Sewing Machines

[Trooper]

I've talked the wife into getting one under the ruse of clothing repairs and Halloween costumes for the kid. Of course, we know what it will really be used for...

Should I get a good one from the start or an inexpensive one to learn with? Hopefully I get some fast answers...I fear I won't have access to this thread after midnight.

[gargoyle]

Get a good one. It'll save you some hassles of the machine not being up to par.
Being something of quality, you can always resell.

[Dutch]

A good one does not have to be an expensive one. Don't buy features you don't need. For the most part you just need a needle to go up and down. Old machines can be good and so can new ones.

[Trooper]

Gargoyle,

I looked at the ones we discussed before. My only fear is breaking something expensive.

[Dutch]

There's not much to break. You will break a needle or two, that's about it.

[Trooper]

Thanks Dutch and Gargoyle. I'll follow one of the HF doctrines of buying quality once instead of substandard multiple times.

[gargoyle]

Your gonna have to really try to break a sewing machine. Like Dutch said, the needle will fail long before any serious damage can be done to the machine.
Being that your intended use is for home clothing repair , a basic machine will do fine. You won't need a machine with 50 different stitches, or a computer.
Something solid (no plastic parts inside) will last you a long time.
Check with your local sewing machine shops for good reconditioned machines, you'll get a warranty, usually a reasonable discount over new, and most shops offer training classes.

Even new can be had for cheap.
If you shop around, sometimes you'll find bargains.
If you want to try the "used" market, take some material with and make sure the machine sews, forwards and backwards, and sews straight. You should be able to place fabric under the needle and sew unguided (or minimal guidance) for a foot or so if everything is working smoothly. Click thru all the functions and make sure they work. For basic gear building, a straight stitch will do almost everything you need.

I just picked up a tank of a machine for free, spent 83 cents on a new part and it sews wicked smooth. Singer Fashion Mate, circa 1960's, weighs about 50 lbs, solid cast iron and steel everything, ('cept the plastic cover).
I struggled for a year and half with a plastic machine. I can not believe the difference.
Newer does not always mean better. Old school machines were made to last. Dont shy away from older machines.

[pedro]

+1 on the older machines. I have a Singer 401A Slant-o-matic that is built to last, way more solid than the plastic machines. I inherited that one from my mom.

A few weeks ago I bought a Singer Spartan for $32.00. It was dropping stitches. I cleaned a ton of lint out of it, lubed it, and put a new needle in it and it sews like a champ. The spartan puts my 401A to shame! You have never seen such straight stitches. I bought about $50.00 worth of parts that now allow me to use this as a hand crank machine. In this mode it will go through two layers of 5 oz. leather. This is what I'm using for my shoe making experiments. The Spartan is a great example of an under-valued machine that will do everything that you need it to. My wife also doesn't object to it being "on display" because it looks so cool.

[Ramblinrev]

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ight=important

Check this post... it was developed for questions just such as this.

[WV]

Trooper, you're going to enjoy making Halloween costumes! At least, I hope so, because that's what you just bargained yourself into.