What's the best sewing machine?

[PetiteFleur]

I also have a Singer 20u 43 - excellent straight and zig zag. Industrial machine so very fast, had to slow it down with a much smaller drive pulley. Made spray hood, cockpit canopy, Dodgers, new uv strip on Genoa etc etc. Often on eBay, the '43' refers to the size of zig-zag.

 

[Lomax]

What's the best sewing machine?

This:



I have the virtually identical "362 Automatic", which adds some (pretty useless) embroidery stiches. It's a semi-industrial chain driven machine and it weighs a tonne; with the right needle and thread it will chew through a doubled up leather belt at full whack (please don't try this at home). Found mine in the local electronics recycling bin - mint condition in carry bag, complete with original pedal, manual, and "Thank You for Buying Pfaff" stickers still attached! The less fortunate can expect to pay up towards £200 for a good condition one. A thing of beauty and a joy forever!

Edit: They sure don't make 'em like this anymore...

 

[chrishscorp]

Just having a scout round at the moment for a beast capable of doing zig zag and 5 or 6 layers of sailcloth as that is what stuffed the wifes last machine, i had it repaired for her which is why im still alive

Upholstry, canvass work and sail work. I was told for sails it did need the zig zag function.

 

[ghostlymoron]

An old Jones or Singer zigzag machine is robust enough and you can often pick one up for £20 or so.

Just having a scout round at the moment for a beast capable of doing zig zag and 5 or 6 layers of sailcloth as that is what stuffed the wifes last machine, i had it repaired for her which is why im still alive

Upholstry, canvass work and sail work. I was told for sails it did need the zig zag function.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Sailrite are the best but not cheap. Only make sense if you'll be using it a lot.

 

[doug748]

This should sort most jobs:

FWIW, I understand Solent Sewing Machines stock Sailrite any more, you have to order direct.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

I bought a 1950's Frister and Rossman on ebay for £30, the quality of the engineering is incredible. It has the original
instructions but I have never used a sewing machine, and don't know how to start using it how do you get lessons? My mother, gran, aunts etc always had one on the go, but the skill never got passed down..

 

[Yellow Ballad]

I bought a 1950's Frister and Rossman on ebay for £30, the quality of the engineering is incredible. It has the original
instructions but I have never used a sewing machine, and don't know how to start using it how do you get lessons? My mother, gran, aunts etc always had one on the go, but the skill never got passed down..

There's some pretty good step by step tutorials on Youtube.

 

[Ohlin Karcher]

There's some pretty good step by step tutorials on Youtube.

I will look thanks

 

[Plum]

Just having a scout round at the moment for a beast capable of doing zig zag and 5 or 6 layers of sailcloth as that is what stuffed the wifes last machine, i had it repaired for her which is why im still alive

Upholstry, canvass work and sail work. I was told for sails it did need the zig zag function.

I have modified a few sails using two parallel rows of stitching and they are still good after many years. Zig zag gives you more stitches per seam length in just one pass which is why a professional would prefer that but in my experience zig zag is not essential. Anyway, most of the strength comes from the double sided tape used to assemble the sail before stitching, at least that is what a professional told me. Don't forget there are two types of zig zag, a single stitch left to right and one consisting of multiple stitches in each zig and zag.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Gunfleet]

The sailrite tutorials are good. Even though they are pointed towards their machines the information is more general.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-BMHx0xMEyXfSY7Cw-zaFP8vcvliaXwA

 

[doug748]

Anyone interested?
These are good, solid machines:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Vin...030584?hash=item420aeb3e38:g:IfsAAOSwru1druIp

And an attractive price. It's basically one of the Reads models with a different badge.

 

[Puffin10032]

Anyone interested?
These are good, solid machines:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Vin...030584?hash=item420aeb3e38:g:IfsAAOSwru1druIp

And an attractive price. It's basically one of the Reads models with a different badge.

Suspiciously cheap though even with the admitted faults.

 

[Gunfleet]

Suspiciously cheap though even with the admitted faults.

the Singer 201ks are bullet proof and with a leather needle will sew very heavy cloth. The spares are available everywhere. If you wanted a machine for both domestic and sail/canvas work a Bernina 1008 will do it. You can buy an add on walking foot for either if you need it - essentially for slippery cloth (sailcloth).

 

[ip485]

I use my trusty Sailrite.

If you are new to this sort of thing a Sailrite will handle most jobs BUT it still has limitations. They tell you it will go through thick material. It will, but of course it has limits. Dont expect it to go through multi layers of sail cloth at the corner of a sail. Also the distance between foot and mount is pretty standard so, if you are doing a very large construction, getting the cloth betweeen will get more challenging. My biggest project was the deck tent, which I would say is just on its limits of capability in terms of feeding that amount of cloth through. It is a great machine however for all those little projects and repairs.

 

[Graham376]

I use my trusty Sailrite.

If you are new to this sort of thing a Sailrite will handle most jobs BUT it still has limitations. They tell you it will go through thick material. It will, but of course it has limits. Dont expect it to go through multi layers of sail cloth at the corner of a sail. Also the distance between foot and mount is pretty standard so, if you are doing a very large construction, getting the cloth betweeen will get more challenging. My biggest project was the deck tent, which I would say is just on its limits of capability in terms of feeding that amount of cloth through. It is a great machine however for all those little projects and repairs.

Excellent machine and the only struggle I had with my Sailrite was trying to feed my large sprayhood with two windows (one above the other) through. Replacing a window needs the new one fitting before cutting out the old and rolling window material plus fabric tight enough to feed under the arm without scratching was practically impossible so, in the end I paid someone with a long arm machine to do it. No problem with cockpit tent, sail cover, dodgers, dinghy chaps, webbing, etc. and a single window sprayhood would have been OK.

 

[Gunfleet]

What are dinghy chaps please?

 

[ip485]

Covers for the tubes to stop the damage caused by UV and abrasions. I made those. A surprising amount of work, but the Sailrite was up to the task!

Graham376 - I agree - it does just struggle where a long arm or flat bed would come in very useful. Organising the work really well is some help.

 

[Gunfleet]

Covers for the tubes to stop the damage caused by UV and abrasions. I made those. A surprising amount of work, but the Sailrite was up to the task!

Thanks. Yours must get more sunshine than mine :-(
Abrasion I can understand - mine tore a piece of its rubbing strake against a jetty once and I can't imagine how it might be repaired.

 

[Graham376]

What are dinghy chaps please?