picked up a green bottle oiler today at a garage sale, it was in a sewing box that had all sorts of sewing supplies. The bottle is made of plastic and the base is metal, pretty neat. since its plastic, the color will always be there and it won't ding or dent. I will keep an eye out for the kerosene marked one! lovely thing that I will keep it! such accessories just add flare and flavor to anyones collection. Wonder in place kerosene, one can use mineral oil that is pretty runny! you get away from the smell at least.
I use a 3 ml syringe with a 16 gauge needle for adding oil. It's precise and tidy and they are easily acquired from your local pharmacy (Superstore in my case) if you don't look like a heroin addict. They sell them for about $0.40 or less. I keep one in my tool box for oil, one for kerosene, one for vaseline or other grease (no needle) one for carpenter's glue and one for ethanol for cleaning little spots. I also have two little black elna bottles but one of them leaks like the dickens from the bottom so it's been fired from the job. Syringes are the way to go.
I just unpacked my mother's Elna and found two bottles, one olive green and one a dark red (maroon). The green is clearly marked "Huile/Oil" and the other "Petrole/Kerosene". The manual appears to be the one you show with the instruction to use oil on 17 points and kerosene in the shuttle slots. Have a photo, but don't see any way to attach to the comment.
Hello I have an Elna Supermatic, and I have all the included accessories including the instruction manual. My bottles are black and olive green, the black one is marked Kerosene while the olive green one is marked oil. In my instruction manual, it very specifically states that kerosene must be used in the same spot you indicated in your video. I wonder if my Elna Supermatic is a very very very early model? It's solid green, not two tone green.
I think you'll find that most of the discussions on various forums on this issue end by noting that kerosene and mineral spirits, in this context, are functionally equivalent. I don't put mineral spirits in my little Elna bottle because the rubber stopperat the base if the spout, inside the bottle, tends to leak. Not lots, but enough that you know it leaks. I don't need or want mineral spirits on my fingers. And, I do not more rags or towels with mineral spirits than is necessary. Whether kerosene or mineral spirits, you must be vigilant about neutralizing used rags and towels. They can be a fire hazard. Not hype. Read about it and be careful. Happy sewing!
I might recommend mineral spirits as a substitute for kerosene. Depending on where you live kerosene may only be available in lage quantities - 1/2 gallon bottles or metal cans. It is sometimes much easier to find mineral spirits in 1-quart sizes. Low voc mineral spirits are preferable. Always use eye protection when using mineral spirits or kerosene - always - you must protect your eyes, no one's going to do that for you.
You want to use a modern, fully synthetic lubricant, specifically Valvoline ATF+4, instead of crummy sewing machine oil. The modern synthetic lubricants will not leave gummy deposits over time, and do not contain any of the sulfur contaminants found in cheap sewing machine oil. They also have controlled, consistent molecular chain lengths and superior thin-film shear strength. Automatic transmission fluid has the necessary low viscosity needed for a general purpose sewing machine lubricant.
Thanks. I use fully synthetic sewing machine oil and I agree, it would not be good using any old crummy oils. Most modern high quality sewing machine oils are fine for general lubrication but not quite fine enough to lubricate the hook on this model.
I have always wondered and wanted an oil bottle like this. So logic to be in control of the oil. Not like the oil bottles you use these days. I think machines are over oiled most of the time. Where could I find a logic oil bottle like this? I used to get a very "fine" oil in South Africa. What oil could you suggest. It was said that 3 in one oil was too thick and sticky. Thank
Hi Anita, the traditional sewing machine oil is the same or similar to hydraulic oil and should be readily available. Singer sells it in 100ml bottles so maybe take a look online. I also use a flux bottle for dispensing oil. Seems to work well. It has a very fine nozzle. Something like this - uk.rs-online.com/web/p/esd-safe-clean-room-treatments-lotions-dispensers/1367193/ but that is probably overkill.
Hello, I was told some 30 yrs ago never to use oil for lubricating guns. It should bring the machine into a halt. Update the next day: My warning is aimed at those moments, when sewing machine oil is not found at home but gun oil is. Don't try it.
It's not uncommon for it to have been lost or broken over the years, and it definitely isn't necessary for most sewing. The speed reducer is only used when you need a "low gear" to provide more power.
Kerosene has an amazing history. Just ask John D. Rockefeller. Anyway, we have to remember that kerosene was, and in some places is, still used widely inside the home for illumination and heating. Therefore some distributors add a color and/or a smell, "aromatic" to help warn the user exactly what liquid is at hand. If you cannot find clear and neutral smelling kerosene, I'd suggest you try mineral oil. Make sure you protect your eyes and follow safety precautions. Good luck.
picked up a green bottle oiler today at a garage sale, it was in a sewing box that had all sorts of sewing supplies. The bottle is made of plastic and the base is metal, pretty neat. since its plastic, the color will always be there and it won't ding or dent. I will keep an eye out for the kerosene marked one! lovely thing that I will keep it! such accessories just add flare and flavor to anyones collection. Wonder in place kerosene, one can use mineral oil that is pretty runny! you get away from the smell at least.
I use a 3 ml syringe with a 16 gauge needle for adding oil. It's precise and tidy and they are easily acquired from your local pharmacy (Superstore in my case) if you don't look like a heroin addict. They sell them for about $0.40 or less. I keep one in my tool box for oil, one for kerosene, one for vaseline or other grease (no needle) one for carpenter's glue and one for ethanol for cleaning little spots. I also have two little black elna bottles but one of them leaks like the dickens from the bottom so it's been fired from the job. Syringes are the way to go.
I just unpacked my mother's Elna and found two bottles, one olive green and one a dark red (maroon). The green is clearly marked "Huile/Oil" and the other "Petrole/Kerosene". The manual appears to be the one you show with the instruction to use oil on 17 points and kerosene in the shuttle slots. Have a photo, but don't see any way to attach to the comment.
Hello
I have an Elna Supermatic, and I have all the included accessories including the instruction manual. My bottles are black and olive green, the black one is marked Kerosene while the olive green one is marked oil. In my instruction manual, it very specifically states that kerosene must be used in the same spot you indicated in your video.
I wonder if my Elna Supermatic is a very very very early model? It's solid green, not two tone green.
I think you'll find that most of the discussions on various forums on this issue end by noting that kerosene and mineral spirits, in this context, are functionally equivalent.
I don't put mineral spirits in my little Elna bottle because the rubber stopperat the base if the spout, inside the bottle, tends to leak. Not lots, but enough that you know it leaks. I don't need or want mineral spirits on my fingers. And, I do not more rags or towels with mineral spirits than is necessary.
Whether kerosene or mineral spirits, you must be vigilant about neutralizing used rags and towels. They can be a fire hazard. Not hype. Read about it and be careful.
Happy sewing!
I have a green one marked at top Petrole Kerosene & black marked Huile Oil , providing I didn’t mix the tops.
I have a nice one of these. i wish I liked it and had bonded with it.
Thanks, very useful
I might recommend mineral spirits as a substitute for kerosene. Depending on where you live kerosene may only be available in lage quantities - 1/2 gallon bottles or metal cans. It is sometimes much easier to find mineral spirits in 1-quart sizes. Low voc mineral spirits are preferable. Always use eye protection when using mineral spirits or kerosene - always - you must protect your eyes, no one's going to do that for you.
hello, the elna "grasahopper" machine sews thick materials and like which ones?
I've just tried thick material (sumbrella) and it doen't work at all. Needle couln't make its path through the material
Recently got one of these machines, however it’s currently shocking me a bit when I touch it, any idea what this could be related to?
That sound dangerous. I would get it checked by a professional before using it.
Don't use it
You want to use a modern, fully synthetic lubricant, specifically Valvoline ATF+4, instead of crummy sewing machine oil. The modern synthetic lubricants will not leave gummy deposits over time, and do not contain any of the sulfur contaminants found in cheap sewing machine oil. They also have controlled, consistent molecular chain lengths and superior thin-film shear strength. Automatic transmission fluid has the necessary low viscosity needed for a general purpose sewing machine lubricant.
Thanks. I use fully synthetic sewing machine oil and I agree, it would not be good using any old crummy oils. Most modern high quality sewing machine oils are fine for general lubrication but not quite fine enough to lubricate the hook on this model.
I have always wondered and wanted an oil bottle like this.
So logic to be in control of the oil.
Not like the oil bottles you use these days.
I think machines are over oiled most of the time.
Where could I find a logic oil bottle like this?
I used to get a very "fine" oil in South Africa. What oil could you suggest. It was said that 3 in one oil was too thick and sticky.
Thank
Hi Anita, the traditional sewing machine oil is the same or similar to hydraulic oil and should be readily available. Singer sells it in 100ml bottles so maybe take a look online. I also use a flux bottle for dispensing oil. Seems to work well. It has a very fine nozzle. Something like this - uk.rs-online.com/web/p/esd-safe-clean-room-treatments-lotions-dispensers/1367193/ but that is probably overkill.
Hello, I was told some 30 yrs ago never to use oil for lubricating guns. It should bring the machine into a halt.
Update the next day: My warning is aimed at those moments, when sewing machine oil is not found at home but gun oil is. Don't try it.
Any sewing shop sells suitable fine sewing machine oil?
Can this machine be run without the speed reducer? I don't have it on my machine.
It's not uncommon for it to have been lost or broken over the years, and it definitely isn't necessary for most sewing. The speed reducer is only used when you need a "low gear" to provide more power.
Xq cose al revés la máquina Elna?
You're brave! The querosene in Brasil smells terribly and is amber.
Kerosene has an amazing history. Just ask John D. Rockefeller.
Anyway, we have to remember that kerosene was, and in some places is, still used widely inside the home for illumination and heating. Therefore some distributors add a color and/or a smell, "aromatic" to help warn the user exactly what liquid is at hand. If you cannot find clear and neutral smelling kerosene, I'd suggest you try mineral oil. Make sure you protect your eyes and follow safety precautions. Good luck.