I can't believe I'm asking about a sewing Machine!?

You people are driving me crazy. The last thing I need is another hobby, but it looks like I have one. There are some pretty cool things being made here and I need to make some! :scared:

There's a Singer CG550 on Craigslist, used one time. Anyone familiar with them? I've never so much as threaded a needle before but you gotta start somewhere right? They're asking $100 but I hate to even go look at it/negotiate without knowing anything. I realize you can get 'em cheaper but the little research I've done says these are pretty nice.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Check out the "guidelines" post in my signature. You might find it helpful.

Powered Thread Injector is so ... descriptive. :rolleyes:

I got my Singer from my local (only 2 hours away) PTI shop. It cost $100, and it had just been totally tuned and reconditioned. I went there to get my wife's machine serviced (cost $120). It's worth looking at used machines from a PTI shop. They are often bargains.

Also, do what Rev says.

Yeah, I looked at Rev's guidelines before and actually asked the questions he recommends. The machine was bought new, one owner, bought for a project and never used again. They would give me a demo, etc.

I'm just wondering if anyone has used this exact machine. I'm not afraid to spend a little extra if it's a good find as my wife and sister and law would also love to use it. It looks like they are about $275 new.

:laugh:Welcome to the deep end of the pool

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MAD777

:laugh:Welcome to the deep end of the pool

---

Thats is funny and ohhh so true. Water's fine over here...

I been looking at the CG590 I have completely trashed my moms old universal sewing machine and talking to her the brother she replaced it with has a much weaker motor. My mom used this universal to do the custom interiors of our cars in the 70s and 80s. this thing can drive a needle it is just falling apart inside and getting loose, in short after 40+ years it is worn out.

I like the advertisement on the CG, I don't need a bunch of fancy stitches I only use two it would be nice to do some zippers but hey..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kellyk7

I don't need a bunch of fancy stitches I only use two it would be nice to do some zippers but hey..

---

Zippers only need a straight stitch. The thing you need special for zippers is a zipper foot. That can be hard to fudge and do a good job on the machine. Any machine with a zipper foot can do zippers.

It might be worth taking the universal to a repair shop and have it worked on. I've seen older machines than that still going strong. All machinery needs servicing to keep it in good order.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ramblinrev

It might be worth taking the universal to a repair shop and have it worked on. I've seen older machines than that still going strong. All machinery needs servicing to keep it in good order.

---

this is a vintage 1960 machine, the local shop just shrugged and said where am i gonna get parts. with that being said on something like this the cost to repair would quickly outweigh the value of another machine, the 590 I have my eye on is around 200.00

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kellyk7

this is a vintage 1960 machine, the local shop just shrugged and said where am i gonna get parts. with that being said on something like this the cost to repair would quickly outweigh the value of another machine, the 590 I have my eye on is around 200.00

---

hehe.. If shipping wouldn't be so high I'd say send it to me. While I don't know your shop... it sounds like they are more interested in selling new machines than in fixing the older ones. No disrespect intended... but I would look for another shop no matter what machine I got or where I bought it. YMMV.

In all seriousness though... If you are going to toss it... you might see if there is an HF DIY person who might be able to pick it up and get it fixed. My suspicion is with the right connections it could be fixed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WV

You mean "PTI", don't you?

---

Thanks, WV... I wasn't sure what he was talking about. Now I understand. He wants to Make Gear using a PTI. :lol:

Why didn't he just say that in the first place? :confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kellyk7

this is a vintage 1960 machine, the local shop just shrugged and said where am i gonna get parts. with that being said on something like this the cost to repair would quickly outweigh the value of another machine...

---

Not necessarily so... the inexpensive, vintage US, Japanese or Italian machines are what you want to find. Parts are available, and they can be worked on. Some of the high end and modern machines are difficult to open up, have plastic parts and some parts are very expensive.

I paid $80 for a vintage Made-in-Japan Necchi with steel gears, and $60 for a tuneup. I paid $50 for a 1960 Made-in-USA Singer with a cast iron frame, and $50 for a tuneup. Both are worth more to me than a $200 machine that needs to be checked out in the shop.

+1, Rev. In 1960 they made 'em good. I was going to suggest trying a new shop, too. :)