Curious about how to clean your circular knitting machine? I came across a helpful article that breaks down exactly what to use for lubricating and cleaning your Sentro or Addi knitting machine.
If you own a Sentro knitting machine, you know how fun and efficient it can be for creating all kinds of knitted projects. But, just like any other tool, regular maintenance is crucial to keep it running smoothly. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to clean and service your Sentro knitting machine. From the best cleaning methods to proper lubrication, these tips will help you avoid common issues like squeaky gears or yarn jams! Let’s dive into the steps you can take to keep your Sentro machine in top condition.
Table of Contents
How often should I clean my Sentro knitting machine?
It’s recommended to clean your machine only when it’s making noises, and the reason for that is because the plastic holes where the screws go can easily get damaged, so the less you open your machine the better, but that will also depend on how often you knit and how big are the projects you make.
What tools do I need to service my Sentro knitting machine?
You’ll need a soft cloth, canned air, white lithium grease, small brushes, and potentially a new screwdriver set, since the quality of the screwdriver that comes with Sentros is not the best and your screws can get damaged. Best lubricant to Clean Your Circular Knitting Machine:
Electric Duster
Some people use only this to clean and that solves the problem, so try this quick clean before anything else.
Dielectric grease
Despite what the manufacturers say, I tried this grease but I found it was too thick and the gears wouldn´t work that well after a while.
Super Lube Silicone grease
I haven´t tried it on my Sentro knitting machine but many people use this grease
Permatex White Lithium grease
This is probably the best product I tried on my Sentro knitting machine
WD-40 White lithium grease Spray
This grease is easier to use to get in every corner of your Sentro knitting machine gears
Please note: some of the links are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a commission. Know that I only recommend products and services I’ve personally used and stand behind. When you use one of my affiliate links, the company compensates me, which helps me run this blog and keep my in-depth content free of charge for readers (like you).
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Sentro Knitting Machine
When it comes to clean Your Circular Knitting Machine, regular maintenance can prevent dust buildup, stuck yarn, or other issues that could cause long-term damage. Here’s how you can do it:
Remove Dust and Debris: Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the exterior of your machine.
Blow Away Yarn Fibers: A can of compressed air is perfect for blowing away small fibers stuck in the gears or hard-to-reach places.
Check for Tangled Yarn: Gently check the machine’s working parts and also inside the handle for any yarn caught between the gears and needles.
Wipe the Needles: Use a slightly damp cloth to carefully wipe down the needles, removing any dirt or oils that may have accumulated. You can also use vinegar for a more vegan option.
Avoid hot water since it can damage the plastic and change its shape.
How to Lubricate Your Sentro Knitting Machine Properly
Proper lubrication is key to keeping your knitting machine running smoothly. Here’s how you can clean Your Circular Knitting Machine without overdoing it:
Use the Right Grease: White lithium grease is often the best option for lubricating your Sentro knitting machine. It’s light enough for the gears and won’t gum them up like heavier greases.
Apply Sparingly: Open the machine and apply a small amount of grease to the visible gears. Less is more here—over-lubrication can cause problems.
Move the Gears: After applying the grease, turn the handle or crank the machine to distribute the grease evenly across the gears.
Avoid Dielectric Grease: While dielectric grease is often recommended by manufacturers, it’s too thick for Sentro machines and can slow down the gears, reducing performance.
Avoid Sewing Machine Oil: I tried machine oil the first time I cleaned my Sentro and after a few days it was really noisy, oil can also increase heat while cranking.
Troubleshooting Common Issues After you Clean Your Circular Knitting Machine
Even with regular cleaning and lubrication, issues can arise. Here’s a quick troubleshooting guide for common problems you might encounter:
Squeaky Gears: If your gears are squeaking after lubrication, try removing any excess grease and applying a small amount of white lithium grease.
Dropping Stitches: Make sure the needles are properly aligned and aren’t bent or damaged.
Stuck Crank: If your crank is hard to turn, inspect the gears for yarn or debris that may be blocking the movement.
Check the Bottom Screws: I once had trouble cranking the handle, and it turned out that some of the bottom screws were loose. Be sure to tighten them, but don’t overtighten them, as it could damage the plastic parts.
Uneven Tension: Ensure that you choose the right tension option for the weight of your yarn
Extending the Life of Your Sentro Knitting Machine
Keeping your Sentro knitting machine clean and well-lubricated is the first step to ensuring a long life, but here are a few more tips to make sure it lasts:
Store in a Dust-Free Area: Dust can easily clog up the machine’s small gears, so keep it covered when not in use.
Avoid hot Places: Don’t use your machine under the sun or leave inside the car while travelling, the heat can change the shape of it’s plastic components.
Avoid Over-Tightening Screws: If you need to open the machine for deep cleaning, be careful not to overtighten any screws when putting it back together.
Rotate Projects: Give your machine a break by switching between different types of yarns and projects to avoid wear and tear on specific parts.
Regular Inspections: Every few months, give your machine a thorough inspection, checking for any loose parts or wear on the gears.
I also did a little research since it’s hard to get any answers from the Chinese factory that makes Sentro, and the article this is what I found:
Full article on the best products for plastic gears
Q: What lubricant (if any) should I use on plastic bearings and gears?
Wherever possible, you should lubricate plastic components to reduce friction and wear and increase component life. Tests show that lubricated plastic sliding bearings last up to five times longer than non-lubricated ones.
To optimize the lubrication of plastic components, you should abide by one basic guideline: choose a lubricant that is compatible with the plastic material. Compatibility must be verified under all anticipated adverse conditions of load, speed, and environment. Incompatible plastic-lubricant combinations often cause operating problems such as stress cracking or failure of the plastic component.
Q: What affects the compatibility between lubricants and plastics?
A: Compatibility factors include the lubricant’s chemistry (base oil, thickeners, and additives), viscosity, and aging resistance.
Chemistry. Typically, lubricants based on silicone, PFAE (perfluorinated), most synthetic hydrocarbons (SHC or PAO), or mineral oils work well with plastics. Lubricants based on esters or polyglycols are generally not compatible with plastics, although there are exceptions depending on the type of plastic.
Incompatible lubricants cause plastics to lose dimensional stability or structural integrity, or become discolored. To check for compatibility, manufacturers test the physical properties of the plastic material including volume, weight, elongation, strength, and hardness. Each manufacturer sets limits on the allowable change in these material properties, typically 7 to 10%. In evaluating such tests, be sure they reflect your worst case conditions. Both lubricants and plastic materials are more prone to changes at higher temperatures or in adverse environments, especially with high dynamic loads.
Additives sometimes cause a lubricant to react with plastic. For example, solid additives, such as graphite or molybdenum disulphide (moly), can penetrate and weaken a plastic component and should generally be avoided. On the other hand, PTFE solid additives are useful in specific cases such as reducing startup friction or providing dry lubrication.
EP additives used in lubricating metal parts are not recommended for plastic parts. Moreover, large amounts of corrosion protectors or metal deactivator additives used with metal parts are also unnecessary for plastics.
Viscosity/NLGI grade. High-viscosity oils, generally ISO VG 100 or more, are less apt to penetrate and adversely affect plastic materials. For greases, an NLGI 1 or 0 consistency reduces friction and grease-induced noise (grease slap).
Aging resistance. As lubricants age, they are more likely to attack plastic. Therefore, long-term plastic applications call for synthetic lubricants, which have a high aging resistance. Outgassing byproducts of plastic, such as formaldehyde or styrene, accelerate the lubricant aging process.
Recommendations. Mineral-oil-based lubricants don’t attack most plastic materials and offer excellent performance for the dollar in general plastics applications.
However, with the trend to higher operating speeds, higher temperatures, and longer operation, companies are turning to synthetic lubricants, such as hydrocarbon (PAO) types, for plastic bearings and gears. PAOs offer high aging resistance, compatibility with most plastics, and long-term lubrication within a temperature range of -60 to 320 F.
PFAE lubricants are one of the most compatible types, even with hard-to-match plastics. Similar to PAO oils, they offer a good balance between adhesion and wetting of plastic surfaces. Probably their widest use is for extreme temperature applications, up to 500 F. Because of their high cost, use PFAE oils only where necessary.
Silicone-based lubricants also show excellent compatibility. They are suitable for low load applications and a wide temperature range (typically -90 to 425 F).
Conclusion
So I purchased the Dielectric grease online, and it took a week to be shipped, while I was waiting I wanted to finish a new pattern but I couldn’t because I felt my knitting machine was going to break, so I went to the hardware store and bought WD-40 silicone spray and WD-40 PTFE dry (that was recommended by Dean and Bean sock machine, also made of plastic).
I will be posting the video as well, but the silicone spray was the worst option of all the other ones I tried, the machine would not move… But, luckily the grease turned up the next day, so I reopened everything again, and without cleaning this time I applied the grease where there was oil before, when you first opened your machine you could see where there was oil so just grease in that places.
One more thing that is good to open and clean is the hand crank, it was the first time I did it after 6 months and I found even my hair in it, so I cleaned and greased the bearing inside as well.
It’s been a week since I cleaned and it’s going better than before with the dielectric grease that they also use for printers, which makes sense to me because they have a high load and movement, same as the circular knitting machines if used a lot.
I posted the video on my YouTube channel, so Subscribe here and stay connected!
I’m updating this article after trying dielectric grease. While some manufacturers recommend it, I found it too thick for the gears, which slowed down the machine as the grease hindered the movement. For me, white lithium grease is still the best option. At the end of this article, I’ve linked the products I tested.
I’ve tested several lubricants for my knitting machines, and white lithium grease has been the most effective. When I first tried machine oil, the machine remained noisy, and just a week later, I had to open it up again. On the second attempt, I used white lithium grease, and it worked perfectly—it’s now my go-to for all my knitting machines.
NOTE: This article may contain affiliate links to products I enjoy using myself. Should you choose to use these links, this blog may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support!
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Hi! I’m Fabiana, a crochet and knitwear designer with a passion for creating beautiful, functional pieces. I love experimenting with textures, colors, and patterns to craft everything from cozy sweaters to crochet swimsuit. On my YouTube channel, I share tutorials, tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at my design process. Crochet and knitting are more than hobbies—they’re my way of life.
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