There is this loving and sweet feeling you experience whenever you are designing a dress with your sewing machine. However, you might get angry and frustrated when your sewing machine starts shaking vigorously or making a piercing and disturbing noise.
A higher percentage of sewists including you get distracted and discouraged by the vibration of your sewing machine. Thankfully, the vibration and noise can be reduced drastically with the available solutions once you identify the cause. To reduce your sewing machine vibration, read along with rapt attention.
Why Does My Sewing Machine Vibrate?
A sewing machine cannot vibrate without making a noise and this noise and vibration can be attributed to a few things which need to be checked closely to proffer solutions “as a problem well stated is a problem half solved.”
To identify the problem, you need to check it at the following state;
- Check your machine for possible causes when it is off.
- Check it when working at a slow pace.
- Check when it’s working at a full pace.
- Lastly, check your sewing machine thoroughly when it stops working.
Once you check your sewing machine in the four different states, you should notice the following causes;
- Sewing Machine imbalance.
- The sewing machine platform
- Bad or wrong Needle.
- Bunched up threads in the bobbin section.
- An unlubricated sewing machine.
- The sewing machine is due for servicing.
- Too much pressure on the pedal.
- A dirty machine head.
- A wrongly threaded sewing machine.
- Full sewing speed.
- The thickness of the fabric.
- Excess lubrication.
- Your machine might be very old.
- Hard handwheel.
You can also notice other things as you check your sewing machine in the four states, although, the causes listed above are always the major causes of sewing machine vibration and noise.
How to Reduce Sewing Machine Vibration?
Reducing the vibration issue is now made easier once the causes have been recognized. To fix all the causes listed in this article, you will need to adopt the following ways to get your sewing machine functioning normally.
1. Replace The Needle
If you realize your machine is still vibrating and making noise when working at a slow and full pace, check the state of the needle and if it is the right one for the machine and the project.
Replace immediately if the needle is bent, blunt, or the wrong one for the machine and this requires you to be well-informed about different types of needles. With the replacement, the sewing machine vibration and noise should have reduced but if otherwise, move to the next solution.
2. Balance Your Sewing Machine
A poorly balanced machine will keep vibrating and make a hell of noise more than you can imagine. The balancing of your sewing machine has to do with how you place it, where you place it, and the material of the surface it is being placed on as some materials are soundproof and will not make any vibrating sound.
The first thing to do is to inspect the sewing machine table levelers for any faults and replace them if one or two levelers are bent or broken, as this will help your sewing machine to sit well and stop vibrating.
Change your sewing machine table to wood if you are making use of a plastic table as plastic tables trigger the vibration and noise of the sewing machine.
However, changing it to wood is not as perfect as changing it to a thick sewing machine table as it absorbs the vibration and noise and makes sewing faster and enjoyable. Therefore, if you are looking for a perfect surface to place your sewing machine on, check the following requirements before purchasing one or placing your sewing machine on it.
- A flat surface without any irregularities as a little form will cause the sewing machine to make a whole lot of noise.
- A table with a smooth surface.
- A table that can be restructured in the future.
3. Use Anti Vibration Materials
Place anti-vibration materials under your sewing machine as this will help absorb the noise and stabilize the machine.
You can either purchase a specially made anti-vibration pad or make use of a thick towel carefully folded and placed under the machine, as it has been proven that a thick towel absorbs up to 30% of the vibration and noise coming from the sewing machine.
An anti-vibration pad performs double work as it helps to reduce the sewing machine’s vibration and also helps in balancing it.
4. Use A Controlled Speed When Sewing
Control the pace at which your machine moves while sewing either with a speed slider or a foot pedal. Most old machines do not have a speed slider which will require you to focus on how you press a foot pedal if your machine is an old model.
Gently press your foot pedal as too much pressure on it will cause it to accelerate thereby producing an excess vibration and noise. Doing this should reduce the noise and vibration.
However, the noise might not be a result of the full speed alone as some foot pedals have a switch that makes noise when activated, so, the switch has to be deactivated for it to function properly. For the new machine model, just adjust the speed control slider.
5. Clean Your Machine Regularly
Regular cleaning of your sewing machine will prevent it from vibrating and making noise as the vibration could be a result of dirt in the inner part of your sewing machine. Besides, you tend to notice faults when performing your daily cleaning.
When cleaning, you need to disassemble the parts such as the bobbin from the bobbin case and the bobbin holder to clear the lint built up in the bobbin section.
Using a small brush or dry cloth, follow the owner’s guide to clean the sewing machine thoroughly, and if you cannot locate it, search online for your machine’s model owner’s guide.
6. Lubricate Your Sewing Machine
A machine that lacks well-lubricated parts will vibrate and make noise when being used as a result of friction. Therefore, lubricate all the moving parts thoroughly with a sewing machine oil to avoid noise and the wearing out of the parts.
Let your owner’s manual be a guide to how you lubricate your sewing machine parts and ensure you do not over-lubricate as the oil will ruin your project when sewing or cause some parts to make noise.
7. Service Your Sewing Machine
After you have tried all the ways above and your machine keeps making noise, take it to your sewing machine authorized service center for a thorough servicing as the parts might have worn out due to excessive use. This should help reduce the vibration and noise.
However, if your machine comes back from the service center and continues vibrating and making noise, get a newer model of the sewing machine as old models are known to make more noise than new models.
What Kind Of Oil Can I Use For A Sewing Machine?
Any lubricating oil apart from WD-40, motor oil, or cooking oil as they are not suitable for lubricating your sewing machine.
WD-40 Oil will damage the internal parts of your sewing machine, cooking oil will attract insects to your sewing machine while motor oil is not made for your sewing machine parts. Besides, it will ruin your blessed garment during sewing when used.
What Are The Rules To Follow When Lubricating My Sewing Machine?
The perfect precautions to follow are in your owner’s guide but if you cannot lay your hand on yours, kindly follow the precautions below.
- Unplug your sewing machine before oiling it.
- Clean the sewing machine before lubricating.
- Make use of a high-quality sewing machine lubricating oil.
- Do not use grease oil.
- Lubricate the metal moving parts of your sewing machine and not the plastic part.
- Wipe off excess oil after lubrication as it can ruin your fabric or attract dust to the sewing machine.
- Avoid eye or skin contact with the oil.
- Keep the oil away from children.
You also have to note that lubrication is not an everyday business but should be oiled every 3 months or if the following things are being noted.
- If the machine is dry.
- Noise or vibration from the sewing machine.
- If the machine has not been in use for a long period.
- Before placing it in the store.
Conclusion
Excess Vibration and noise are a normal occurrence for a poorly maintained sewing machine. The sewing machine is a delicate piece of equipment that needs to be cared for and attended to the way you will care for your baby.
If you can see and handle your sewing machine as your baby, then you will not have issues with the reduction of vibration and noise produced by it.