Which Sewing Machine for Canvas ?

seumask said:
Second the Jones Domestic from the 70s and 80s. Have one that's managed well zigzags and many layers of canvas for the last 10 years.
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Same here.
Mine has done several dinghy covers, cockpit cover, various bags, webbing straps etc etc.
I paid £50 for it from a shop about 15 years ago.
I have to say it's not as good as it was. I suspect my unskilled use of it at the extremes of its ability has not been kind to it.
Next time I have a big project, I will probably buy another one.
 
Alfa is another good make that is possibly less well known, I got a v good one from ebay. Correct & sharp needles are essential plus a walking foot attachment (about £8) which is a great aid to feeding the fabric through.
 
fredrussell said:
Singer 201K seems to be everyone's favourite budget toughie. Straight stitch only I believe, no zig-zag.
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Another vote for this 201k, the Admiral got one from the charity shop for £50 We took it in a suitcase to Gib to the boat. The original motor was a bit feeble, so I got a Taiwan motor including a new footpedal off ebay, its superb, go through anything. I got the hang if adjusting the tension but it needs doing on the spool as well.
Stu
 
theoldsalt said:
I've been using the Toyota Super Jeans sewing machine for several years now. Ideal for canvas and domestic. It's very powerful and rugged and has zig-zag stitch for sail work as well. Price is about £150
Available from several sources - see google
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+1 for that
 
An old sewing machine can do good work IF fitted with a new needle. This is essential for good results, especially when tackling five or six reinforcement patches at the corners... not to mention the double thickness of luff-tape where it goes over them!
Needles are cheap for what they are so fit a new one before each major project.
 
Jeans needles are the ones for sailcloth. The rounded nose does not cut the threads of the cloth.


My Reads cost me £75 off the forum, and at home I have a steel-bodied Husqvarna with straight and zig-zag for £46 from a sewing machine shop flogging plastic computer-controlled whizzy things.
 
PuffTheMagicDragon said:
An old sewing machine can do good work IF fitted with a new needle. This is essential for good results, especially when tackling five or six reinforcement patches at the corners... not to mention the double thickness of luff-tape where it goes over them!
Needles are cheap for what they are so fit a new one before each major project.
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There is another post in addition to yours that mentions luff tape or another part of the sails, but the OP is specifically interested in canvas work not sewing sails.

Some great suggestions in this thread though. Noted down a few of the models for if I ever need one.
 
Maybe a bit late now but i got a Reeds Sailmaker to make a canopy along with the cushions and curtains etc for my project boat. I av eyet to make anything serious but it does a great job, it has crank handle and also motor.
It cost £75 inc delivery if i remember correctly. I was prepared to pay twice that but in then end i was encouraged to get this, not that i needed much.

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It’s fun buying a sewing machine. I bought a Singer “Made in W.Germany”. All metal, cost about £30 Ebay. It is brutally heavy but built to some sort of long extinct spec
 
A good buy.
waynes world said:
Maybe a bit late now but i got a Reeds Sailmaker to make a canopy along with the cushions and curtains etc for my project boat. I av eyet to make anything serious but it does a great job, it has crank handle and also motor.
It cost £75 inc delivery if i remember correctly. I was prepared to pay twice that but in then end i was encouraged to get this, not that i needed much.

tn_20170531_165013.jpg
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