Sewing machine for covers

[Puffin10032]

Hi guys this is the sizes of what the machine will take , what size do I need including thread and where would I buy . Thanks

You'll want the biggest needle the machine will take for canvas work so that's a size 18 using the Singer sizing method, 110 using the metric method. The needles will probably be advertised as 110/18 Universal. All the main needle manufacturers make them. You might find denim/jeans needles perform slightly better as they're optimized for penetrating heavy cloth. I buy my domestic machine needles from a sewing shop which has an online shop. I avoid Ebay and Amazon as there's a risk of getting crappy Chinese counterfeits and I can't be a***ed to take take the risk. I can't really help on threads. I get mine from Bainbridge but I do have a trade account there which tends to gravitate me in their direction. You'll want a proper marine cover thread though and the size you want is called V69.

 

[lustyd]

optimized for penetrating heavy cloth

Denim needles are less sharp I believe, so they go through gaps rather than cut through. They definitely worked better for me when I had a domestic machine but v69 was at the very limit of that setup.

 

[geem]

Denim needles are less sharp I believe, so they go through gaps rather than cut through. They definitely worked better for me when I had a domestic machine but v69 was at the very limit of that setup.

We use V92 thread in a Singer 201K and size 18 needles. The 201k easily copes with V92 and sewing heavy canvas type cloth. Denim needles seem to be stronger than cheapo size 18 needles so are less prone to bending. It could just be that we had poor size 18 needles

 

[Puffin10032]

We use V92 thread in a Singer 201K and size 18 needles. The 201k easily copes with V92 and sewing heavy canvas type cloth. Denim needles seem to be stronger than cheapo size 18 needles so are less prone to bending. It could just be that we had poor size 18 needles

It would indeed most likely be poor needles. Denim/jeans needles do give better penetration of heavy cloth than standard needles but not to the point of bending or not bending. In my experience good quality needles tend to break rather than bend. Cheap needles seem to be made of inferior, soft metal which blunts quickly. Given that good quality needles are not expensive it seems like false economy to buy the vastly inferior cheap ones. Size 18 is really too small for V92. Ideally you want size 20 or at a push size 19.

 

[dgadee]

What brand of needle do you suggest?

 

[Beneteau381]

One point to consider. If you are buying 2nd hand it may need a service. I paid £200 for a service for my machine before I started using it in anger.

Define “service” ?

 

[Puffin10032]

What brand of needle do you suggest?

All the big names are good. Schmetz are probably the most widely available in this country followed by Organ and you can't go wrong with either.

 

[dgadee]

Define “service” ?

The receipt is at home, but Drummond in Edinburgh seems to have a good reputation and employ service people. But what would I know. Worked well afterwards.

 

[Beneteau381]

The receipt is at home, but Drummond in Edinburgh seems to have a good reputation and employ service people. But what would I know. Worked well afterwards.

My point is that i fettled my wife’s 201k. Checking the timing is dead easy following instructions in the book that came with it, placing a few drops of machine oil in the oil dimples in the machine is easy, checking and adjusting the tension is easy on both the head and the shuttle. So paying £200 ish for a “service”, whatever that means, seems a bit OTT.

 

[dgadee]

Well, I was a bit surprised but if you don't know how they work you have to get someone who does. I seem to remember some parts were required.