What's the best sewing machine?

[wully1]

I read this thread months ago when I decided to get myself a sewing machine for boat work since the Admiral won’t let me anywhere near hers after the last project...
I trawled flea bay and succeeded in getting a Jones 553 foreign of unknown vintage for not a lot..It is a solid all metal machine (no plastic cogs..)that does zig zag and straight stitch. It will sew easily through 4 layers of vinyl (tricky to keep an even feed)not tried any more. Yet..
Industrial needles, thread and a walking foot attachment are cheap enough to experiment with - as is the tension which seems to be the critical setting.
Ive had it in bits to see what’s inside, cleaned and serviced it and am having plenty fun playing with it until the weather warms up enough for outside boat work.
I might even get round to doing some actual boat work on it as soon as I think I can sew straight lines..

 

[doug748]

That Jones 553 was actually made in Japan, I believe, by Brother. They bought Jones of Manchester in the late 60's.
I had a slightly earlier model, they are a good, strong piece of kit.
Early/mid 70's I would say.

 

[Adios]

The trouble with all the old ones like that Jones and anything from that era is they are so damn heavy. My wife doesn't use the Bernina simply because its too much to get out and put away each time.

This post stood out earlier in the thread. Toyota I trust as a company so have to at least consider this and looked it up. Designed in Japan but made in China to a cost. Only weighs 5kg but rated for 4.5mm thickness of leather. Seems to be £250 new but there are exactly the same looking older models on ebay called super jeans sewing machines that go for £100 to £150. Of course we think heavy is quality and sturdy but how much of the weight is the metal casing and is that really contributing to strength and longevity in a home use setting? As long as the working parts are up to the job saving 10kg with a plastic casing might make sense.

I do a fair bit if sewing and wanted a new machine but with a limited budget. I bought the Toyota Power Fabriq. It weighs next to nothing so it needs fixing to the work table when using heavy fabric, but otherwise it's great. Ive just made new cockpit cushions in leatherette inc piping. Easy peasy even without the walking foot. Have knocked up heavy winter curtains and adjusted leather motorbike trousers. Best machine I've had for the money.

 

[fredrussell]

I have a similar Jones machine to Wully. They are heavy it’s true, but the fact that they’re still whirring away half a century later is quite impressive for a fairly complex bit of machinery.

I do have the answer to the OP’s question though... The best sewing machine is the one that’s just been serviced, and only by a professional. There’s a great art to servicing and setting up a sewing machine, and someone that’s good at it will ask you exactly what type of sewing you intend to do on it before he or she sets it up.

 

[tross]

There is a guy (steve) on gumtree based in Ringwood that sells refurbished heavy duty sewing machings. I bought a Jones maching off him late last year. I was sewing 4 layers of canvas with this one - it needed a little help to start but once going it had no issues. I replaced all the stitching on my stack pack over Xmas and went through nearly 500m of thread .

The best neddles for canvas work are Schmetz130/18 these seem to last the longest. Another tip is to get spare bobbings and load then up with thread if doing a long run. That way you will not have to unthread and re-thead the machine each time to wind the bobbing. Lastly, get a LED replacement bulb - much better with old eyes.

 

[wully1]

I have a similar Jones machine to Wully. They are heavy it’s true, but the fact that they’re still whirring away half a century later is quite impressive for a fairly complex bit of machinery.

I do have the answer to the OP’s question though... The best sewing machine is the one that’s just been serviced, and only by a professional. There’s a great art to servicing and setting up a sewing machine, and someone that’s good at it will ask you exactly what type of sewing you intend to do on it before he or she sets it up.

Im fortunate in having a pal who is a sewing machine engineer who has been giving me lessons on zoom..
I was planning on going on a course with these guys about now but it’ll have to wait until next winter now.

Domestic Sewing Machine Repair Training Courses