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ribbony · 25-01-2010, 19:55

OK - To slightly deviate off the original question for a moment. There is a Singer 20u available (normal arm, blue coloured). Would that be a good machine for in garage use, it apparently does 9mm wide zigzag ?

We can put that in the shed and then hunt down a lighter machine for dockside and onboard use.

**sarafina** · 25-01-2010, 20:24

throat is a bit tight... and with that machine you can't put it on the floor and work the material around... but yeah, I bet it has enough punch to do the job. I suggest you take an old sail to test the machine is possible. if not ask the folks who own it to stitch thru a sample you send them and have them send back. You will be able to see by the stitch sample how it handles 10 layers of sail cloth...

what are they asking for it? What year is it?

ribbony · 25-01-2010, 20:43

No Sure of the age, I gather it one of the earlier units. The machine is about 1000km from me at the moment and I would have to buy it blind, it is however about $200 AUD ( $180 US) plus a lot of driving.

Thanks

ribbony · 25-01-2010, 20:55

Here is a photo if that helps.

ribbony · 27-01-2010, 16:44

Bought the Singer for $205 on eBay, will have a very long drive to pick it up. We will put that in the garage and use it at home, will still look for a portable for dockside use.

Windseeker · 27-03-2012, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by senormechanico

I don't understand the reason for the near cult like following for the Pfaff 130. It's an OK mechanical machine, but so are a lot of other mechanical machines of the same era.

That is exactly how I feel as I research this topic. I kinda reminds me of the IPhone vs. Android arguements. My best guess is because you could pick up a 130 pretty cheap, but that seems to be changing. I'm going to sit down and really think about what I really need with all this information.

BTW: I just love your signatu

FecklessDolphin · 27-03-2012, 10:50

I have a Pfaff Select 3.0 in good shape and I am having a difficult time going thru sails with it. Granted I am new to sewing. I got some needles designed for denim from Hancock Fabrics as well as some nylon thread. When the needle does make it thru the cloth, the thread gets all balled up and rips the needle out. I have tried lighter threads without much better luck. Any suggestions?

Jengordon · 10-04-2012, 14:35

I have been researching this, and am overwhelmed! I found an old-school completely metal, heavy New Home model 444, with walking foot, for about $200. Is this the type of sewing machine I can use to do small sail repairs? I know it can do canvas, as I can do that with my Kenmore basic machine. But I was thinking I need stomething beefier and with a walking foot and the bobbin oriented the other way, all metal, for sails. Will this machine do the job? The store where it is available is a sewing machine store only - they know what they are doing and I am sure it is in top shape. He says he'll tune it to use 69# nylon thread. Is that what I need?

Help, please!

--Jennifer

barnakiel · 10-04-2012, 18:56

It only depends on the job at hand. A kite can be fixed on nearly anything with a zigzag, while a dacron, sail, esp. an old one, and then in the patches area ...

b.

Randyonr3 · 11-04-2012, 08:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jengordon

I have been researching this, and am overwhelmed! I found an old-school completely metal, heavy New Home model 444, with walking foot, for about $200. Is this the type of sewing machine I can use to do small sail repairs? I know it can do canvas, as I can do that with my Kenmore basic machine. But I was thinking I need stomething beefier and with a walking foot and the bobbin oriented the other way, all metal, for sails. Will this machine do the job? The store where it is available is a sewing machine store only - they know what they are doing and I am sure it is in top shape. He says he'll tune it to use 69# nylon thread. Is that what I need?

Help, please!

--Jennifer

Sewing is our business, not machines, but sewing we find that on sails, we use 138 thread with a size 22 or 24 needle..
For sail repair on the boat, I still often do it by hand.. its faster and I dont have to drag the machine and sail together..
Besides that, about the only sewing you'll be able to do in your sails with a machine is the the outside 1 foot or so.. Even on the heavy industrial machines the throat is only about 10 to 12 inches..
You can build a sail from scrach with a standard machine as you are rolling only one pannel to go through the throat at a time but trying to get to the center of a sail is almost inpossible,
Our new machine is a JUKI 1541 and uses a sailrite AC to DC MC-SCR control motor.. its a needle feed with a compound walking foot..

And even thou we have a sewing business, we do our canvas with a machine but our sail repair by hand.. In thick areas where re-inforcements are laid, or where the head or clew are placed, we still do it the old fashion way with a "Hot Awl" , needle and waxed thread..

This is my newest machine, a 1541 with the sailrite motor.. In the process of designing a "Knock down" table for the cockpit to take it with us..
the last shot is of the Featherweight that is a must for onboard sewing IMHO.. lite and easy to use on almost anything.. and you can see by the size, as thats my phone in front of it..

senormechanico · 11-04-2012, 08:33

Randy,
It's good to hear from a pro regarding what's really needed to sew sails.

Just the other day I had a customer who brought in her Featherweight for service.
She complained it wouldn't sew her sails, and insisted it was a heavy duty machine because that's how it was listed on Ebay !

Geesh.