cleaning and oiling.
In between those visits you should do regular oiling and maintenance to make sure your Bernina stays at peak performance levels. These maintenance times should be done after you have used up a bobbin.
- Step #1 - unplug your sewing machine.
- Step #2 - remove the presser foot, stitch plate and needle.
- Step #3 - Open the bobbin door, pull the levers to release the bobbin, race cover, and hook very gently. When that is done remove the bobbin and hook.
- Step #4 - using a soft bristle nylon brush dust your machine. Start at the top and go down, making sure to brush thoroughly around the feed dog and hook race. *some people do not recommend using compressed air as that tends to push the lint and dust further into the machine. When that happens you may have more issues to deal with.
- Step #5 - now use a soft cloth to wipe the hook and hook race area. Add 1 or 2 drops of oil onto the hook race and replace the hook and hook race cover. Use the handwheel to help you get the hook back into the right position.
- Step #6 - Put a new bobbin in the bobbin case, put the case back in the machine and use a soft cloth to wipe the stitch plate off and then put the stitch plate back on.
- Step #7 - wipe down your machine and you are done.
Some Final Words
Giving a sewing machine some oil is not as messy as doing an oil change on a car. You should not get too greasy or dirty getting the task done right. The key is to take your time, go slowly and do not over oil.
Oiling your Bernina is also not that hard. After one time you should be an expert. Just remember to do your oiling before you start sewing and to use the right sewing oil.
These machines do not take just any oil, you need the kind that is specifically made for your machine. If you need help always consult your owner’s manual. Those books should have all the information you need to do the job right.
