Sewing machines on the cheap - what to look for

[RobertB]

Pick up a used Necchi - really good prices on eBay. The two we have are all metal construction and have been able to handle our sail needs so far. Old (really old) Singers are fine, I even have a hand cranked one, but parts are hard to find (such as the bobbin winder housing - often cracked).

[kadet]

Cool my other hobby restoring Old Singer sewing machines

Any info on this one, My grandmother left it to me.

Singer database says it is a model 15 one of 50000 made from December 18 1952 according to that serial number.

The cabinet is not the original cabinet as that model was electric not treadle and that style of cabinet looks like a 1930-1940 one from what I can see in the photo .
A very common machine so nothing special nice cabinet though I would look for a 1930's model 66 to stick in it

[Tomfoolery]

Cool my other hobby restoring Old Singer sewing machines

<snip>

For straight stitch a 1950 Model 201k cast iron machine arguably the finest straight stitch machine ever made. Uses a full 360 rotating hook which gives a very good quality stitch.

Well, as it turns out, my sister, who just moved up here from CT, does a nice business in used sewing machines, and she was surprised when I dropped the 'Singer 201' phrase. She has something like 50 units (of various makes and models and vintages) that she brought up here, after thinning the herd before relocating. So I'll be sniffing around her collection the next time I visit.

And she agreed that for a heavy-duty straight-stitch machine, but not industrial grade, the 201 can't be beat, and should be adequate for what I want to do. Plus, she knows how to fix them, and how to tune them (timing?), and has parts galore. So I'll see what I can do in the near future, and I'll post what I end up with. Just to close the loop.

[Tomfoolery]

Well, I finally got off my duff and started looking for a machine. Watching CL and ebay, I saw a particular machine sort of come and go (appear, then disappear, then reappear), with the price going up and down. It popped up again on CL, so I went and saw it and ran it. It sewed 6 layers of Sunbrella like it was nothing, some multiple layers of denim (which I believe is easier to sew), do zig-zag stitching at various pitches, and the same with straight stitching. It has the momentary reverse lever, and weighs 35 lb without the foot pedal, according to my bathroom scale (which is questionable, since it says I weigh 230 lb ).

So for $130, I figured I couldn't go wrong. It's just for bimini/dodger/enclosure repair. And maybe I'll make a new sail cover, as that can be done off-line, and if I mess that up, nothing has changed (as opposed to messing up my bimini).

It's a 1960's Pfaff 259, which appears to be the same as the 260, but without the fancy stitch gearing, which I neither need nor want. 1.2A, with a chain-belt positive drive system, and the motor underneath instead of hanging off the back. It's very tight, and the paint isn't even scratched from zippers and such. The seller seems to do this as a hobby, and I don't think he was full of it when he guessed it wasn't used much; he just wasn't the type. I paid him the asking price, and he threw in extra 110/18 needles and a few other goodies.

So we'll see how it goes.



Bottom view:



Top view, with cast aluminium cover removed (body is cast iron):

[sailboatmike]

I purchased a industrial machine, only to find out all machines are not created even, while mine is certainly powerful and strong enough to pull heavy weight cottons through, the mechanism isnt physically big enough of much more than domestic thickness thread.

However I did find some UV stabilized suitable thread on line for a very reasonable price, it was around $25Au for 3000 meters or $17US for 10,000 feet or 3,300 yards

You need to use the biggest needles you can find, and I find that domestic needles whilst cheap dont last long, so change the needle often or you will have a terrible mess to unpick (been there done that, OMG what a job), the industrial needles last much longer but are 5 times the price

Have fun, I certainly have, I have made some shocking mistakes but I figure thats how we learn, I look at the covers I made for my fuel tank lockers I made every time I get on the boat and Im still very proud of what I made, as simple as they are they add a sense of completeness to the cockpit and protect the tanks from sun damage at the same time, very neat and very stylish

[gabid]

Old Singer (made 1936) as well, from local pawnshop for $140.
I changed luff tape on genoa, fixed mainsail, made covers for both sails.No zig-zag, but no problems. It has been 3 seasons of sailing in Georgian Bay.

[Highlander]

You going to open a Loft also Just kidding ... I'd like to know that stuff Myself Ron.

Nope he needs it for when he rip,s his pant out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7N7MVuayQk
J

[Loala]

Great thread and much needed! I was faced with the same dilemma a couple years ago when I needed to make lots of small repairs to a bunch of my stuff. (Sails & Canvas etc.) After some serious thinking and consideration I came to the conclusion that I didn’t know enough about sewing machines or not even a clue how to use them. (Too technical I guess) So I just bit the bullet and had a local sail loft take care of my needs.

But I am the resourceful type and do try to learn and do things myself when I can. After researching sail repairs what I did learn is how to mend canvas myself and even take that to repairing my own sails as well. I went on ebay and for about $20-$30 purchased and now keep on my boat a small kit with sail thread, needles, and a right hand palm. For those who don’t know, Google “Sailmakers Palm” “Seaming Palm” or “Sewing Palm” a handy little glove to have around when needing to push a needle through some seriously strong material.

[K9Kampers]

For more than ten years, I've carried some sail repair supplies aboard - needles, thread, tape, material - but haven't yet needed to use them. Recently, it was those supplies that I first thought of for a workplace repair. It was a 'tarp cover' - picture trampoline material - for a walking floor trailer (trucking industry). The original stitching had worn / separated and I convinced my boss that a Speedy Stitcher would be just what was needed, even tho I'd never used one before. For two days, I sat atop a 10' step ladder with my head cautiously close to the shop ceiling fan, learning as I went, to make the needed repairs.

The Speedy Stitcher would be a great low cost investment for any DIY sailors canvas, webbing, leather projects. Sailrite even has videos for using it.

[Freedom77]

Have a 1948, yeah 1948 White portable. Will sew six thicknesses of blue jean denim like a hot knife through butter. They don't make 'em like they used to.

[Tomfoolery]

One thing I've already discovered (from reading) is that Sunbrella likes long stitch-length sewing, like 6-8 mm. My machine only does 3.6mm (measured), but I think it's supposed to go to 4mm, from the markings on the dial (highest number is '4'). Various sources say that's OK, but the longer the better, as Sunbrella puckers at every hole, and long seams can actually shrink the length when sewn, and the more holes the needle makes, the more it 'shrinks'.

I'm not losing sleep over it, but it's something to be aware of if looking for a small machine. Sailrite's portables (with a walking foot, but $900 and up) go to 6mm. Most home machines, according to one source I found, don't go beyond 4mm stitch length.

I don't know (yet), but using the zig-zag feature might reduce that tendency. But I don't know that. And I might be worrying about nothing. I'll see, once I get some V-69 thread and start work.

https://sailrite.wordpress.com/2011/11/ ... ng-fabric/

Oh, and a roller foot is supposed to help with sticky stuff like the plastic 'windows' I need to replace in my dodger. For less than $10, it's a cheap thing to try.

http://www.sewingmachinesteve.com/Pages ... rella.aspx

Any first-hand experience would obviously be welcomed (Sumner?).

[sailboatmike]

If you get your tensions right you shouldnt suffer from pucker, I had to sew a patch on the UV cover on the leech of my jib as the OEM stuff had been shredded, well by patch I mean about a 12 foot length, after a couple of practice runs on scrap material to get the tension right I gave it a go and was very pleased with the results, nice and straight with no puckering with a 4mm stitch

[Highlander]

For more than ten years, I've carried some sail repair supplies aboard - needles, thread, tape, material - but haven't yet needed to use them. Recently, it was those supplies that I first thought of for a workplace repair. It was a 'tarp cover' - picture trampoline material - for a walking floor trailer (trucking industry). The original stitching had worn / separated and I convinced my boss that a Speedy Stitcher would be just what was needed, even tho I'd never used one before. For two days, I sat atop a 10' step ladder with my head cautiously close to the shop ceiling fan, learning as I went, to make the needed repairs.

The Speedy Stitcher would be a great low cost investment for any DIY sailors canvas, webbing, leather projects. Sailrite even has videos for using it.

Now that would b a great tool to have on board for emg. repairs in a pinch

J

[Bilgemaster]

I know next to nothing about sewing or sewing machines, but I do see ranks of them all the time in most every thrift store I visit...all you may ever want...usually priced at between $20 to $50 a pop, and probably highly negotiable from there. I gather that few gals born after the first moon landing are cobbling together their duds from Simplicity or Women's Wear Monthly patterns any more. So, what you're likely looking at are multiple old rigs from the former homes of multiple old Grannies hailing from the '50s through maybe the early '70s.

For heavy duty sail making, canvas and sunbrella work, my hunch is that you'll want some all-metal '50s beast, avoiding those with plastic cowlings or any other bits. Choose the one that's hardest to lift, and looks like you could maybe toss it out of a biplane with little ill effect to it, and you probably won't go wrong. If you can, try plugging it in at the shop and testing basic operation. Even if the bobbin's not loaded or any thread up top, a few pieces of folded over denim should tell the tale of how well she punches. Lots of extra needles and bobbins and such tucked into its slide-covered cubbyholes would obviously be a plus. Also, look around for the sewing basket or box that may have come in with it, too. It may just hold a bunch of old buttons and swatches and threads unsuitable for marine purposes, but you might also find some decent thick old school waxed or nylon or polyester heavier duty upholstery thread, more needles, handy tools, machine oil or other useful gear.

[dthiesmeyer]

My first sewing project was a main sail cover for my Macgregor Venture 21. I used my Wife's Singer sewing machine from the 70's. It did the job, but just barely. By the end of the project, I thought that I had ruined the machine as it had thrown the timing off. I spent a couple hours adjusting it so that it sewed correctly again. After that experience, I bought a Sailrite LSZ-1. I have made sail bags, duffel bags, line bags, cushion covers, binnacle covers and even a new main sail for the Venture 21. I am currently working on side curtains for my Bimini and a dodger for my 26M. I realize that this is not a 'cheap' solution for your boat sewing needs, but I guarantee that you will be happy with a Sailrite machine. This is not a commercial, just a statement of fact.......