The Upholstery Forum

Hi guys, Do you all have a favorite oiler/oil bottle that you find works best for oiling your machines? And do you have a favorite oil that you use?
thanks

@Michelle_Trillium , WD-40 is what I use.

My machine has a central wicking system and a bath for the bottom end but, for adding a drop here and there, I really like this 50 or 60-year-old PFAFF bottle.


There is nothing special about the bottle itself, but at the base of the spout is a wee bit of open-cell foam. This allows you to squeeze out one drop at a time. I have also used needle oilers and they are pretty good, but I like this one better. Maybe just because it is old.


As for oil I just use a good, basic sewing machine oil. Juki says I should be using their Defrix oil, but what I have is regular SM oil and comes in a quart bottle labelled "Sewing Machine Oil". Honestly, I think this stuff is just ordinary mineral oil, paraffin oil, baby oil with no smell. Even though I have a whole shelf full of lotions and potions, I don't get too spun up on the machine's oil beyon that it be decent quality, clean, and appropriately applied.

My Juki came with a oil bottle with a long nose that you could probably buy at any dollar store, it also came with a couple quarts of mineral oil (for the pump) so I just use that.

I use something called a "precision oiler":



You press the top like a ball point pen and it extends the tip, which forms a drop of oil on it. Then you touch it to whatever you want to oil and the droplet transfers from the tip to whatever you touch.

Available at most autoparts stores....

I use the small squeeze bottles also. You want to use either oil from the manufacture or mineral oil sold at most upholstery supply stores.

@Tourmax Thats awesome! I have never seen those before. Thanks for sharing.

I use an Eagle pump oiler like this:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/awkAAOSw ... s-l500.jpg

I like to keep my machines well-oiled.

As for oil, I use a mixture of 1 part USP mineral oil, 1 part 20W non-detergent oil, and 1 part kerosene. It's cheaper than "sewing machine oil," and I suspect it works as well if not better.