What parts of a sewing machine could you permanently break?

Question

I was just wondering which parts of a sewing machine you could break permanently, meaning you would have to purchase a new one?

Many thanks.

Answer 1

If you can get parts, very few machines can be irretrievably broken just by sewing on them.  It may be uneconomic to repair the machine, but generally it can be repaired.

Not all sewing machine companies keep a good inventory of parts -- in fact, there are several companies that will not sell parts -- so you may have to find a donor machine for some brands, some parts.

Over the years I've broken needles, a sewing hook, had a needleplate that just went "crink" and fell in half due to a metalurgical fault, and I've worn gears to sloppiness.  I've pronounced several machines dead, but they really just were worn to the point that it wasn't worth the time, effort and money to fix them.

My "expensive" electronic machine is cheaper per use than the cheapie machine I mistakenly bought years ago and promptly wore to gear failure, fwiw.