Tips and Tricks
with Johnny Bentley
A 5 Part Series for Industrial Sewists
This video series covers helpful tips and best practices for industrial sewing machine users so they can maximize productivity across their machine’s lifetime. While demonstrations in the videos are on a JUKI LU-1508NH Extra Heavy Duty sewing machine, what is shown will translate to many other industrial sewing machines, including longarms, Consews, Janomes, Pfaffs, Yamatas, Brothers, and more. These videos can also help users of most quilting machines, embroidery machines, lockstitch sewing machines, and sergers/overlock machines.
Before we get started, let's go over a few basic tips:
1.
2.
3.
Make sure you're familiar with your machine manual.
Always use thread of a good quality and make sure it's the right type for your project.
Know what type of needle you need, as well as what needle size is correct for your project.
Terminology, Lubrication, & Fundamentals
This video reviews the most common parts of an industrial sewing machine, including the needle thread adjustment, torsion spring, thread guide, needle bar, thread guide, presser foot, stitch length indicator, reverse lever, feed belt, and hand wheel.
Safety Clutch
& Hook Timing
In this video, learn basic troubleshooting and how to re-engage the clutch on an industrial sewing machine. Your machine clutch releases to prevent damage to the machine parts when something malfunctions and you’ll need to re-engage it once the malfunction is resolved.
Troubleshooting tips include: checking to see if you have the correct needle type and size, if you have a misfed needle-threader, if there are tangles in the thread line, if the needle plate is placed correctly, if the throat plate or bobbin case has lint buildup, and if there is an abnormality in the bobbin or bobbin thread. There is plenty of DIY sewing machine troubleshooting you can do before calling a technician.
Needles,
Bobbins,
& Threading
This video covers what to do when your industrial sewing machine malfunctions. Before contacting a certified sewing machine technician, you can check the five key machine parts yourself. Additionally, this video reviews the anatomy of an industrial needle, how to insert an industrial needle, and proper thread placement to avoid problems like thread bunching and puckering.
Do You Have the
Right Machine for
Your Project?
It’s important to choose the correct sewing machine for the type of fabric you’re using. This video describes three basic types of industrial sewing machines: a drop-feed machine for lightweight sewing, a needle-feed machine for medium to heavyweight fabrics, including light upholstery, and a heavy-duty compound walking-foot machine for thick fabrics, heavy upholstery, and leather. Whether you need a single needle-feed machine or a heavy-duty sewing machine, this video will help you pick the right one for the job.
Basic Cleaning
& Machine
Maintenance
This video covers the basic cleaning and maintenance of industrial sewing machines, using a JUKI as an example. Keeping your machine parts clean and well-maintained will extend the machine’s lifespan and allow it to operate more efficiently. Some tips and tricks include how to clean the rotary hook area with canned or compressed air, check the oil pan area, keep the sewing machine lubricated and oiled with both yellow and clear oil, monitor oil reserves, and apply type A sewing machine grease to the rock frame area.