Sewing machines on the cheap - what to look for

[Tomfoolery]

I've searched the forum six ways from Sunday, but all I seem to find are glancing mentions of machines, often without any specifics. And a dedicated thread might help others in the future, anyway.

So here's my question: What should I look for in a well-used, old, cheap, but suitable for canvas and sail repair, and maybe some cushion making if I get real ambitious, sewing machine? I don't need pretty, just strong and cheap.

I would think zig-zag is important, especially for sails. Walking foot is probably going to put the cost out of reach, but would be really nice for replacing some of the flex windows in my dodger.

Anyone have specific brands and models or styles I should look for? Or stay away from? Sub-$100 is good. Old is fine, and probably a given anyway. Portable is best, but I can make a box base to hold a non-portable type.

[mrron_tx]

You going to open a Loft also Just kidding ... I'd like to know that stuff Myself Ron.

[Tomfoolery]

No, 'fraid not. My FIL has a Sailrite machine with walking foot, but he's only up here for the summers, and I'd like to make repairs in the winter. And do the work myself. But I'm not willing to spend as much as that machine costs, but I would think I could find something pretty plain vanilla but heavy enough to do that kind of work. I just don't know anything about sewing machines.

[Sumner]

.... I just don't know anything about sewing machines.

One thing you need to know for sure is that if you use 'any sewing' machine very much you are sooner or later going to need parts for it and also will need to know how to get it back in adjustment when it gets out. The more complicated the machine (more features) the more likely that sooner or later it will get out of 'time'. You need to know what to do when the thread balls up, breaks often, the stitch isn't tight, the stitch length gets off, etc.

When any of those happen and you need to find someone to correct it then the Sailrite machine starts getting a lot cheaper if you can't fix the problem or find the part you need. Their service and parts support just can't be beat. Since I also don't live someplace where you are going to find help they really bailed me out before. I have a friend that bought a real heavy duty machine at a very low price but he has never ended up using it for some of the reasons I stated above. Some industrial machines are also quite fast for a beginner to get the hang of. The Sailrite will sew one stitch at a time if needed and it is needed at times.

Now saying all of that we did find an alternative and Ruth made a number of projects with it. We still paid a couple hundred for it as others are also looking for one but it can sew through a lot and since it doesn't have a walking foot and zigzag is simpler to keep adjusted and you can find help online for it. It is an older Singer that was a light industrial machine when it was produced. It is the Singer 99. We paid $200 on E-bay but you might find one for less, maybe a lot less if someone doesn't know what they have. It was able to penetrate all of the various layers of Sunbrella and vinyl and screening on our pop-top. The Sunbrella is really tuff stuff. The machine struggled a couple times, but did the job where a newer plastic machine we also had wouldn't of stood a chance. It doesn't have the walking foot that is nice but not absolutely needed as....



..... Ruth made some complicated projects with it....



... including the pop-top cover and if you can do it you can do any of the other projects.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

Zigzag is also not needed. If you need the strength just run two parallel stitches. I've read that it mainly came about to speed up production eliminating making two passes where added strength is needed. The two passes is actually probably stronger. It looks cool but we hardly ever used it.

Good luck and if you price what it costs to have a lot of these canvas jobs farmed out in some cases one job would pay for the Sailrite machine. I love it,

Sumner

============================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[kadet]

Cool my other hobby restoring Old Singer sewing machines

Here is a 1902 Singer 15-30 I brought back to life. Not very good for sewing sails though it is strong and they were made from 1890 to 1970 so there is the odd model 15 around, I use it for canvas but as it is a treadle and it is a nice old restored antique I don't use it much.




The work horses are;

For straight stitch a 1950 Model 201k cast iron machine arguably the finest straight stitch machine ever made. Uses a full 360 rotating hook which gives a very good quality stitch.



For ZigZag I use a 1956 Model 319K

sorry no pic Google Singer 319K

For Quick easy work a 1951 Centenary Model 99k



Look for an old cast iron model no plastic gears a good straight stitch is way better than a modern zigzag, walking foot industrial machines cost a fortune even the old ones, so look for a semi-industrial domestic machine. If you are only doing the odd bit of canvas work or sail repair you don't need an industrial machine.

Search ebay for old Singers Pfaff or Domestic sewing machines etc.. I prefer Singer as there are so many around, lots of good restore sites, parts and manuals all online.

[gabid]

I've got a Singer as well 3 years ago from a pawn shop for $125. I used it for sail work, like replacing luff tape, sail covers, repair bimini cover,etc.
No real zig zag capabilities, it can be done with special attachment but it works only on small pieces of material. As it has mentioned here before, two passes work great if needed.

[Sumner]

.....

Wow, those are beautiful . Even after buying the Sailrite machine we kept the Singer. Sometimes we were sewing right up to a departure date and if for any reason we would of had a problem with the Sailrite machine the Singer could of finished the job. Never had that happen but it was nice knowing we had a reliable backup,

Sumner

============================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Tomfoolery]

Wow, good stuff! Thanks, guys.

[Hamin' X]

Is this your 319K?



~Rich

[Tomfoolery]

Zigzag is also not needed. If you need the strength just run two parallel stitches. I've read that it mainly came about to speed up production eliminating making two passes where added strength is needed. The two passes is actually probably stronger. It looks cool but we hardly ever used it.

I didn't know that, but in retrospect, my FIL's Sailright machine is the straight-stitch only version, and it's been just fine. He runs two parallel stitch lines. Eliminating that 'need' should simplify my search, I would think.

[kadet]

Is this your 319K?



~Rich

Yes that's the one, and I got it for free with an old 1930's cabinet I needed for parts to restore a 1918 Model 66 Lotus

[kadet]

...

Wow, those are beautiful . Even after buying the Sailrite machine we kept the Singer. Sometimes we were sewing right up to a departure date and if for any reason we would of had a problem with the Sailrite machine the Singer could of finished the job. Never had that happen but it was nice knowing we had a reliable backup,

Sumner

[/quote]

They don't often start that way here is the 15-30 as I found it...

[March]

Gentle fellow sailors:
I love automation as much as the guy next door, and restoring a sewing machine and doing the stitches properly is a great incentive. But I also like traditions, and the idea of a sailor, puffing away at his pipe and stitching canvas on board, when dead calm hits, also has its own twisted charm.
It took me a day to stitch the luff of the headsail, using dental floss (already waxed, right?) and the zigzagged holes of the previous stitches. Did a pretty good job (as far as a man's skills go) and felt very much connected to the past.
The dead calm happened to be while my boat was on the trailer, in the backyard, but I don't think that's relevant

[raycarlson]

Those old machines are works of art, somehow in the year 2090 I don't think you will see many Sailrite machines still zigzagging away, but I bet those old singer's will still be stiching along just fine.

[Seapup]

Cool my other hobby restoring Old Singer sewing machines

Any info on this one, My grandmother left it to me.