my trusty industrial maching has died and is beyond repair. so i pulled out the portable one last night and it broke on me as well so now im left to hand sewing to finish my projects. so now i have to wait till next week to find a new sewing machine.
anyone have a favorite and why.
also i need one with the capability of sewing thick fabric/straps and be able to use thick heavyduty thread.
thanks
BT
BT
"Hang safe and enjoy the outdoors"
http://tqnt.webs.com/
Turtle Quilts N Tarps
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How did your industrial machine die beyond repair? That might make a difference in suggesting what machines might be best for you. If you use a machine that hard then a home machine will _not_ meet your needs. Particularly a new cheap one.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
well i was trying to sew two straps together and the machine kept knotting up under the straps and breaking needles and finally bent the rods that the needle ties into and the portable one is just a piece and wont even push the needle throught the straps so i kinda took my frustration out on it so needless to say it in many many pieces and i felt slightly better lol but now my fingers hurt cause i had to hand sew for about 6 hours last night and ive got another 3-4 hours i have to sew by thursday night lol. wish me luck.
BT
"Hang safe and enjoy the outdoors"
http://tqnt.webs.com/
Turtle Quilts N Tarps
your home for custom made products
Maybe they were punishing you for the lack of punctuation...Originally Posted by BigTurtle
If your industrial machine was acting up that badly I am willing to bet it wasn't the double straps but something else not quite right with the machine. Anyway, you are likely to get about a thousand different answers to your question.
I have only ever sewn on one industrial machine; a Consew, so that is my favorite.
"I aim to misbehave." - Capt. Mal Reynolds
Mind of a Rat Youtube Channel
If you want a new machine and have the money for an industrial then I would recommend a Juki if you want an older then a singer from pre 1950 are about indestructible. For a bit less than the juki you can get a tacsew walking foot. I have not used these but there are a bunch of gear makers using these. Good luck. I have two industrials singer 107 and singer 400 and one home machine which is a singer 66 when I upgrade to a walking foot it will either be a juki or the tacsew.
i have a Kenmore 12 stitch that has served me well ..but i use my Necchi most of the time.
it's a sweet machine
It puts the Underquilt on it's hammock ... It does this whenever it gets cold
Sounds like your best bet would be an industrial machine. A home machine is not likely to be able to take that kind of use for long. One of the issues with a home machine, especially now, is the motors are not suited for that kind of use.
The other option you might look into is one of the really old Singer models. Some of them are being used as industrial machines in developing nations. The problem is they are becoming increasingly rare.
I might also recommend a treadle but for some issues unique to them. First, parts are becoming impossible to find for some. They are much slower than an industrial and the belt can slip under particularly hard or thick loads.
I would encourage you to look in the industrial market. I know very little about what is available in that area of the market.
I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.
"Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn
We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series
Important thread injector guidelines especially for Newbies
Bobbin Tension - A Personal Viewpoint
Well if you drive cams and bearings were still intact I'd just recommend fixing the industrial. If it's more cathartic to get a different one, this is supposed to be fun. I have a few general favorites for candidates.
If you're doing mostly heavy stuff you should probably look for a consew 206, juki lu-563, Adler 120, or if you find a good deal on a different walking foot.
If you occasionally sew heavy stuff you could look at the juki ddl 5550 or 8700.
--If a cow laughs hard, does milk come out its nose?
The last two able, experienced, and knowledgeable stitchers are referring to genuine industrial machines.
I'm not confused about the difference between genuine commercial / industrial machines and strong domestics. These domestics / home machines are commonly put up and labeled as "industrial" on ebay, complete with displays of multiple layers of stitched denim and belting. An ebay listing label doesn't make them industrial.
For a reality check on duty cycles, one or more of the old line mfgs, maybe Singer, gives guidance on maintenance frequency for one of their home machines:
"Once per year, or an estimated 5-8 hours of operation."
Right, that might be 1% the use of a true industrial machine, where the SM is only operated 1 shift per day, with an 40 hour work-week.
The difference between an industrial sewing machine and a home use is about equal to the difference between a real oven and an ez-bake oven. That ez bake sure makes great cakes, small ones though.
For the cost of a new machine, used industrial will outshine pretty much always. If you're comparing an industrial machine like a consew 206 to a singer 99k and saying they're equal on a short use basis minus feed issues I say that's like comparing tow ratings of vehicles while pushing them downhill. One sure is cheaper and smaller, but for those times when you can't "roll downhill" that 3/4 HP clutch motor sure seems like a good choice.
If you are planning on sewing heavy items I'd suggest taking one small piece of advice. Sewing something your machine isn't meant to sew has a higher than acceptable chance of breaking it. If your machine made in the 1930's breaks and you need parts, you might be able to get them, but do you want to risk it?
--If a cow laughs hard, does milk come out its nose?
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