The most important part of maintaining your sewing
machines is to keep them clean and lubricated. Each
machine should be wiped down daily with a clean rag to
remove oil and dirt. The amount of use each machine gets
will dictate the cleaning required. However, on at least a
weekly schedule the moving parts should be cleaned with
a small brush to remove dust, lint, dirt, and threads. An air
hose or bottle is useful in blowing dirt out of places the
brush cannot reach. Be careful when doing this as small
particles can be propelled through the air and can strike
the eyes. At the very least, the dirt can be blown onto other
machines and work.
After cleaning, each machine should be lubricated to
ensure smooth operation. For those machines which are
self-lubricating, check the level and condition of the oil in
the reservoir. For these machines, a #1 white oil, with a
higher viscosity should be used. Depending on the
amount of use, the oil should be changed every 6 months
to a year. In no case should the oil be changed less than
once a year. For machines that require manual lubrication,
a #2 white oil should be used as it has a lower
viscosity to better adhere to the moving parts. This
should be done daily at the end of the workday. Oiling
the machine at this time allows the oil to seep downward
through the mechanisms and collect on the bottom. In the
morning before use, take a clean rag and wipe off the
excess oil so it does not stain the parachute materials. Pay
particular attention to the shuttle race. Keeping this well
lubricated will ensure smooth operation and a quieter
machine. One item that tends to get overlooked is the bobbin
winder. The shaft of the winder has a small hole in the
top and a drop of oil should be added at least once a week
to keep it free.
SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENTS
The most common attachment that the rigger will use is a
tape folder or “binder.” This attachment folds tape, typically
3/4" Ty-3, used for binding the edges of container,
bags, or any material needing an edge binder. Used in
conjunction with a double needle machine, it folds the tape
in half for a professional appearance and greatly speeds up
the work.
[Figure 6-79] There are two types of folders. One
is a straight folder where the tape is fed straight into the
machine under the presser foot.
[Figure 6-80] This folder
is used for most straight binding, has minimal adjustments,
and is the least expensive usually costing around $35. The
second type of folder is a right angle folder.
[Figure 6-81
on page 6-22] The best models of these are custom built
by companies that specialize in attachments. They utilize
special feed dogs, throat plates, and presser feet in
addition to the folder. This type of folder is hinged to swing out of the way for changing bobbins. Most
machines have several adjustments that allow for fine tuning
the folder for optimum performance depending on the
tape used. Folders cost several hundred dollars.
Another type of attachment is used to feed reinforcing
tape such as 3/8" Ty-3 onto a canopy seam. This is a simple
guide, which is attached to the presser foot and feeds the tape evenly to the needles. Yet another attachment is a
seam folder used to make a French fell seam in canopy
construction.
Figure 6-82 on page 6-22 shows both of the
above attachments used in conjunction with each other.
Over the years, the sewing industry has developed literally
