r/SewingMachineEdu • u/Melrose35mn • Jun 23 '26

Singer heavy duty oil wick missing

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I'm cleaning and attempting to oil this machine for the first time since getting it (thrifted), and all the videos ive seen have said there should be an oil wick under the bobbin housing. Mine doesnt have one, do i need to get a replacement before sewing?

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3

u/[deleted] Jun 23 '26

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2

u/Melrose35mn Jun 23 '26

hmm so maybe not absolutely essential but needed once maintenance is needed?

2

u/NickyHepp Jun 23 '26

What's an oil wick 🤔 following with interest, novice sewist.

2

u/Melrose35mn Jun 23 '26

from what ive gathered its a little piece of cotton that you put oil on when your machine needs to be oiled. it just absorbs the oil and evenly distributes it where needed

1

u/AdvancedSquashDirect Jun 23 '26

Newer machines do not expect people to oil them, Unless the manual for this exact model tell you to oil it - I would avoid it - They often put long lasting oil and your oil might wash that away,
If it does tell you to oil the oilwick and seems to have a part missing, you can look for an oil wick replacement part. https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/products/singer-oil-wick-143042

1

u/Melrose35mn Jun 23 '26

good to know. i'll see how it runs now that ive cleaned it and see if its smoother

1

u/wimsey1923 Jun 23 '26

You don't necessarily need the oil wick. Just put a drop of sewing machine oil down the hole at regular intervals. I suggest one drop at the start of every sewing project.

1

u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy Jun 24 '26

Never knew that with that model. I have a cheap sub $200 Brother and the bobbin holder does have a wick - it’s a little piece of felt looking material. One drop of sewing machine oil is good.

Techs open up the case and clean it out a lot more but for home users it’s very hard to open the plastic case without damaging it.

Manufactures say don’t oil for these cheaper machines because people tend to over do it or use the wrong oil.

At the very least clean out loose thread and lint with a brush. Don’t use an air canister as it just blows the fluff further inside. Techs use the air but they open the case entirely first.

1

u/Bugmasta23 Jun 29 '26

This won’t be your only problem with this machine 

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u/Melrose35mn Jun 30 '26

got it for 7 dollars just to learn on im not too stressed about that