I should have asked the forum's tribologists... A sewing machine thread.

[sarabande]

...
... before essaying a defluffing and lubing of my redoubtable Reads sewing machine.

When the Reads was built, PTFE spray did not exist, so the oil of choice was light, something like 3 in 1.

However after time the more volatile fractions go on holiday to the upper atmosphere, leaving blobs of hard/sticky stuff on the underside (gravity enabled) of bearings and joints. These lumps I have assiduously cleaned off, before carefully spraying each and every metallic interface with WD40 PTFE spray (which I have used successfully on padlocks and car doors).

After spraying, I ran the machine, and it sounded much freer and quieter. Two days later it is still running well, but the joints and bearings do not seem to have any residual PTFE on the visible adjacent surfaces. Obviously I cannot tell what is happening within the races and joints.

My concern is that the PTFE spray is evaporating, and I shall have to revert to another clean and re-oiling with a light oil.

Any small machine experts care to comment please ?

 

[DownWest]

Umm, WD is basicly fish oil. Best talk to Reads?

 

[superheat6k]

Tim

3 in 1 - time it has evaporated next time I expect you're be past caring !

I trust you are well BTW, and oh yes I bought myself another boat today !

 

[penberth3]

......When the Reads was built, PTFE spray did not exist, so the oil of choice was light, something like 3 in 1......

Any small machine experts care to comment please ?

RTFI, the can says "Dry PTFE Lubricant". The spray is supposed to evaporate leaving the PTFE, which might not be a good thing. It can build up too much thickness. Stick with mineral oil.

 

[Poignard]

I use Singer oil on my machine. I assume it's the proper thing to use otherwise they would have replaced it with something else.

 

[sarabande]

Umm, WD is basicly fish oil. Best talk to Reads?

Reads don't exist any more. Sadly.

 

[VicS]

Umm, WD is basicly fish oil. Best talk to Reads?

WD40 PTFE is surely a ptfe lubricant ......... although I would not consider it suitable for a sewing machine

Like Poignard I have Singer sewing machine oil for sewing machines.

 

[Daverw]

I use normal light sewing machine oil, WD 40 is not really a lubricating oil. If you cannot get machine oil I’ve also used bike chain oil.

 

[Rappey]

Last time I oiled my machine I think it got 10w 40 semi synthetic ?

 

[Blueboatman]

One can overthink these things
What was right when the machine was designed is probably still just fine
( I use sewing machine mineral oil on ours)

 

[wilkinsonsails]

...
... before essaying a defluffing and lubing of my redoubtable Reads sewing machine.

When the Reads was built, PTFE spray did not exist, so the oil of choice was light, something like 3 in 1.

However after time the more volatile fractions go on holiday to the upper atmosphere, leaving blobs of hard/sticky stuff on the underside (gravity enabled) of bearings and joints. These lumps I have assiduously cleaned off, before carefully spraying each and every metallic interface with WD40 PTFE spray (which I have used successfully on padlocks and car doors).

After spraying, I ran the machine, and it sounded much freer and quieter. Two days later it is still running well, but the joints and bearings do not seem to have any residual PTFE on the visible adjacent surfaces. Obviously I cannot tell what is happening within the races and joints.

My concern is that the PTFE spray is evaporating, and I shall have to revert to another clean and re-oiling with a light oil.

Any small machine experts care to comment please ?

Dry Teflon and PTFE leave a residue that turns into grinding paste . You are much better off with a light machine oil on moving parts. 3in 1 is fine . Eventually using double sided tape and firm fabrics you get another sticky goo on the works .it’s worth rinsing this off with white spirit or similar Solvent cleaner and then re oil again .My machine a walking foot Consew ,starts squeaking when it’s had enough crud around the bobbin case holder and pick up hook . That’s the point it needs the clean up .

 

[penfold]

Light oil is fine, I'd go with aerosol bike chain lube as it will allow you to blow it into nooks and crannies then follow up with one of the fancy dry(dry as in not cycling in the rain) bike chain oils but ordinary machine oil(hydraulic, engine, etc) is good too. All you're dealing with is sleeve bearings so it's difficult to go wrong as long as it isn't dripping off and making a mess of your sewing.

 

[fredrussell]

Use Singer oil and nothing else. Save the PTFE spray for your mast’s sail track.

 

[sarabande]

Ferreting around for info about PTFE residue and drying out, I have this info from from WD:-

WD-40 Specialist® Dry Lube with PTFE is a dry lubricant that keeps your equipment running smoothly with long-lasting corrosion protection that does not attract dirt, dust, or oil. It provides superior lubrication and long-lasting corrosion protection with no oily residue. Best used where cleanliness and maximum performance are required as it dries quick leaving behind a lubricating film that resists dirt, dust and oil buildups. Great for reducing friction and wear on blades and bits, door and window tracks, slides, conveyor belts, rollers, hinges, table saws, lathes, power tools and equipment. Effective in temperatures ranging from -50°F to 500°F

Unless I can find contrary info, or see/hear any adverse effects on the machine, I shall leave the machine as it is presently lubricated with PTFE. There's no doubt that oil (any oil) leaves a filmy residue, but the PTFE has dried out on the surfaces exposed to air and is still 'slidy' when touched.. I don't want to have to spray the machine in brake cleaner and start all over again . In addition to sleeve bearings, there are many cams with interior and exterior surfaces open to air.

And, yes, the most cleaning of sticky muck I had to do before spraying was around the foot and dogs, but that's >20 years intermittent use, not the professional daily work as WilkinsonSails noted about her machine.

 

[penberth3]

.......Unless I can find contrary info, or see/hear any adverse effects on the machine, I shall leave the machine as it is presently lubricated with PTFE. There's no doubt that oil (any oil) leaves a filmy residue, but the PTFE has dried out on the surfaces exposed to air and is still 'slidy' when touched.. I don't want to have to spray the machine in brake cleaner and start all over again ......

Not necessary, ordinary mineral oil will eventually flush out the PTFE, if you ever decide to follow the manufacturer's instructions

 

[sarabande]

Sorry, P3, "eventually" is not an option. If PTFE is a threat to the performance I want to remove it ASAP.

But I cannot find, and have not been given, any evidence that PTFE is bad for the machine and likely to damage it. There should be something in the body of machinist experience, but so far nothing has surfaced.

As for following the manufacturer's instructions : they were written probably around 1960, and before the arrival of PTFE spray as a lubricant. I could see that where the machine had been oiled, the oil had congealed and hardened. That is why I cleaned it off and sprayed with PTFE. Would a new Reads maker break with the automatic/traditional, simple, and cheap advice to use thin mineral oil, or choose to go down what seems to be a cleaner and improved lubrication route
of PTFE.

There may be better PTFE sprays than that made by WD, if so I would rush out and buy one,