MADMAX22 Report post Posted May 12, 2011 Hey all since I am a new owner of one of the cb4500's I have been thrust from the handstitching realm into the machine one and find there are alot of things I have no clue about. Now I understand the needles and such can get blazing hot while stitching away and that you can use a lubricant either ones made for that purpose or something like lexol leather conditioner. Now what I am not sure about is do you forgo this when using bonded nylon or poly since it is prelubed of sorts. Also I assume the thread lube basically allows the thread to feed smoother, cuts down on heat at the needle area, but also can not let the stitches lock in as well (I think correct me if I am wrong). Now to the point of waxing the thread. There seems to be some types of liquid wax (water soluble) that I have scene, also read about this stuff Frankel stitching wax. Now does this give ya the same basic situation where it helps to lock the threads in place like wax does for handstitching? Also can this be ran thru this type of machine with out causing undue stress or potential problems? What do all you experienced folk use in your shops and what have you learned to avoid? Thanks a bunch ahead of time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted May 12, 2011 Max i do what i read on here and that was to cut a piece of sponge to put in the wax pot. You will need to cut a slit in the sponge for the thread to go in. I pour some lube in on the sponge. I never have tried liquid wax on my machine. The only ones i have even seen that use wax were needle and awl machines but their lots of things i haven't seen to. Like you said with no lube the needle will get so hot it melts the thread if your sewing very thick or very fast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted May 12, 2011 Hi Corey, Please do not put wax in your CB4500. At the most you should use silicone thread lube, but for most applications, you can bypass the lube pot especially when using Linhanyl or a similar threads. Another note, running a lube pot will increase your top tension so you may have to back off your machine tensions. I run lube pots on my Highlead machines, and very little top tension with 346 thread; I use zero tension on the faceplate tensioner. Silicone Thread Lube does not lock the stitches. Some of us do mix up our own thread lube, Lexol and hydraulic fluid is one magic mixture I have heard of and seems reasonable. Hydraulic fluid and sewing machine oil are basically mineral oil so I don't see a problem there. Again, this will not lock your stitches. Please forgeddaboudt da wax. Art Hey all since I am a new owner of one of the cb4500's I have been thrust from the handstitching realm into the machine one and find there are alot of things I have no clue about. Now I understand the needles and such can get blazing hot while stitching away and that you can use a lubricant either ones made for that purpose or something like lexol leather conditioner. Now what I am not sure about is do you forgo this when using bonded nylon or poly since it is prelubed of sorts. Also I assume the thread lube basically allows the thread to feed smoother, cuts down on heat at the needle area, but also can not let the stitches lock in as well (I think correct me if I am wrong). Now to the point of waxing the thread. There seems to be some types of liquid wax (water soluble) that I have scene, also read about this stuff Frankel stitching wax. Now does this give ya the same basic situation where it helps to lock the threads in place like wax does for handstitching? Also can this be ran thru this type of machine with out causing undue stress or potential problems? What do all you experienced folk use in your shops and what have you learned to avoid? Thanks a bunch ahead of time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted May 12, 2011 Thanks guys good info to have. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Report post Posted May 13, 2011 When I got my Adler, the thread I got with it was like yarn, so I did use wax. Ten years later I am still cleaning it off. Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MADMAX22 Report post Posted May 13, 2011 Haha the days before a easy to use internet when you had to learn by trial and error. Point well taken Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted May 13, 2011 Max i forgot to say that before i used the sponge in the pot, lub would build up on the front tenson spring and drip onto what i was sewing ever so offen. Sense i have used the sponge in the pot i don't have that problem any more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites