Looking for info on sewing machine

[rhyary]

Sewing maching information
I decided that having a sewing machine will be very useful but I know NOTHING about sewing machines.

I like to have things organized in bags and I find myself paying way too much for various bags. It should be much cheaper (and better) to make my own bags for specific to sizes I want.

I am not looking for anything fancy, mechanical machine is fine, used is fine, but for something that can sew heavy materials like leather, canvas and zippers.

I am sure someone here already know something about sewing machines.

(also posted in chit chat. Not sure where the experts are)

Thanks
Rami

 

[B-RAD]

When I was in 7th grade, both boys and girls had to take shop class, home-ec, and art classes. That's when I learned to use a sewing machine. You can find a good used sewing machine on craigslist. You may need two, if you are serious about sewing, the normal household kind for your stuff sacks, and clothing mends, and a commercial grade machine if you think you are going to be sewing a lot of super heavy fabrics. You don't need all the fancy stitching features, simple adjustments and zig-zag is all you need. I have an OLD machine, that must be 40 years old now, that does a decent job for most of the stuff and probably what you may be planning. Start with a sturdy home model before you upgrade to the commercial grade. You may want to enlist some help on tips and techniques, different seams, how to keep seams from fraying, how to sew zippers on, fabric knowledge etc from someone you know or a class or a book. Good luck!

 

[Jetboy]

I'm no expert, but from what I've been looking for the right "deal" for a while. I would like to items like boat covers and build new/fix old sails for my sailboat.

I have done some sail work with my wife's sewing machine. It's a Genome brand, and it is simply too light duty for this task. It has internal timing belts (just like a car's only smaller) and I skipped teeth on it a couple times. It's a real PITA to tear it down and re-time the assembly.

The brands I see a lot are Juki and Singer for industrial machines. Sail-rite also sells a house brand that is very popular. A friend of mine has one and it's a great little machine. Sturdy and more than capable of heavy materials. The functions I think are most important are a true walking foot where the needle walks too, so when the layers of fabric move, the needle is moving too and is through the layers. This keeps everything aligned and long straight seems are much easier. Your home machines under $1k are not going to have this function. Also I would look for a zig-zag machine. Many basic industrial machines may only do a straight stitch. Probably fine for most task, but a zig zag is really nice for adding some strength in certain areas on sails.

Just a few things to google and read up on. If a good used Juki comes up locally with a zig-zag and walking foot for under $400, I'll probably snag it. Keep in mind though that a good commercial style machine will be built into a table and probably take as much space as a table saw, so you'll need storage space for it. The Sail-rite machines are nice and compact. They're really hard to beat for the price, and if I were going to take one on a trip around the world on my boat, that is the model I would take. They run about $900 for a zig zag machine. A little too $$$ for me to justify. I've ordered a few times from them and was pleased with the service and quality of materials that were delivered.

Edit: Also as a side note, if you're shopping online for heavy duty machines, they generally have a typical industrial motor that sits below the table and runs on a belt drive system. Often they are sold just as the sewing machine without a table or motor, so if you weren't careful in what you ordered you might think you got a good price only to find out that you still need a motor, switching, and a table for it before you can actually make it sew.

 

[rhyary]

No interest in sewing cloths per original post.

So ZigZag and walking foot are important features.

CL is full of sewing machine but that means nothing for someone who doesnt know about sewing machines. I like to know what I am buying.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[rusty_tlc]

For a Cruiser Head this is the ultimate sewing machine

It was built in the Toyota factory in Japan for Morse, a US company. And it is built like a tank. You can literally see the quality and feel the weight of the machine.


I did some research and this machine was used in factories as well as sold to consumers, it really isn't a commercial machine but it's close.


For leather and heavy canvas you will need a larger more powerful machine.

I'd suggest you google a bit and look for a sewing forum. Believe me there are forums just like Ih8mud out there for any activity, vehicle or hobby you can imagine and a few you can't (and probably don't want to). Read a lot, maybe even sign up to one and ask some questions.

Once you have a better fell for what machine(s) will fit your needs you can start shopping.

 

[Bogo]

Any early Elna sewing machines should do fine. They are true tanks and weigh the part. Parts are also still available. On the other hand they may never need parts. Mom's is still working fine after 50+ years of home use. All it has needed is to be cleaned out and readjusted a few times as well as a couple drive belts. If you get one of the Supermatic line with the stitch control cogs, make sure you get the cogs too. They control the type of stitch pattern. They also come with a bunch of different pressure feet for different stitches and fabrics. Elna introduced electronic stitch pattern control in the 60s. I don't know the robustness of them or later ones, but mom always wanted one of the newer ones and her '50s vintage Elna Supermatic just wouldn't die.

Here is a Supermatic like mom's:
Green Elna SuperMatic Sewing Machine 1956 by SurrenderDorothy

 

[squint]

I highly recommend the Sailrite LSZ1 which is what the guy above was talking about with the zipper function and walking foot. Google it and watch some of the videos. We have one and it goes right through plastic for my soft top. Sailrite is absolutely fantastic on customer service so you will get great support and this machine is easy to use for a beginner. They are offering free shipping right now as well, which is nice. I was reading their forum and there are people trying to find them used and they go like hotcakes so if you don't use it that often, you could always recoup most of your money. The other and much less expensive option would be to buy an old machine- just look for one from the 50s or 60s. They were all made of metal and will go through most of what you can throw at it. I guess it really depends on how much you are going to use it.

 

[spressomon]

^^^just got mine. Got a couple little projects to do over the next few days. Their customer service is five star!

 

[Jetboy]

After doing some research the sailrite is a new version of an old machine. There are a lot of chinese clones. The cheaper being a Yamata 288 and a Consew model. Both run around $3-400. About half the cost of a Sailrite. The Sail-rite has some upgrades, but reviews of the consew and yamata are pretty good. I'm actually now considering buying one of them.

 

[JohnnyC]

toyota makes some great sewing machines as well as industrial machines...i use an old 50-60's singer ...it is very heavy duty...and was free on craigslist.

more toyota machines: https://forum.ih8mud.com/chit-chat-section/214020-toyota-sewing-machines-looms.html

 

[Icantdive55]

Singers are good machines and cheap at yard sales and craigs list. I bought a 99k, which is a 3/4 sized 66 for 15$ a couple of minths ago. Works great and is much heavier duty than I thought. Like you i know nothing about sewing so I looked up a couple sewing forums used their search function and started learning. After buying my machine I downloaded the manual free off the net and it teaches you everything you need to know to get started. By the way older singers don't have the model number on them but if you send them the serial number (easily found) they will tell you what model it is and when and where it was made.

 

[rhyary]

I highly recommend the Sailrite LSZ1 which is what the guy above was talking about with the zipper function and walking foot. Google it and watch some of the videos. We have one and it goes right through plastic for my soft top. Sailrite is absolutely fantastic on customer service so you will get great support and this machine is easy to use for a beginner. They are offering free shipping right now as well, which is nice.......

Oh Boy, it sure looks like what I am looking for. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Itchy Sides]

Great idea! I could see making a roof top awning or other canvas camping things with a machine...

 

[schaney]

I'm not on expert on sewing machine ... I use an old Consew 206RB-3, great industrial walking foot machine, has no problem sewing multiple layers of heavy canvas, making tents, awning, etc. You have to be careful with the new Consew models, the 206RB-6 which looks just like the -3 is now chinese made and not the same quality. You didn't mean your price range, for a freshly tuned, good used Consew 206RB-3 expect to pay $700-$1000.

One thing about industrial sewing machine motors, with most the motor is always running, pushing down the pedal lets out a clutch to enage the motor. Taking some practice to get us to. You can upgrade them to a servo motor like did. With a servo motor it only runs when you push down the pedal and you can adjust the max speed of the motor based on what you are sewing.

 

[spressomon]

I've found having a decent sewing machine capable of sewing thicker materials is a little like having a welder. You don't use it everyday but, if you're like me, you'll use it more than you thought you would...good investment for the DIY'r.

 

[schaney]

Great point, the right tool for the job makes a big difference. Once you have it, you keep "finding" things that need to be made.