Singer 4423 heavy duty sewing machine?

**Kpi890** · 02-13-2017, 09:06

Hey guys just wondering if anyone has this machine or knows anything about it? Any comments, suggestions, or feedback is much appreciated. I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on it on Amazon for $130 and I'm just trying to see if anyone has this machine?

SINGER 4423 Heavy Duty Extra-High Sewing Speed Sewing Machine with Metal Frame and Stainless Steel Bedplate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VWXZQ0..._b0BOyb25WHSBN

**nj4x4fever** · 02-13-2017, 10:43

I had bought a similar style machine back in 2013. I used it for everything. I accidentally used it with glue back Velcro and gummed up the needle. I did a lot of rookie mistakes in the beginning but to this day she keeps running. The model I bought is the 4411.

SINGER 4411 Heavy Duty Extra-High Sewing Speed Sewing Machine with Metal Frame and Stainless Steel Bedplate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VWXZKG..._OnDOyb5QFWWGX

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**jellyfish** · 02-13-2017, 11:49

I like how this machine has analog/mechanical controls.

**Aardvark** · 02-13-2017, 12:14

Bought one for 55 at bargain hunt in Lexington, but you can find much cheaper than 130. good strong machine!

**mathineer** · 02-13-2017, 12:24

I have exactly that machine. It is more powerful than my wife's basic Singer. The main thing I don't like about it is the universal motor on it stalls when you try to start slow. Then you push down on the pedal more, and it jumps from stalled to machine gun warp drive speed. Definitely take your pedal foot shoe off. Jellyfish gave me that tip, and it does help you get better control. After working with it a while I got to where I could deal with this better.

I've looked into how to hack it to design a speed control with a stop needle down or stop needle up setting, but haven't gotten around to it. I'd like to get a cheap, junk singer to hack that first so I know it works before risking it on the 4423.

A universal motor is one that is supposed to be able to work on either ac or dc. The foot pedal on the 4423 works on AC. It uses a triac and diac circuit, I'm pretty sure. I measured the voltage out of the pedal. The motor comes out of stall at about 50 to 60 Vac. Anyway, it might be possible to add sensors to the machine to sense up and down positions, and to provide motor speed feedback. Then apply feedback control to the drive signal to stabilize the commanded speed. After you've gone to this much trouble, it wouldn't be much more effort to add in the max speed setting.

Anyway, it's a good basic machine. I'd love to have the one Tac Blades uses, though. If I did enough sew, er ah thread injecting, I'd probably just look for an older used machine like that, and have it refurbished, or figure out how to do it myself. Although, the hacking approach would be interesting too.

I discussed a lot of this in a previous thread a couple of months ago. I found a video on YouTube by a Micah Elizabeth Scott where she hacked a machine and replaced the motor with a dc motor and did a micro speed control with up and down stop. Her approach was quite invasive. I was wanting to just add sensors and stick with the existing motor if I was going to mess with it.

Anyway, probably way too much information.

Bottom line, the 4423 is a good, basic machine. It is pretty powerful. I've seen videos of people stitching mid-weight leather with it...

mathineer

**jellyfish** · 02-13-2017, 12:32

I was wondering if this is the same machine as you have, Mathineer.

**mathineer** · 02-13-2017, 12:36

Originally Posted by jellyfish

I was wondering if this is the same machine as you have, Mathineer.

Well, wonder no more! :-)

It is a good machine, and pretty powerful. If I made my living sewing, I'd get something else.

mathineer

**Kpi890** · 02-13-2017, 12:44

Awesome thank you all for the replies! I will hunt around to try and find it cheaper than $130.

**Kpi890** · 02-13-2017, 12:47

Originally Posted by mathineer

I have exactly that machine. It is more powerful than my wife's basic Singer. The main thing I don't like about it is the universal motor on it stalls when you try to start slow. Then you push down on the pedal more, and it jumps from stalled to machine gun warp drive speed. Definitely take your pedal foot shoe off. Jellyfish gave me that tip, and it does help you get better control. After working with it a while I got to where I could deal with this better.

I've looked into how to hack it to design a speed control with a stop needle down or stop needle up setting, but haven't gotten around to it. I'd like to get a cheap, junk singer to hack that first so I know it works before risking it on the 4423.

A universal motor is one that is supposed to be able to work on either ac or dc. The foot pedal on the 4423 works on AC. It uses a triac and diac circuit, I'm pretty sure. I measured the voltage out of the pedal. The motor comes out of stall at about 50 to 60 Vac. Anyway, it might be possible to add sensors to the machine to sense up and down positions, and to provide motor speed feedback. Then apply feedback control to the drive signal to stabilize the commanded speed. After you've gone to this much trouble, it wouldn't be much more effort to add in the max speed setting.

Anyway, it's a good basic machine. I'd love to have the one Tac Blades uses, though. If I did enough sew, er ah thread injecting, I'd probably just look for an older used machine like that, and have it refurbished, or figure out how to do it myself. Although, the hacking approach would be interesting too.

I discussed a lot of this in a previous thread a couple of months ago. I found a video on YouTube by a Micah Elizabeth Scott where she hacked a machine and replaced the motor with a dc motor and did a micro speed control with up and down stop. Her approach was quite invasive. I was wanting to just add sensors and stick with the existing motor if I was going to mess with it.

Anyway, probably way too much information.

Bottom line, the 4423 is a good, basic machine. It is pretty powerful. I've seen videos of people stitching mid-weight leather with it...

mathineer

I have also looked into this for my 1970's Kenmore. I have one of these http://m.harborfreight.com/router-sp...rol-43060.html that I use to control the speed of my shop vacuum that is used to create pressure and clear dust from my blasting cabinet and it works great. I have always wondered if I could use a controller like that hooked into my sewing machine to use the dial to control the speed so it won't jump to warp speed on me because my kenmore does that also. Thoughts?

**akaCat** · 02-13-2017, 13:20

Originally Posted by mathineer

It is more powerful than my wife's basic Singer. The main thing I don't like about it is the universal motor on it stalls when you try to start slow. Then you push down on the pedal more, and it jumps from stalled to machine gun warp drive speed.

I have a cheaper model Singer, and run into the same problem. The solution I've always used, is to turn the large wheel on the right side of the case to nudge it along at the slow speed. That gets it past the stall, while keeping the speed slow. I'm curious if that approach works on the 4423?