To Recirculate Oil or Not to Recirculate Oil - That is the Question

Industrial sewing machines require oil, and Merrow machines are hard-working industrial pieces of finely tuned equipment. But not all sewing/seaming environments are created equal, which is why Merrow has multiple platforms to accommodate air and sewing particulates that can gunk up and damage machines - even those as tough as Merrows.

A Merrow 70-Class Machine on an automated railway - notice the
shavings that collect around the needle and in the dust chute

Take the Merrow 70-Class for example, a platform of end-to-end seaming machines suitable for dusty, dirty environments common wtih textile finishing facilities. The 70-Class does not recirculate oil so that the internal workings of the machines are washed clean with lubricant that is free from dust thrown off during the cutting and seaming process. As a result, 70-Class machines are used the world over because of their durability and longevity -  just imagine how long your car would last if you changed its oil on a daily basis.

On the other hand the Merrow MG platform (like the MB platform), does recirculate oil. The MG's are frequently installed in more "refined" environments where replacing oil would be messy and could soil finished goods. Cut and sew factories that use this platform are typically clearer of air-based particulates making it OK for lubricant to be recycled throughout the machine without frequent wholesle replacement. MG machines are associated with speed and efficiency but aren't necessarily recognized for their bullet-proof operation like 70's are. In the video below you can see how clean the sewing environment is and how fast the machine operates.

So. What if you want the speed of an MG but want to install it in an environment in which it will be subjected to air quality that borders on offensive? The answer is the Merrow 71-Class.  The 71-1D-2 and 71-1D-7 (for thicker material) run faster than standard 70-Class machines but like their butt-seaming cousins, they do not recirculate oil. This means output is increased without compromising the operational health of the machine. Just as with most 70-Class machines, both the 71-1D-2 and 71-1D-7 are available as nickel plated versions for further protection agains corrosion.

The 71-1D-2

The 71-Class Stitch, a 3/8" wide single thread butted seam.

There you have it. For sewing/seaming in an environment in which air quality is akin to that of an Egyptian sandstorm, you want a machine that does not recirculate its oil -  think Merrow 70 and 71 Class. If you're sewing fine chiffon between sips of imported herbal tea and don't want to soil the tablecloth, you want the recirculating features of Merrow MG or MB machines.