Sewing machine recommendations

[Poignard]

Domestic machines can work, but my last one died a horrible death while sewing canvas as the gears mashed together and it never moved again.
If you’re going to use anything domestic (Singer heavy duty has metal gears, this would be a reasonable choice) get denim needles and don’t use V92 thread as it’s too thick to get a proper stitch with the needle sizes a domestic machine can take.
If you want your project to last use V92 thread and a proper machine. It’s always the thread that goes first, followed by the zips.
Solent Sew sell machines for about £1200 which are similar to Sailrite, but not quite as nicely executed and no nice box.

Thanks. That is very good advice about thread size.

I struggled with V92 using domestic machines and eventually realised that I had either to settle for V69 or buy an industrial machine.

 

[pandos]

Lots of Singer recommendations here, but the 201K is the one you want. They date from the 1950s and said to be the Rolls Royce of sewing machines. We've had ours for years and done countless projects on it. No zig zag, but it will sew anything you can fit under the foot.

I have one of these and have made a stackpack and a spryhood but it struggled with too many layers. But I bought it for about 60quid so good value .

I bought an industrial one from a sailmaker recently which I am looking forward to using in the winter. This was also cheapish, and probably a better bet for doing multiple layers and zig zag for sails. But it is heavy and bulky so you need space and help to move it around.

Gumtree is a good source for this type of thing.

I got my materials from amazon or from these guys ESVO tents, tent fabric, tent canvas, tent poles, awnings, tent fabrics

 

[lustyd]

Thanks. That is very good advice about thread size.

I struggled with V92 using domestic machines and eventually realised that I had either to settle for V69 or buy an industrial machine.

In theory it's the needle that's the issue. If your domestic machine can hold the larger needle (18 I think, but don't quote me) and if it can then force that thick bit of metal through the fabric then it'll work. Domestic machines tend to stall in that situation, and most won't hold a needle that thick anyway. With smaller needles the threads get stuck underneath so won't tension properly and you'll have a straight bottom thread with a top thread looping around it. It works, but it's neither pretty nor strong. The thinner thread generally works OK but the machine will eventually die if it has plastic gears, although since you can buy 25 cheap machines for the cost of one SailRite landed into the UK the cheaper ones may be better value ?

 

[Graham376]

Sailrite

Sailrite are good, I've had one for 10+ years BUT, they're a rebadged and overpriced Chinese machine. Some of the current Chinese models have a 2" larger under arm size, the same as Solent's offering but half the price and would be my choice if buying new now. Making a new sprayhood last winter was a bit of a struggle with the limited space on the Sailrite, but OK for dodgers, sail cover and bimini.

 

[Adios]

We recently invested in a new Singer 5523 which, so far, is excellent.

Any idea where it's made? Also did you compare it to the Singer Heavy Duty 6335M Denim?

 

[tross]

Somewhere I have a Reads Sailmaker looking for a new home. If I can find it this week I will put it on YBW For Sale.

if you have, nI would be interested in it

 

[PetiteFleur]

Another alternative would be the Singer 320k/319k - straight, zig-zag and triple zig-zag. Needles are now rare for this machine, usually only size 12 or 14 available. But you can use the identical DBx1 industrial needles which don't have the flat on the shank and must be inserted with the long groove towards you. Several sizes available and cheaper. Also 306k but doesn't do triple zig-zag - just straight and zig-zag. A good machine for light to medium fabrics.

 

[Marceline]

Wow - so many replies and thanks ever so much for the many suggestions everybody

Where are you? I have an old Singer machine you could use. I repaired a Stackpack with it, but haven't used it for a few years. I'm in Southampton.

Thanks so much - I'm up in North Wales, but I'm hopefully coming down for a RYA course on the Solent in mid Sep if your still have it then

Somewhere I have a Reads Sailmaker looking for a new home. If I can find it this week I will put it on YBW For Sale.

many thanks also - it may be out of my budget but will be glad to check it out

 

[wully1]

Any idea where it's made? Also did you compare it to the Singer Heavy Duty 6335M Denim?

Like virtually everything else these days it'll be made somewhere out east.. The Singer factory in Glasgow is long gone.

I didn’t compare it to the HD Denim - read some reviews and took advice from someone who uses theirs professionally to repair heavy, dirty sacks. (Used for gold mining!) We won’t be sailmaking so don’t need a professional machine.

 

[HenrikH]

Sailrite may be the best, if you are ok with the price. A sturdy machine at a good price is Toyota Super Jeans