09/23/2026
All About Oiling Your Machine
When sewing machines were first sold, there was an expectation that home users would maintain their own machines. A Singer featherweight (pictured), produced through from 1933 to 1968, has 32 distinct oiling spots! Old machines are entirely gear and belt driven, with many spots needing regular lubrication either with oil or with grease.
Several mid century technological advances and cultural shifts led to newer machines being designed to need less oiling, and to be marketed as not needing oiling at all.
➡ Manufacturers started using sintered metal, which is impregnated with oil, and as the machine heats up, the oil releases into the friction area, and then is reabsorbed into the metal as it cools.
➡ Plastic and nylon became widely available and cheap. Plastic washers were used to prevent needing to oil some joints, and plastic gears were designed to be grease-free and to fail- ostensibly so you won't damage the rest of the machine, but also for planned obsolescence.
➡ People started to become accustomed to paying for service that historically folks had done at home. Women started working outside the home, globally produced clothes were cheap, and sewing became a hobby rather than a necessity.
The big question I hear a lot is- does my machine really need to be oiled? The answer is almost universally YES, in one way or another, all vintage to modern machines need to be oiled. This is a big part of what happens at your regular service (I won't say annual, because who really does that?).
➡ "But it says no oiling required!" That means it was not designed for the home user to need to oil it. The featherweight has one oiling point they recommend you oil *every time you sew*. Your machine is not like that. But all the machines, even the "oilless" ones, were designed to have the service technician lubricate it at a regular service. Viking/Husqvarna ran a test on their sintered metal and confirmed it didn't need oiling for at least 12 years. The youngest Viking machine I've seen was 22 years old. It needed oil!
➡ "My grandma oiled it just before she passed 8 years ago but it hasn't been used since, it's probably fine!" Oil also needs to be cleaned out once in awhile, especially if the machine has not been used for a long time. It hardens over time, which then causes undue wear on the motor if it moves at all. The best thing you can do for your sewing machine of any age is use it- but oil it first if it has been sitting!
You absolutely can oil your own machine. There's tons of YouTube videos out there, or book a service with me and I'll show you how to do it for an extra $20.
