Sewing machine

[Puffin10032]

As you're planning to repair sails you'll need a zig-zag machine. I think the easiest to get hold of are the old all-steel ones made by Brother (often badged as Jones) and Janome (usually badged as New Home). The old one with a side-loading bobbin are probably the best to get. If you're sitting in front of the machine the bobbin access plate will be to the left of the needle. The old Jamome/New Home machines were mostly 500 series such as 515, 525, 535, 537. I don't know muc about the Brother model numbers from that era.

Some of the old Husqvarnas have an extra gearing in them which both slows down the feed rate and increases the power. Sorry I don't know the model numbers.

As for repairing the corners, mainly the head and clew, it should be possible with a domestic machine on the main of yacht in the low 20s LOA, which is probably going to be made from 5oz cloth. A Sailrite (not a clone!) will probably handle a bit heavier sail. Once you get up into the 40 foot yachts (not uncommon on this forum) you need a really heavy duty industrial machine built specifically for sailmaking. Then you get into the machines with pneumatically-driven needles...

Outside of the high-load areas, a domestic machine is probably going to be OK even on a large sail as long as you're not going through more than three or four layers. The challenge will always be to get the bulk of the sail though the machine's throat but where there's a will there's a way.

Thread size can be an issue. V69 should be OK in a domestic machine (use an 18/110 needle). It might take V92 but you'd need to try it. Larger needles (19s or 20s) are available for domestic machines but you'll have to search for them.

Hope this helps.

 

[fredrussell]

…earned her living with it as a HOME worker for a clothing manufacturer.

Domestic machine. Look, don’t take my word for it. Link below to an article on the subject - you’ll notice there is no mention of semi-industrial machines, even though they discuss some meaty machines by Juki, Pfaff and the like… I think what people mean by ‘semi-industrial’ is a ‘heavy duty’ domestic machine.

Industrial Vs Domestic Sewing Machine - Direct Sewing Machines

 

[HunterWanderer]

See ebay 133117162208
These sew multiple layers of sailcloth and canvas.
I've added a drive motor from a golf trolley.

 

[Iliade]

I have:
A modern singer heavy duty - It isn't! Just about copes with jeans. Would work well on spinnakers.
A proper industrial Pfaff - it is (a faff) but can sew spray hoods etc. Not great on thin stuff (User error I expect.)
A simple old Jones - solid, straight stitch only. Adequate.
A Huskvarna Viking with the low gear etc - Recent s/h purchase, seems pretty good thus far. Sews spinnaker cloth well, yet also reattached the Genoa's UV strip last week. Wouldn't cope with the clew tapes. I used a hammer and a nail for that in the end.

 

[yoxyn438]

What type (and cost) of sewing machine is needed for repairing canvas and sails?

Where to look to find a good used one?

For canvas and sails you need a strong motor and ideally a walking foot because thick seams slow down most domestic machines. Older heavy duty Singers or industrial style Sailrite models handle this work well.

If you want to compare what is heavy duty instead of just marketing, you can take a look at what Lords Sewing has because they list the tougher Brother machines with clear specs. I’d tell the poster to buy a new one since it saves a lot of hassle later.

 

[DownWest]

I have a New Home and it has made several sails from scratch. Including all the multiple corners. Zig Zag and other bits.
Very popular with a builder friend..

 

[Sandro]

One more vote for Singer 201K. It just misses zig-zag, necessary for sails.
About links, this is a very very interesting film describing the manufactoring of Singer machines in Clidebank in 1934.
http://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1592

 

[PetiteFleur]

I've a Singer 20u43, a semi industrial sewing machine on an industrial table with a powerful motor. It was too fast - 3000 stitches per minute! I reduced the speed by changing the pulleys. It does straight and zig-zag and can sew through several layers of sailcloth. I have repaired sails, renewing uv strip and new canvas spray hoods etc. Spares easily available. I also have a Singer 320k free arm domestic m/c which is excellent for small sail repairs and canvas work. Does straight, zig-zag & triple zig-zag. 319k m/c similar but not free arm or triple zig-zag(uses DB1 industrial needles as original 206x13 difficult to get) Hope this helps.

 

[stav]

I love my reads sailmaker if you can find one. But there are plenty of machines on ebay up to canvas work. Mine has made bags, stakpacks, series drouge (

) and the odd small sail repair.

 

[Rappey]

What type (and cost) of sewing machine is needed for repairing canvas and sails?

Where to look to find a good used one?

10 years ago I decided i was fed up of waiting and paying others to do repairs. Wanted an industrial with zigzag so i could also do sails.
I rang around sewing machines shops and mobile servicing/repair guys. It was fairly succesfull as quite a few knew of machines for sale.
Ended up with a pfaff 138 in a new table for £175 which i also later learnt is a highly desirable machine.
I struggled with the 500w clutch motor as it was nothing, nothing, light speed... played around with the clutch but no improvement.
I changed to a 550w brushless/digital motor. Absolutely brilliant and so small (£65) . Can dial in the max speed i want and have full control from around 1 stich per second upwards.
The only thing i struggle with is sails around 38ft+ boat in the corners. Broke many a needle and turning by hand shows just how much power is needed to get through.
Usually if the motor is mounted to the back of the machine its low power domestic but if its under the table and belt driven its industrial.
I can lift my machine out of the table, sit it in a wooden base like a domestic singer, fit a handle to it and use it as a portable manual machine.

 

[Rappey]

Where to look to find a good used one?

I dont know where your located but i may have found an absolute bargain for you or someone else.. a pfaff 238, zigzag and straight -£150.
Selling by solentsew.co.uk. Solent sewing machines make sail making machines and others... great company to deal with..
Machine in pic..

 

[Rappey]

I went there for a presser foot, left with a whole machine

 

[fredrussell]

I dont know where your located but i may have found an absolute bargain for you or someone else.. a pfaff 238…

Part sewing machine, part Panzer tank that one. Looks awesome.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Or the OP could do what we did and put an alert on eBay and when a Sailrite came on for under £400 we snapped it up.

I appreciate it was an exceptional bargain as I’d watched one sell for over £1200 a few weeks previously.

 

[Rappey]

a Sailrite came on for under £400

That's a lot of money for a Chinese tofu machine. I saw one today broken in a cardboard box. Was very surprised how tiny they are and not surprised it wasnt worth repairing.

 

[Blueboatman]

Well my two bobs worth . Or £960 or whatever it cost:
16 years ago (!) I popped by the boat show Solent sewing machine stand and came away with one of their zzag machines.
And some very natty scissors that will cut anything incl aramids.
They were doing a ‘load it’ deal which included the monster flywheel. It is great at smooth-and-slow for the tricky bits.

Crikey it is heavy. And I rewired the lamp and motor cables into one plug and removed the box’s top handle and replaced it with 6mm line so it would -just- store under the saloon table.

Despite all the work arounds and excellent s/h industrial sewing machine bargains that canny folk scoop up, I remain happy with it although it ‘probably’ hasn’t quite payed for itself yet .
And it’s done every curtain in this house too, some quite high and full width windows , the seams ain’t going to pull apart in a breeze I hope. Probably should have used uv proof thread though.

 

[john_morris_uk]

That's a lot of money for a Chinese tofu machine. I saw one today broken in a cardboard box. Was very surprised how tiny they are and not surprised it wasnt worth repairing.

Your post has gone completely over my head. You’ll have to explain.

For the avoidance of confusion, what I bought for £300+ was a very heavy walking foot Sailrite LZ1 sewing machine which I believe was made in the USA.

 

[Minerva]

On the need for zig zag stitches, has anyone tried one of these;

Singer Sewing Machine Low Shank ZIG-ZAG attachment FOR 201K, 221k, 222k, 99k Etc | eBay UK

It promises allowing singers to do zig zag stitches…

 

[Minerva]

Your post has gone completely over my head. You’ll have to explain.

For the avoidance of confusion, what I bought for £300+ was a very heavy walking foot Sailrite LZ1 sewing machine which I believe was made in the USA.

Iirc, sailright machines are rebadged Chinese made ones with good marketing

F

Thread 'SAILRITE CLONE'

3 Apr 2020

For several year now, I have been repairing canvas on my boat with a Singer 201K machine. It can be coaxed to cope with all but heavy sewing, but coaxed is the operative word.
Reading posts here at various times, I decided to investigate a 'proper' canvas sewing machine.
First up was a Sailrite, which I used for a few days about five years ago, and was very impressed. However, looking at the costs landed in UK, these worked out at $1095, plus $185 for shipping. On top of that add 20% VAT and import duty at 1.5% gives a total of $1559, which a couple of weeks ago was £1350 which was way...

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[Roberto]

Sewing machines diatribes virulence comes second only to anchor types threads; ok third, if we include furler mainsails