A free sewing machine repair course is available at my sewing machine repair website. The course is entitled "7 Steps To Peak Performance For Your Sewing Machine". This sewing machine repair course is actually designed for the sewing machine user. It reveals essential step by step proceedures for adjusting and maintaining good tensions. Go there now to download your free sewing machine repair course.
In my last post, I introduced tensions. I discussed the frustrations and problems that many sewing machine users endure over tensions. The basic technique for adjusting tensions on the bobbin and upper tensions were explored.
Education is the solution to tension problems. Understanding how tensions work, why they work, and how to manage them is vital.
First let us define sewing machine tension. It has nothing to do with headaches, neckaches, or backaches, although faulty sewing machine tension may well cause all three. Tension simply means resistance, drag, or pull.
On a sewing machine there is thread drawn from a thread spool on top of the machine. It flows through thread guides, over and around tension discs, through a tension spring and a take up lever. It finally flows through the eye of the needle. At each point where the thread touches a guide, disc, spring, lever, or even the needle, the thread rubs against the surface creating drag or resistance. This drag is tension.
When most users think of sewing machine tensions, however, they think only of a dial they may turn to adjust tensions. The dial or knob turns a shaft increasing or decreasing the pressure on the thread as it passes through the tension discs.
The same is true with the bobbin tension. The thread from the bobbin draws under a tension spring that may be adjusted by slightly turning its tension screw. The only time this is usually needed, however, is when the user changes the size of thread being used. The tension may be increased of decreased as needed.
In our next post on tensions, we will discuss how to identify and solve problems with sewing machine tensions.
When you fully understand sewing machine tensions, you will save much frustration, professional sewing machine repair, money, and time.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
How To Adjust Tensions Part 1
Tensions are a common source of frustrations for sewing machine users. To hear some talk about this issue, you might get the idea that you need a complete sewing machine repair course just properly adjust sewing machine tensions.
This may be why years ago, users were instructed never to touch their tension adjustments. Just let the professional sewing machine repair technician set the tensions, and leave them alone. If they get out of skew, take the machine back to the sewing machine repair guy.
You might be surprised how many thousands of new sewing machine owners were told precisely the above sentiments.
Personally, I believe the sewing machine user needs to understand tensions and tension adjustments on their sewing machine. If you change the size of thread, your tensions will change too. Unfortunately, the tensions on most sewing machines are not automatically going to measure the size of your thread and loosed or tighted for perfect tension.
Instead, it is up to the user to adjust the tensions. This should not require dozens of sewing machine repair courses, although there is a great deal to learn about your sewing machine.
What you need to understand, is that your sewing machine tensions are designed for you to easily adjust them.
There is a small screw on you bobbin carrier that adjusts the bobbin tension spring. A slight turn to the right will tighten or increase tension. A slight turn to the left will loosen or decrease tension. In the next post, I will explain the basics of bobbin tension.
The upper tension is also easily adjusted and even more convenient. On the front or top of your machine close to the needle take up lever, is a dial. It usually has numbers on it. Increase the number to increase tensions. Decrease the number to decrease the tension.
Faulty tension adjustment makes a great excuse for professional sewing machine repair, but it can also be expensive to get a tune up everytime your tensions mess up.
This may be why years ago, users were instructed never to touch their tension adjustments. Just let the professional sewing machine repair technician set the tensions, and leave them alone. If they get out of skew, take the machine back to the sewing machine repair guy.
You might be surprised how many thousands of new sewing machine owners were told precisely the above sentiments.
Personally, I believe the sewing machine user needs to understand tensions and tension adjustments on their sewing machine. If you change the size of thread, your tensions will change too. Unfortunately, the tensions on most sewing machines are not automatically going to measure the size of your thread and loosed or tighted for perfect tension.
Instead, it is up to the user to adjust the tensions. This should not require dozens of sewing machine repair courses, although there is a great deal to learn about your sewing machine.
What you need to understand, is that your sewing machine tensions are designed for you to easily adjust them.
There is a small screw on you bobbin carrier that adjusts the bobbin tension spring. A slight turn to the right will tighten or increase tension. A slight turn to the left will loosen or decrease tension. In the next post, I will explain the basics of bobbin tension.
The upper tension is also easily adjusted and even more convenient. On the front or top of your machine close to the needle take up lever, is a dial. It usually has numbers on it. Increase the number to increase tensions. Decrease the number to decrease the tension.
Faulty tension adjustment makes a great excuse for professional sewing machine repair, but it can also be expensive to get a tune up everytime your tensions mess up.
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