Association Forum - Heavy duty sewing machine advice?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Heavy duty sewing machine advice?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Gary B.
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/15/2005 : 12:46:46

I am on a budget and like to do my own work whenever possible. I picked up a bolt of sunbrella and would like to re-make my sailcovers and other Sunbrella items.

However, my old sewing machine doesn't like more than 2 layers of the new Sunbrella fabric, which really limits what I can do. it is an old, metal cased "Imperial" machine. We also have a Singer around, but it is plastic and I am sure not able to do any better.

Anyone out there with personal experience who can recommend an AFFORDABLE machine that will sew multi-layers of thick fabric? If I knew of brands or models that would work, I could start a search to find one used....on E-bay, or at sewing centers or wherever else you might suggest.

Thanks. I have saved a TON of money in the past doing my own work, and I recommend it for those with the equipment who are willing to "risk" a bit.

Sewing doesn't threaten my masculinity. It is just another type of "construction" as I see it, just using different tools and materials.

Gary B.
s/v Encore! #685 SK/SR
Fleet 94 Captain

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 14:16:49

great question gary b.

i am interested in getting started and don't want to buy a sail rite or others.

maybe the others can recommend some older sewing machines that can handle several layers and do a little zig zag

i would love to pick up a good cheap sewing machine in the $75 to $125 range out of the paper ads, i just know what type

dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr
sailing carlyle lake in southern illinois

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 14:27:37

A cheap heavy duty machine is an oxy-moron. You could take the thickest thing you want to sew to a sewing center. Try it out on the different machines. I have a 1970's era Reads Sailmaker. It will sew through bones and is still worth what my dad paid for it 25+years ago.

I am no expert but think you should look at a walking foot machine as it will feed normally when sewing ultra heavy materials.

Most of the heavy duty machines are made in Japan ot Tawain. They are all about the same in construction. Sailrite has several models to choose from. Don't be affraid to spend some cash on this as you will still make out in the long run. And, if you decide to sell, it will retain most of it's value.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 16:04:03

Cheapskate Apprentice Seamsters Club

</center>
Somewhere, I think it was SailRite, I found a list of desirable features for a boat canvas duty sewing machine. The criteria I can recall include: <ul>
<li>Metal good, plastic bad. Especially the moving parts such as gears.</li>
<li>External motor good, internal bad. It's important to be able to easily replace the motor, perhaps with a more powerful one.</li>
<li>Heavy flywheel good. I've even read about adding stick-on car wheel ballancing weights to improve flywheel inertia.</li>
<li>High lift pressure foot adjustable over a wide range of pressure.</li>
<li>Walking foot good. Lots of luck finding an inexpensive one though.</li>
<li>Long, high arm good. That is what determines how wide a project you can sew in the middle of. What's important is the total area of the tightest point under the arm. Think genoa or spinnaker repair.</li>
<li>Cabinet good. I like the ones about the size of a small table that also store the machine and a few accessories inside when not in use. This is also where your knee-activated speed control mounts.</li>
<li>I prefer a mechanical sewing machine, not a computer. I'd try to get one with as few electronic features as possible.</li>
<li>Company still in business, new parts still available.</li>
<li>Accepts industry standard everything. Bobbins, thread spools, needles, light bulb, belt, motor mount, whatever.</li>
</ul>
I found an old Brother 'Project' model at a garage sale for under $100. It looks like it has never been used. I can punch through all the layers of Sunbrella where overlapping hems are folded over each other at corners. It does at least a dozen fancy embroidery stiches using interchangable mechanical cams. It's not walking foot, and could use a more powerful motor, but over all, I'm rather pleased.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

PamC
Navigator

Members Avatar

171 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 17:37:19

I borrowed a machine from the previous owner of our boat that he purchased on ebay. It looks like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/Industrial-Heavy-Duty-Walking-Foot-Sewing-Machine-9_W0QQitemZ7546903561QQcategoryZ26256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I used it to make a foredeck bag for our jib. It worked well and my friends who have a sailrite machine said it looked the same as theirs except for the color. I was able to sew through several layers of sunbrella and nylon webbing that I used to reinforce stress points. It's a fraction of the cost of the sailrite, which I know is a very good machine.

Edited by - on

Tony Dillon
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 18:37:05

I picked up a old Pfaff 130 on ebay for around $175 then had it worked over by the Pfaff dealer in Spokane, WA cost for the was $100 but included a improved flywheel and had crank mechanism that can be used inplace of the electric motor. Works great for sails, sunbrella. I have even used it for nylon strapping. Sews straight and zig-zag. It was recommended to me as a good machine for this kind of work by John Neal.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2005 : 18:42:00

The Sailrite does look like a knockoff type machine. The main advantage of the sailrite is someone who speak english to talk to when you have a problem. They claim it is tuned by sairite and has special stuff. Call around to the local repair shops and ask them for a tough machine. Then bring your fabric and let er rip. My machine goes through everything without binding, grinding or banging. I fully expect to give it to one of my kids one day.

Be careful with the "bargain" as you may be greatly dissapointed and will still have to pay someone to mend sails etc. You might be able to find a partner or 2 for shared use. Or even mend a few sails to recoup the cost.

Another brand that is bulletproof is consew. Really great machines.

Tom.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 00:31:08

When we got married the first appliance we purchased was a Pfaff Hobbymatic 917. With it we did quite a few sewing projects on the Hobie Cat. Even sewed new hiking straps to the vinyl trampoline! As much as my wife liked the machine when we bought our big boat it needed all new cushions and foam. We bought a Sailrite machine, figuring it will pay for itself with the money we save on the cushions. My wife loves it and the cushions turned out great. Now I see her choose the Sailrite for all the home projects and the Pfaff is just for lighter weight stuff, even though it is a lot less trouble to lug out of the closet. My wife did say she wants to buy the big flywheel but we have not yet.

Regarding men and sewing: I don't see any association with the skills and any particular sex but in my household I have realized that my wife had already invested a lot of hours in building skills and that if I let her do my projects they turn out much better. Also she is much better at visualizing things turned inside out than I am. As an architect I make my living visualizing 3 dimensional constructions but turning them inside out eludes me. I used to argue with her about how to construct things, now I just say "Show me". I have increased one sewing skill in my partnership, I have become adept at ripping out mistakes.

Edited by - on

Gary B.
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
969 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 03:27:57

This is all helpful information and I appreciate it. However, several of you have said that you own "the Sailrite model". Well, they sell at least 6 different machines, from the Apprentice, which they say will sew 6 layers of Sunbrella but has no walking foot, up to the "Professional Sailmaker" or something that is over $2000.

It would be helpful to know if anyone has the $350 Apprentice model, and whether or not it gets recommendations. It might take awhile to make a $700 investment pay off, if half that amount would buy a machine that would do the job.

Thanks,

Gary B.
s/v Encore! #685

Edited by - on

eric.werkowitz
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 12:01:51

I have a Necchi I bought from some distributer for about $250. It isn't especially heavy duty, but I've made hand rail covers, tiller cover, sail cover and bimini using sunbrella. At one point on the bimini I know I was sewing atleast 5 layers. I had intended to take it in to a upholsterer for that seem, but was able to do it on my machine (slowly).

Bottom line: unless you are going to do an awful lot of sewing, lighter machines can be used. Make some test stitches with many layers of fabric. That was what sold me when they demoed my machine to me.

Edited by - on

Todd Frye
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
222 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 12:02:24

Gary,
When faced with the same dilemma two years ago, I dropped in to the university upholstery shop to ask the pros. Pfaff is the high mark. To show off, they actually sewed through a piece of 1/4" plywood. They make tool holders out of thick leather, canvas awnings, etc. Their advise: get a Pfaff (German made), with a walking foot, zigzag, and reverse. A local upholstery supply outfit has a contact with an industrial sewing machine repairman who sells used machines. He had a few Pfaffs, but I just couldn't justify the purchase price. Went to EBay looking for Industrial Sewing Machines and found a new MORSE for $250 (?). I have cranked out new main sail cover, sock for furling head sail, sleeves for life line cushions, bug screens for companionway/front hatch, tiller handle cover, anchor riding sail, anchor chain sock, etc. I am constantly adjusting tension on the Morse. I keep thinking I should have gone with the Pfaff. My .02. Something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pfaff-545-WalkingFoot-Leather-Industrial-Sewing-Machine_W0QQitemZ7544943190QQcategoryZ26256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Todd Frye

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 13:27:32

Another thought is to call a loft and see what they use.

Most sailmakers would be glad to offer you their advice. You may even get lucky and find a loft that has an old machine they are trying to get rid of.
dw

Edited by - on

budd
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 13:59:01

try going to your local Pawn Shops for a good buy on top quality machine; sometimes you can really get a good deal.

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 09/16/2005 : 18:31:31

Gary, I found an old White machine. All metal and as I read the list of positive features that Leon has, it comes out pretty darned good. $69 at the local sewing machine shop. This guy sells new machines and takes trade-in's. I have sewn a dodger, thru window material and sunbrella. Be sure to keep a sharp needle and regularly oil the gears. As for the walking foot being expensive. This same shop sold me a very simple attachment for less the $20. I have sure gotten my moneys worth out of this old machine and the best thing is I don't get yelled at for asking to use the wife's super duper machine.

Edited by - on

JaimeZX
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2005 : 15:40:31

Well I might go ahead and throw in my 2 cents. I bought my wife a sewing machine with an eye towards cusions and biminis and what-not. We were steered towards a White brand "Jeans Machine," which is specifically designed for denim and thicker fabrics. My wife loves it. :)

Edited by - on

dave holtgrave
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
427 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2005 : 16:11:54

jaime zx
and the cost was?

and you bought it at?

thanks
dave holtgrave
5722 sk/tr

Edited by - on

JaimeZX
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2005 : 02:23:42

Ah. Sorry. I suppose that's good information. :)

I think it was about $240 or thereabouts and we got it at Hancock Fabrics. Our first project was recovering an old sofa we got at the thrift store. We did it all in denim and courderoy. Came out very nicely (for our first upholstry project) although next time we'll make thicker cushious. ;)

Good luck!

Jim

Edited by - on

10timesSaltier
1st Mate

Members Avatar

80 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2005 : 00:10:41

My mother owns a fabric/sewing store and she gave me this little tid-bit when I asked her why I was having so much difficultly sewing through thick material: Use a rounded point needle rather than a super sharp pointed one (I forget the size) -- makes a huge difference.

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2005 : 17:37:31

Check this machine out. It looks like it would sew through anything. I have had dealings with Harbor Freight and the customer service has always been perfect. Even when a truck ran over my utility trailer. They sent me the parts for free because it had a lifetime warantee.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=3914

The table is extra but you may be able to use something around the house.

Tom.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 10/08/2005 : 00:06:05

Does not say anything about a walking presser foot. That is one of the nice attributes of a heavy duty machine from Sailrite and others. A walking foot moves with the bottom feed to pull the fabric through the machine together.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.