I've been sewing for 52 years. This is my 4th machine and it does everything it promised. I've sewn heavy upholstery fabric and even welted seams on heavy duty outdoor fabric to sew my own trailer awning. It preformed better than any other machine I've ever owned with heavy fabrics. I never saw anything on the box when I purchased it claiming to be an industrial machine. It's held up well for the six years I've owned it and has never given me any trouble. I only paid $200 for it and am not ashamed to sit next to women at quilting retreats with machines five times the expense of mine. My Singer Heavy Duty is a beast but light enough to lug around. I don't think they are pretending to be anything other than what they are.
Absolutely. I’ve used mine to make awning for a horse trailer, heavy canvas skirting for a stage, costumes of ultrasuede, denim, cotton, linen and silk, a canvas lined leather bag, webbing straps for tie-downs, kites from ripstop nylon and more, more, more. It has the FLEXIBILITY to deal with heavier weight fabrics without clunking out, has everything I need without all the other $$$ features I don’t need and is a mechanical machine so I can take it apart and service it myself. All for $100 on sale. Case closed.
Exactly! Sail covers and boat upholstery, vinyl, the Singer HD works well. Can punch through 6+ layers of canvas. I've used mine for more than 5 years. Yeah... next step is an industrial machine... when I find room and feeling like The Hulk. The Singer HD is straight forward, simple, easy to service and maintain.
I completely agree with you! And thank you so much for this comment. I just bought the Heavy Duty 6360 with the accessories I wanted-$220....a great price. I'm so in love with this machine and it does everything the website says. So this persons video here is so wrong and Singer isn't selling any hype at all. Thanks again and happy sewing!
For most of the average audience sewing at home, theyre decent machines and affordable. One thing that i really hate in the online sewing community is the snobbery, sneering at people on a budget and looking down on any one not buying a 500 dollar machine out the gate. Not saying that this video is the snobbery but its definitely a problem in forums and reddits
I left the sewing reddit a few years back when I saw them belittle a nice lady who was respectfully asking for help with a singer. She had an 11 year as I recall who was interested in sewing and she didnt want to sink a lot of cash into a machine at least until her daughter stuck with it and showed whether this was what she really wanted to do. For someone like that, a Singer HD is perfectly fine. But no, those people posting were so rude, telling her she was being cheap and she should just buck up for a Janome that was twice her budget. How is that helpful?
@@JoJo-ie8sl Reddit seems to hate singers!! i get it it’s not heavy duty but it’s still a good machine! but what i hate the most is when they keep recommending me to get a vintage and used machine. like i’m sorry but i can’t find any of those and i don’t want to have to get it serviced because it might be broken 😒 reddit can be helpful but not when it comes to sewing/sewing machines…
Agree!! I bought an expensive baby lock that is sitting unused because it was having major issues within a month of buying it. I have a basic singer that is amazing and reliable. The singer HDs can handle heavier fabrics so I don't know what this video is about.
Eh, it's a 200 dollar sewing machine, what do you expect? It's heavier duty than other 200 dollar sewing machines, and if you have 200 dollars to spend on a machine, I doubt there's anything out there that is as well made and versatile. All of the machines on your recommended list are more expensive. I have used mine to sew canvas bimini tops with V-92 thread and heavy canvas, and to repair a Sunbrella boat cover. On both projects I was using thick thread and a thick needle and sewing through multiple layers of canvas, thick webbing, and velcro with no problem. I've also used it for numerous other canvas projects, as well as more delicate fabrics. Overall, given what I have already done with it, I'd say it was a bargain. Will I get a heavier duty machine if I get into bigger projects? Maybe, but in my opinion, this is an excellent first machine for someone learning to sew.
Sorry, no! When compared to the stuff in it's price range, the Singer Heavy duty is exactly that, Heavy Duty. i.e. You won't get a machine that stays with you longer and works harder IN THAT PRICE RANGE! Two very popular international brands have failed me repeatedly, while my Singer Heavy Duty 4432, just keeps going. I can sew silk today and 3 layers of canvas tomorrow, both without so much as a single lost stitch. No other EQUALLY PRICED machine, has been able to grant me the same level of utility. I've made garments, belts, wallets and more! Even 2cm sponge sandwiched between 4 layers of webbing and two layers of felt, is no challenge for this machine. Yes, you can't be half asleep when doing that, and you can't do it 12 hours a day, 365 days a week, but you can do it more often than not, and it will get the job done. Which brings me to my next point: There is a difference between Heavy Duty and Industrial. And no, the Singer Heavy Duty is NOT an INDUSTRIAL sewing machine, if you need an INDUSTRIAL sewing machine get a JUKI, or even better; Go rescue that old Singer K320 or K319 from your grandmother's attic. They are damn near indestructible, and capable of dealing with heavy upholstery jobs on a daily basis. In fact, the Singer K320 and K319 were considered industrial machines in their time and yes, many sail boats sported sails made using these machines, but I would not use them to make modern sails of Dacron. For that, your best bet is still Sailrite. The Singer Heavy Duty range fills a gap between home sewing and industrial sewing, at a price that still falls comfortably in the home sewing range. Don't expect it to be an industrial sewing machine and you'll have a far more reliable machine than anything else I've seen IN IT'S PRICE RANGE.
I would agree that older singers are comparable but my experience has been that there are more reliable quality machines in this price range FOR sure. And there are equally crummy machines in this range as well.
The machines you're recommending are EXPENSIVE. The Singer H.D. line on the other hand is relatively affordable. For me it is the basic machine but with the bonus features that it can sew fast, all weights and layers of materials, won't break the bank, portable, and there are videos that explain how to use it.
I have a Singer HD 4452…. With that said, I purchased it during the height of Covid shut downs when no machines were available, and if they were, they were through the roof! It was affordable and ’s been good to me. I’ve made thousands of “donated” mask, bags, backpacks and It’s still going. No regrets.
Absolutely, the point I’m really trying to make here is not that they are terrible machines but that they are not better than other quality machines in the same price point.
@@KatchiVatchi But they are better, much better. I've got the 6360 HD and hands down is the best machine I've ever owned, and I'm 60! It sews anything and everything I want, just as described on Singer's website. And there are far more people standing by Singer HD than you realize.
Couple of points. I'm not sure you understand the market for this machine. You seem to have gotten hung up on the "HD" label and become a little confused. You seem pretty nice so I'd like to help with that and I hope no offense is taken. First point would be that folks who buy $200 machines generally can't afford the $700 - 1,500.00 machines you suggest as the alternatives we should consider. That's why there's a $200 sewing machine market, but those in that market have very legit needs for a durable strong machine. And this machine is definitely all of that. The 16 different models of machines in that lineup are actually a good thing. You can get a config that most suits your needs. Not sure how or why one might think that a bad thing. Regardless, the machine is constructed not just of metal housing, but of metal innards as well. You wouldn't know that unless you took it apart to see inside (or watched a fantastic video from someone who did czcams.com/video/tImTTD8y750/video.html). That's what is commonly referred to as Heavy Duty construction. Minimal plastic, maximum metal. For durability and longevity that's hugely important. You can sew leather with this machine. Multiple layers. Denim. Multiple layers. Pretty much as much as you can fit under the foot. For the average user (who isn't sewing inch thick saddle gear or sewing together nylon towing straps or load bearing equipment harnesses) that is PLENTY. And, by any non-industrialists standards it is absolutely 100% a Heavy Duty machine. Speaking of which, I think you are confusing the term Heavy Duty with Industrial. HD consumer machines are not Industrial machines, and are not meant to be. For 99.9% of the laypersons who would need a tough machine this one will easily do, and then some. Also, while it's probably somewhat impolite to link to another YT video on the same topic, I think I would be remiss in not suggesting again you watch this technical breakdown of the Singer 4452 HD. Hopefully this will help. Peace and kind regards. czcams.com/video/tImTTD8y750/video.html
Thanks for the comment, I found that video actually super annoying and there is not a single example where this machine is so „bad“. All the machines she’s not even mentioning one solid alternative. It’s just a lot of hate with no proof, no examples, no comparisons or any other valid points. The only point against singer is their poor quality control and a lot of machines that have issues because of that.
ok... So i started this video about an hour after I had watched a Teardown and view of the exact machine types. Sewing Machine Repair Guy on youtube did an actual breakdown by opening and showing you the inside of the machine. He broke down what parts were metal and what was plastic and why one could be fine being plastic. She started talking about how the motors only take so much in regards to power. The motor is always geared with a small gear on the motor and a big gear on the Top. they are belt driven and if a belt can work in a motorcycle they can and do work on a sewing machine. All of her rants were second-hand because she does not have the first-hand knowledge to understand what she is talking about. The electrical part was a huge giveaway on why she doesn't understand half the topics she is talking about. I think she is pushing for other brands. Babyloc is her push of choice. I won't watch more of her videos.
Thanks for the feedback! Yes a large portion of my opinion comes from secondhand information. And I have no qualms with plastic parts inside machines. The main point I was trying to make is this machine is not better than other basic sewing machines I would not consider it “heavy duty. As far as pushing specific brands actually really adore Juki Janome Babylock & brother sewing machine I just particularly find singers to be of lesser quality, so no, I won’t “push” those.
@@KatchiVatchi I get that... the key to the Heavy Duty versus nonheavy duty I suspect is within their own line. Is it heavy duty compared to a commercial product.... probably not. does it contain heavier components compared to the non-HD versions in their line? That is where I think it does. Me personally, when I viewed the video (especially after watching a repair video that showed what actually was heavy duty and why by having a stripped down model on the video and being an ex nuclear engineer) it was hard to hear much after the part when you spoke of the motors as the motor is only a MINOR part of what does or doesn't make a machine heavy duty.
I love the Singer HD. It was really cheap, it honestly goes through multiple layers of denim and thick leather like butter if you get a good needle. It has all the basic functionality I need to do anything from making simple pillowcases to dresses to adjusting thick leather pants and jeans. Sure I would rather have a Juki industrial grade one, but that is out of budget.
I think the point of the video was to say avoid allowing badges like Heavy Duty or Tough Series stop you from looking at more models, not to really say Singer HD is garbage. Despite what her cynical technician said. The matching heavy duty and jumping to a specialist straight stitcher was not well explained. First, heavy duty doesn't have a standard meaning for sewing machines so one person's heavy duty needs doesn't match another. Thus, arguments start. First, I would discard if you need a heavy duty machine. I think someone typically who wants a heavy duty machine doesn't have a clear idea of what fabrics they will use and just doesn't want a broken machine due to not knowing what to get. Someone who wants what she defined as heavy duty knows very well what they are using it for and wouldn't be looking for heavy duty but for something for their specific needs. Notice none of these industrial machines say heavy duty? It's typically the lower side that says HD. The Singer HD is a safe choice that is priced slightly higher for being a household name and overall no research generally do what you want big box available everywhere choice. So look for the sales. You can get better but it takes leg work doing the research and maybe literal leg work trying out sewing machines. But it's not like double the value better, just oh that's nice and I appreciate it better. You probably wouldn't miss it if you never experienced it.
Heavy duty machines handle leather and denim better than a standard machine. It’s not “just”!marketing. There’s a difference between heavy duty and industrial.
Heavy duty is literally a marketing strategy. It has no legal definition for sewing machines "heavy duty equipment" does for earth moving equipment, not sewing machines. They could call these "military grade" sewing machines or made from "military grade" metal and plastics if they thought it would reach a demographic they could market towards. I don't know what this difference is because it only exists in your head, it isn't real. If you brought up a complaint saying hey this sewing machine isn't heavy duty or isn't industrial duty the judge would ask you, "what is that supposed to mean?" Then dismiss the case if that's all you had to go on and no other concrete promises the company made and failed to deliver.
@@DaniGirl6 it's supposed to be better than a standard machine in the same price range. the name is a marketing strategy and it's also exaggerated, but it's clearly indicating some real features the product has. So it's not heavy duty, but it looks like there is no real reason not to buy it, as the klickbait says.
@@lalon2337 the machine that handles thick heavy weight materials cannot handle lightweight materials. That's where people are going wrong. They think it's quality and upgrade, when it isn't. It is one or the other or buy multiple machines. Look at the differences in Juki DDL-8700H and the Juki DDL-8700. It's only a few parts, but it is significant. A do it all machine that people want doesn't exist exactly. It's only going to be okay, never great.
I'm a yachty and needed a heavy duty sewing machine and something I could sew my clothes as well. I bought the Janome HD 3000 and couldn't be happier with it. It sews throught 12 lawyers of denims, sail covers and smaller sails, but once you take the sails off you would usually have a long lasting work done in a sails loft anyway, but its good for tears . It sews delecate fabrics like chiffon and silks. I've had this machine for 6 years and love it. The best thing is that its not Electronic so very few things go wrong. It has plenty of stitces including stretch and serving as well.
I have a singer HD and it works through everything, i can fit under the foot. 8 layers denim? No problem, doesnt even slow down much. It is a strong maschine targeted at new people to the Hobby who are searching for a maschine, that will do a lot of denim etc. Without problems and thats exactly what it does. And it is light and small enough to Just put it away when you dont use it. I think its the right marketing. Its not a disadvantage for the buyer. I wouldnt have bought a more expensive one.
Thank you for putting g HD machines where they belong on the buying list. Years ago I needed a stretch stitch machine so I went shopping with a $20 bill in my purse and the only 4-5 stitches I needed. Kenmore fit my bill and I've had her for years. Currently looking for a mechanical machine that I can use set up with a different thread, double needle, whatever and almost fell into the HD talk. Was more into the metal frame lasting longer. (At 70 y.o. forever is exactly what I need. Lol. ) Thank you for letting me know that I was right to keep on looking ~~ not saying I won't get one but knowing facts is important. Once again, thank you.
I did a search on CZcams University for the Baby Lock Joy and watched a few of your videos and I am happy that the purchase I made. You said all the same things the wonderful Lori @Sierra Sewing told me! I took in a 1960 something Singer for repair and really am bummed that it was far more to fix it than buy new. I am only missing the nostalgia but you both have made my decision feel safe and sound! Thank you!
I was considering Singer Heavy duty but now I will explore some more options. Thanks for sharing your experience. It'll certainly help people to look past the marketing gimmicks.
the singer machines have a 1 amp motor. using the proper needle and thread will allow you to do some heavy sewing. it actually isnt a marketing gimmick these are not meant to ne a commercial machine but i know of several that is being used in that manner be it as a back up for when their commercial consew is off to be serviced. same with the brother st i know of another who uses the brother st machine in his leather shop. again its not used 24x7 but maybe a couple times a week. but seriously how many of us need a 100% duty cycle sewing machine? and yes these hd machines will sew heavier fabrics for the simple reason of having the means of fitting thicker stack under the lifter foot. and the janome hd3000 has all metal gears that if you dont push the sewing machine hard it will last a lot longer then the brother made babylock joy recommended. sad thing is they no longer put a 750watt motor in the machine and are only using 500watts.
I will give you some advice that repair men will not: slow the fuck down and use the correct needle for the canvas or leather your trying to ram through, and you won't break your machine
A walking foot is a must sewing soft furnishings. The 4423 works so well when using it and you get better results every time. It regulates 2 layers of different weights of fabric so you get a flat seam.
My 1990 Singer Quantum CSL is a total workhorse! I do a lot of upholstery, sometimes up to 4 layers of duck cloth or Sunbrella and with the proper needle and thread it’s never let me down. My main complaint is parts are hard to get.
Im so so happy im reading the comments. I am basically trained more than 10years ago to sew and repair fabric. Im researching, i need cheap, im not going to be using this as my main income i just need cheap but reliable as well as able to run through tough thicker materials. I don't have the money for anything like what you're recommending.
I have the Singer 4432 Heavy Duty machine. I got it when they first came out. I didn't like it much at first, but I grew into it. I actually enjoy it now. I had a cheap Suinger basic machine that broke sewing denium. It busted, and the timing was way off. With the heavy duty one can sew denium. I don't care if it is hype or not. I'm pleased with my machine. It works for my needs. I have a vintage Singer 414G. That machine can do heavy duty. It doesn't do much more than a straight stitch, but it works. I get what you are saying. I do believe for a home machine the Heavy Duty is good enough. It does do more than the regular Singer does. I have a Husqvarna Viking Emerald machine too. It is a little more fussy but it's a good machine. I may be a sailor (In a Navy veteran) but I'm not going to sew sails. I'm not sewing layers of canvas. I'm not a machine snob.
I’m on my second Singer sewing machine (by choice I wanted to have a second one) and I sew hours and hours a day and it’s never had any problems. My first one is from 2014 and it’s never had a single issue
I can absolutely believe this, I simply make the point that these machines are no more heavy duty than a normal sewing machine. Many many machines can be sewn on for hours and hours for years and years, this is a normal function. By no means “heavy duty”. I’m glad your machines are serving you well!
Yes you can invest in an expensive machine, but when they need repair, there lies a difficulty for a rural sewist. Invest in Singer HD and if unable to repair, you can buy another a few times over compared to high end machines.
I’ve owned the Singer HD 4452. I sew home decor, faux leather handbags with no problem. I recently purchased the Singer 6700c they can handle multiple layers of thick fabrics. I can sew up four layers. Of course an industrial machine has more power. I’m speaking honestly from experience
Of course you get paid per view and comment so I guess this helps your algorithm. My Singer Simple and Heavy Duty both made it through the pandemic with basic maintenance. Not a single one of them failed me. Even now my Heavy Duty is making pageant gowns with all the sequins imaginable. No threads busting, there’s a broken needle here and there as with any other machine, and have used heavy fabrics. To each their own on this machine but I love it and do recommend
Vintage singers can be so fun to collect! They are so neat and if you get them in good working order its kind of like taking an old car for a drive. It's about the experience. New machines are just easier to use. I'd look at the metal straight stitch machines like the juki tl 2010 or something like that.
If your Singer 301 still runs, and does the job for you, just keep it serviced. It'll be a better machine than most household sewing machines that are made today. Otherwise, invest in a commercial machine. You're used to the direct-drive motor that will sew most anything you can put under the foot. You can't get that in a household sewing machine today.
I have the Singer 6217c which was the heavy duty of its day. It's 30 years old now and I'm still sewing! Not sure if it's heavy duty with regard to sewing (although 30 years!) but the frame is so superior to anything they are building these days unfortunately and the presser foot lever is metal! On the downside, it's so heavy to lift!
I have two of my mother's old Singer Sewing Machines but what I've found out through the years is that it comes down to the needles and the feet. However, I look forward to buying a Baby Lock Machine.
Yeah, when I wanted to buy a sewing machine my parents kept telling me "singer! singer!!" Im glad I went with your advice and got the babylock joy. Its a pretty solid machine even if im still trying to figure out all its quirks! Havent had much time to use it though because school, but since it lets out soon i hope ill be able to make some garments and things with it
Good call! Baby lock sewing machines are fantastic and you can get one of their entry models for what you would have wasted on a "Singer" (which, by no means is not the original Singer company. Folks, if you still want a Singer, pick up a pre-1970 model from a garage sale).
Great job and perfect message. So true on the "Heavy Duty" term used for the Singer machines. They are great machines for normal sewing They just are not made for heavy or large material like awnings, upholstery, Thick tarp etc.
@@KatchiVatchi Problem is that the HD on the Singer loco makes people think its Heavy duty, I did a lot or research before I bought the Janome HD 3000. Lot of my yachty friends were annoyed with their Singer HD , and sailright machines are quite bulky, heavy and difficult to handle as well, but mostly used by yachties, I wanted a dual machine for all kinds of sewing. My research showed that the Janome HD3000 comes normally with a 110 V for the American market . So I flew to Singapore to get the one with the 240 V. Hope that helps people who want to buy a genuine HD machine.
I fell for the wording on machine - the Heavy Duty on Singer. During lockdown I bought one and regret it. It’s noisy and slow and it’s light. It kept jumping backwards during fast sewing. I have a old Pfaff and I’m sticking to Pfaff forever.. Thank you so much for highlighting what many people are experiencing with this Singer Heavy duty crap machine.
so what would you recommend for first time buy? I wanna sew some pouches(EDC) in some canvas and condura material. does the Singer do the trick? what do you reccommend?
Great video. I'm mostly in agreement with your opinion, but having sewn on the machine and pulled the covers off, I think it deserves good marks among PoS machines. BTW, the Singer HD series is one of several brands (Bernette B05, Pfaff 160s, Necchi Q132A, etc.) that offer a clone of this machine. The plastic skin, features and accessories vary, but the base machine is the same. We have a Necchi Q132A version. It's not the smoothest, straightest, most powerful, but it does a good job (for a cheap machine) on material considered heavy by modern home machine standards. It will handle heavier poly and lighter nylon thread and responds to tension adjustments well. It punches thru extended runs of maximum thickness (6mm?) fabric (denim, etc.) at speed with no strain. It will sew some coated nylon, webbing, garment leather, etc., but technique, (start position, attack, thread tension...), needle type (denim, leather) and possibly thread lube are important. It's reasonably well designed internally. There is a fair amount of metal where plastic is often found (on modern machines in the price range). It's simple to access, clean, oil and adjust (internally). High mortality rate parts are cheap, common and appear uncomplicated to replace. There are some (felt washer) oil points which help with durability. It's not a lifetime machine or worth expensive repairs, but among PoSs there is a decent value proposition in the heavy duty marketing. Can it sew with my Bernina 1030, Pfaff 1222SE or Juki walking foot, no, but IMHO it's (they are) a good value.
Hmmm-- the Sewing Machine Repair Guy tested out the Singer Heavy Duty line with all sorts of electronic gizmos and said it really is a heavy duty machine. I have seen the Janome HD1000 compared with a "normal" home machine and it really does handle more. It may be a marketing thing, but that doesn't make it not actually heavy duty.
Oops, no, you're referring to an industrial machine:-). Heavy Duty and industrial are 2 different things. HD means thick layers. But you're right, I would not sew on the Singer HD for hours a day. For that I have my Singer Studio 16.
I am researching for an industrial machine and I’m glad I found your video as I was considering one of these as they’re cheaper but it looks not a lot better than my 30 year old brother thanks.
I bought a singer 4452 brand new for 100 bucks at auction and it's been fantastic for me for the price point. Solid build and the insides are well put together. There is definitely a difference between these
You've given me points to think about. I've sewn since I was a school-girl, but haven't sewn in the last few years as I've had other things I've needed to deal with. Now I want to get back into it and sew up the stash of fabric that I have in the cupboard. I got my old machine out and thought 'I forgot how much I hate this machine', so I thought it must be time to get a machine that I love. The machine I had before this one was a Janome, I don't know the model, but I bought it when I left school and the metal pieces started breaking. I was devasted. It did weigh a tonne and I could hardly lift it. So the newer ones are better for lightness factor. Now I'm going to list what I hate about my current machine and what I stitches etc I need. Thanks for the video.
Weird. I must have gotten their rainbow unicorn. It's doing everything I need in terms of heavy duty. How many home sewers are in need of a Juki industrial or a Sailrite?
One indication that heavy duty is just a marketing term is looking how Singer market the same machines in different countries. In Brazil it is not called "heavy duty" (or the equivalent in Portuguese). It is called "Facilita Pro" (which translates to "Ease Pro").
I have the Singer 4452, Consew CP206RL, Janome HD3000BE, Singer HD110C, Elna XQuisit II, and Viking 21e. Also, just found a Singer Quantum XL6000 at Goodwill. The only ones not technically "Heavy Duty" are the Elna XQuisit and the Singer Quantum XL6000 (although both have more power than many Heavy Duty Machines (.9 amps Singer and Elna [same machines]). I have zero complaints regarding the Singer 4452. Sews denim and even light leather.
The name heavy duty is weird, but if you don't look at it as some professional industrial machine, rather casual hobby machine, then it really delivers. And the price is at that level as well. Personally I would recommend HD line over those cheaper non-HD white machines from Singer because those machines are slow and can't sew through thicker fabric.
This video has been long over do! I can’t express enough how much this video is needed for anyone looking to buy their first or to replaced a sewing machine. Your point is clear and honest for folks to understand how heavy duty sewing machine is being marketed. Also, a good point about Singer. Yes, it’s true that Singer is no longer a trusted brand since an outside investors ( SVP Worldwide - Kolberg & Company, LLC) purchased the Singer company in 2004 for $134 million. SVP Worldwide owns Singer, Viking, and Pfaff. Kolberg & Company, LLC is a private equity firm who has no knowledge about the sewing industry. Kolberg & Company, LLC are nothing but investors, whereby destroyed Singer, Viking, and Pfaff brand names. Kolberg & Comapny, LLC after Singer, Viking, Pfaff ownership stripped these brands down to nothing. Good example is SInger’s line up of models they had not produced in the last 20 years, nothing new. Singer has not produced any new sewing machines for years -older models are still being sold to this present date (with a few exception). Fact, after Kolberg & Company, LLC take over, Singer services centers were closed. Any Singers sewing machines must be shipped (owners pays for shipping) to their main services center -no more to a local dealer for warranty repairs. Viking is only handled by a Joann’s dealership that rents a space to sell or send out for repairs. Pfaff is the only brand that is still sold and service throughout the US local dealers. As for heavy duty sewing machines? Janome and Bother isn’t alone in their marketing schemes. Both brands, Janome and Brother make sewing machines for under $300 that is considered to be heavy duty -not! Just another way to market these models as heavy duty for gain of their investments. And it is working! Folks buy into their marketing schemes because lack of knowledge. And that is why this video has done justice letting everyone know not to fall into buying the so called heavy duty sewing machines. Most sewing machines can handle heavy duty sewing with the proper settings, needles, threads, and foot. As Katchi stated, for long term sewing with heavy weight fabric of any kind will require an industrial sewing machine. But, for moderate or occasional heavy weight, most household sewing machines will do the job. Extra note for those thinking that cast iron or any type of metal built sewing machine will handle sewing through heavy materials should think again. The metal frame is good, but it is the plastic gears and cheap motor that will take a toll sewing with heavy or layers of materials. The plastic gears and cheap motor what gives first after time of stress has been placed on the sewing machine. Again, awesome video and the first of its kind 😎👍
The Singer heavy duty went through leather for me just fine. Much better then the standard ones. My Janome HD is going through thick materials like butter so... I think it does help?
Thank you, thank you thank you! I am sooo tired of seeing YT videos claiming these Singers are the best beginner machines for a given year. As a professional sewing machine technician, we have these machines come in to our shop for repair all the time--some as new as six months. Broken gears, bent shafts: there is nothing we can do for them. You recommended Baby Lock joy, which is a great alternative. There are a few baby lock machines one could buy for the price of a Singer HD. Folks, instead of picking up a cheap Singer at Walmart or the hobby craft store, take a trip to a real sewing machine dealer and get a quality machine on any budget. As the point was made, Singer is owned by an equity firm and has noting to do with the quality machines of 100 years ago. Singer of today could just as well market pogo sticks!
So people shouldn’t buy it because it has heavy duty on it? Everyone knows you can’t buy an industrial machine at Walmart…In todays market more domestic machines (in this price range) have nonmetal frames/components. It’s popular because it’s a solid machine for the money.
There are better solid machines in the price point or even cheaper that are going to hold up equally as well. I don’t want people to be duped by Heavy Duty, when other quality machines for $200-$250 will perform better or equal for possibly longer even. Heavy duty is a marketing ploy and isn’t providing the services that the name implies
I bought the 4452 last spring and use it with a multitude of indoor and outdoor upholstery fabrics and automotive leather and vinyl, using T45-90 polyester thread (in the bobbin also) ... so far so good for me at least ... it seems to handle them just fine :)
I was given an old (japanese made) montgomery ward sewing machine. Are these machines any good? I was having trouble getting it to stitch consistently without stalling. But I'm sure it's probably just something I'm doing wrong. (like the tension on the thread)
My wife wants a sewing machine for Christmas. Mostly for your average tasks. However I’d like to use it in the future of sewing some things with 500D-1000D Cordura fabrics. Do we need a heavy duty model or will the Janome 4120QDC-T model work fine for cordura?
Nice! -- QUESTION -- I am looking at a CONSEW 206 RB-1 as it seems nice. Do you know whether it can do a ZIG ZAG stich on that machine or is it too old? We want to be able to repair sails on our sailboat and do stuff like that. Heavy materials.
I have this machine and bought into the 'HD' stuff as what I was making at the time needed a machine with more 'oomph'! My Janome actually did as good a job - after 20 yrs the motor gave up and now I only have the Singer HD, but I do agree with you. It doesn't actually do much more than the Janome did! XXX Thanks for the honest review xxx ps. I wonder if you could recommend a quiet sewing machine? xxx
I used the Signer Heavy Dutty for few month. Sewing a lot of thick stuff (1000D cordura, often multiple layers), I hit pretty quickly the limits of the machine. Being lucky enough to be able to affort the Sailride LSZ, I did (I discovered it through this video, then did my research on the subject). omg, the difference is crazy! It's a whole other level of quality and smoothness. But again, the price tag is asolutely different. Got the signer 150 $ cad second hand. Sailrite LSZ with customs to get it to Canada was nearly 1800 $ cad. But if you can afford it, it's absolutely worth it.
Thank you for your great review, but I must admit when I compare my CS6000i and my Singer 44S /4432/4452 the CSI cannot sew heavy duty. The singer heavy duty has been great to sew my heavy-duty items. So I do not agree with the fact that it is not heavy-duty machine. It does sew better than a smaller regular non-heavy-duty machine.
I found a used sewing machine dealer, I told him I wanted a sturdy clothing capacity machine. He told me "I have just the thing you need," a Sears Kenmore, 1980's vintage, made in Japan. It's almost entirely machined metal parts, and has a step reduction speed drive that walks through blue jean/canvass layered fabrics relentlessly. It had very low hours use like many used machines and I really like it. Sold to me for $300.00
i dunno. these machines are solid. are they the best? no. but will they hem jeans without problems? yup. will they sew 4 layers of heavy leather? yup. someone last year did a side by side between the janome hd3000 and the 5532 and you couldnt tell a difference. and the 4432 is 300 less and has a higher output motor. problem is people dont use the right needle/old needle and think putting foot to the floor is how it should go. and no 99% of sewing machines dont have a metal frame. only benefit to spending the extra 300 on the janome hd3000 is the all metal gears. but changing out gears are easy enough or drop it off at your dealer. btw the babylock joy is made by brother which is owned by the same company that owns singer viking and Husqvarna so why not save some cash buying a sewing machine that actually has a 1 amp motor which has a higher duty cycle and can sew heavier material and more layers? .
I bought the latest singer heavy duty computerized bundled with the hard case for 260 after a lot of research. Wanted it for denim. It can go through 10+ layers of denim with ease. Why buy a lesser machine that cant even do a zigzag stitch for only a little bit less money.
This is really helpful. I'm going to a big sewing Expo next week. I used to sew patterns as a teenager (20 years ago) but moved around so much since then. Now I have a house and want a machine. I thought heavy duty meant it was geared toward denim, leather, etc. One of the projects I'm looking to do is cotton rope bowls, baskets, etc. for my house. I tried the Baby Lock Jubilant last week and really like it but all the Amish ladies around me swear by Janome. Are there good Janomes in the $500 price range I should be looking at? The HD3000?
The Janome 3610 is the most comparable to the Jubilant and it runs around $650. It add the scissor trim function but doesn’t have an easy set bobbin. I love it though bc it comes with an extension table and hard cover and a walking foot which could easily cost that extra $150 that to purchase for the Jubilant( which really is a solid little machine too though). HD 3000 isn’t worth the price difference from the hd1000 in my estimation. ☺️
Thanks for pointing out the flaws in the term "heavy duty" on this machine. My first machine was a vintage straight stitch and zig zag machine from the 1950's. All metal and plenty of power to go through even leather. The vintage domestic machines are truly heavy duty compared to the machines made today.
I agrée. I love sewing machines but modern domestic machines are toys compared to machines from the 50’s, 60’s. I have several and after oiling and a new needle they are brilliant, and we’re so cheap compared to the Singer HD range . Mine don’t give the stitches, but another vintage machine does, so I’m happy. Still I’m enjoying this video.
hi guys I am a beginner What would I buy for sewing leather, plastic as well heavy fabrics? Any brand specific models etc.? Thanks, guys, for your time.
Thanks for this video. I was looking into a HD machine as I sew bags with multi layers and foam interfacing and my current machine struggles sometimes.
Do not get the singer 4452- mine broke after 4 small pouches. Last week I was singing its praises, this week I can’t find a repair man that wants to take my money to fix it. Even the Singer service was not jumping up to do it
@@sheila003d I'm sorry this happened to you Sheila. I expect you were very frustrated. I'm not assuming that a plastic gear was the reason your machine broke down, but plastic parts can be a problem. And of course there are many other things that can go wrong as well. But this is the problem with modern-day machines. The quality of manufacturing, plastic parts can be faulty, or simply give out when the machine is forced to work too hard. I'm sure Singer makes the effort to produce quality. (Although the Singer company no longer exists. Singer is now just a name put on certain sewing machines. It's owned by a very large conglomerate.) But the the built-in planned obsolescence factor ruins it. The machines are expected to fail at some point, then the user learns that it's either unrepairable or would cost too much to repair - sometimes more than the cost of a new machine. The only way for companies to profit is to keep selling more and more machines. They can't make machines that will last indefinitely or they'd go out of business. A sad comment on products of today's manufacturers, not just sewing machines. Consider dishwashers, furnaces, ovens, refrigerators, and so on. On the other hand, vintage machines were built to provide generations of service. No, they won't last forever, but plastic machines will often be in the recycle bin while 50 to 80 year old (and older) machines are still being used by a fourth generation. Vintage machines are not perfect, but finding the right one for what a person wants to sew is frequently a great solution, especially a machine which can handle much heavier use than what's produced today and not break down. I didn't mean to get this wordy and I'm not knocking all modern machines, let alone all items made with plastics. I own some modern machines myself, along with a collection of vintage "old ladies". Modern machines do have their place, you just need to be sure the machine purchased is suitable for your needs so that it will work for you as long as possible. Some people may scoff and say I don't know what I'm talking about - they have the right to do so. But I've been around since the middle of the last century and have watched planned obsolescence develop and become the norm. I find it rather sad.
Who are the fools giving this a thumbs down? Rude!
Great video. Keep it up!
Right!? Thanks Tim!
Because she is wrong
Where can you see the thumbs down, I thought it was banned to press that button
CZcams removed it rather recently.
Probably the people that fell for the gimmick and bought one.
I've been sewing for 52 years. This is my 4th machine and it does everything it promised. I've sewn heavy upholstery fabric and even welted seams on heavy duty outdoor fabric to sew my own trailer awning. It preformed better than any other machine I've ever owned with heavy fabrics. I never saw anything on the box when I purchased it claiming to be an industrial machine. It's held up well for the six years I've owned it and has never given me any trouble. I only paid $200 for it and am not ashamed to sit next to women at quilting retreats with machines five times the expense of mine. My Singer Heavy Duty is a beast but light enough to lug around. I don't think they are pretending to be anything other than what they are.
Well said!
Absolutely. I’ve used mine to make awning for a horse trailer, heavy canvas skirting for a stage, costumes of ultrasuede, denim, cotton, linen and silk, a canvas lined leather bag, webbing straps for tie-downs, kites from ripstop nylon and more, more, more. It has the FLEXIBILITY to deal with heavier weight fabrics without clunking out, has everything I need without all the other $$$ features I don’t need and is a mechanical machine so I can take it apart and service it myself. All for $100 on sale. Case closed.
Very useful comment, thank you Melinda.
Exactly! Sail covers and boat upholstery, vinyl, the Singer HD works well. Can punch through 6+ layers of canvas. I've used mine for more than 5 years. Yeah... next step is an industrial machine... when I find room and feeling like The Hulk. The Singer HD is straight forward, simple, easy to service and maintain.
I completely agree with you! And thank you so much for this comment. I just bought the Heavy Duty 6360 with the accessories I wanted-$220....a great price. I'm so in love with this machine and it does everything the website says. So this persons video here is so wrong and Singer isn't selling any hype at all.
Thanks again and happy sewing!
Glad I've read the comments.
For most of the average audience sewing at home, theyre decent machines and affordable. One thing that i really hate in the online sewing community is the snobbery, sneering at people on a budget and looking down on any one not buying a 500 dollar machine out the gate. Not saying that this video is the snobbery but its definitely a problem in forums and reddits
I left the sewing reddit a few years back when I saw them belittle a nice lady who was respectfully asking for help with a singer. She had an 11 year as I recall who was interested in sewing and she didnt want to sink a lot of cash into a machine at least until her daughter stuck with it and showed whether this was what she really wanted to do. For someone like that, a Singer HD is perfectly fine. But no, those people posting were so rude, telling her she was being cheap and she should just buck up for a Janome that was twice her budget. How is that helpful?
@@JoJo-ie8sl Reddit seems to hate singers!! i get it it’s not heavy duty but it’s still a good machine! but what i hate the most is when they keep recommending me to get a vintage and used machine. like i’m sorry but i can’t find any of those and i don’t want to have to get it serviced because it might be broken 😒 reddit can be helpful but not when it comes to sewing/sewing machines…
Totally agree
Agree!! I bought an expensive baby lock that is sitting unused because it was having major issues within a month of buying it. I have a basic singer that is amazing and reliable. The singer HDs can handle heavier fabrics so I don't know what this video is about.
Eh, it's a 200 dollar sewing machine, what do you expect? It's heavier duty than other 200 dollar sewing machines, and if you have 200 dollars to spend on a machine, I doubt there's anything out there that is as well made and versatile. All of the machines on your recommended list are more expensive. I have used mine to sew canvas bimini tops with V-92 thread and heavy canvas, and to repair a Sunbrella boat cover. On both projects I was using thick thread and a thick needle and sewing through multiple layers of canvas, thick webbing, and velcro with no problem. I've also used it for numerous other canvas projects, as well as more delicate fabrics. Overall, given what I have already done with it, I'd say it was a bargain. Will I get a heavier duty machine if I get into bigger projects? Maybe, but in my opinion, this is an excellent first machine for someone learning to sew.
Sorry, no!
When compared to the stuff in it's price range, the Singer Heavy duty is exactly that, Heavy Duty. i.e. You won't get a machine that stays with you longer and works harder IN THAT PRICE RANGE!
Two very popular international brands have failed me repeatedly, while my Singer Heavy Duty 4432, just keeps going. I can sew silk today and 3 layers of canvas tomorrow, both without so much as a single lost stitch. No other EQUALLY PRICED machine, has been able to grant me the same level of utility. I've made garments, belts, wallets and more! Even 2cm sponge sandwiched between 4 layers of webbing and two layers of felt, is no challenge for this machine. Yes, you can't be half asleep when doing that, and you can't do it 12 hours a day, 365 days a week, but you can do it more often than not, and it will get the job done.
Which brings me to my next point:
There is a difference between Heavy Duty and Industrial. And no, the Singer Heavy Duty is NOT an INDUSTRIAL sewing machine, if you need an INDUSTRIAL sewing machine get a JUKI, or even better; Go rescue that old Singer K320 or K319 from your grandmother's attic. They are damn near indestructible, and capable of dealing with heavy upholstery jobs on a daily basis. In fact, the Singer K320 and K319 were considered industrial machines in their time and yes, many sail boats sported sails made using these machines, but I would not use them to make modern sails of Dacron. For that, your best bet is still Sailrite.
The Singer Heavy Duty range fills a gap between home sewing and industrial sewing, at a price that still falls comfortably in the home sewing range. Don't expect it to be an industrial sewing machine and you'll have a far more reliable machine than anything else I've seen IN IT'S PRICE RANGE.
Well-explained.
I would agree that older singers are comparable but my experience has been that there are more reliable quality machines in this price range FOR sure. And there are equally crummy machines in this range as well.
@@KatchiVatchi Please share links to those machines. Getting better than the Singer for 200 USD would be amazing.
Totally agree!
Well said, totally agree with you Dirk.
The machines you're recommending are EXPENSIVE. The Singer H.D. line on the other hand is relatively affordable. For me it is the basic machine but with the bonus features that it can sew fast, all weights and layers of materials, won't break the bank, portable, and there are videos that explain how to use it.
Yes! I am tired of the snobbery online, the way people think everyone needs an 800 dollar machine out the gate
@@JoJo-ie8sl Yes, me too! All the machines on her list are ridiculous in price. I love my Singer HD....great machine!
I have Singer HD and 230€ was enough for sewing machine.
I have a Singer HD 4452…. With that said, I purchased it during the height of Covid shut downs when no machines were available, and if they were, they were through the roof! It was affordable and ’s been good to me. I’ve made thousands of “donated” mask, bags, backpacks and It’s still going. No regrets.
Absolutely, the point I’m really trying to make here is not that they are terrible machines but that they are not better than other quality machines in the same price point.
@@KatchiVatchi But they are better, much better. I've got the 6360 HD and hands down is the best machine I've ever owned, and I'm 60! It sews anything and everything I want, just as described on Singer's website. And there are far more people standing by Singer HD than you realize.
Couple of points. I'm not sure you understand the market for this machine. You seem to have gotten hung up on the "HD" label and become a little confused. You seem pretty nice so I'd like to help with that and I hope no offense is taken. First point would be that folks who buy $200 machines generally can't afford the $700 - 1,500.00 machines you suggest as the alternatives we should consider. That's why there's a $200 sewing machine market, but those in that market have very legit needs for a durable strong machine. And this machine is definitely all of that. The 16 different models of machines in that lineup are actually a good thing. You can get a config that most suits your needs. Not sure how or why one might think that a bad thing. Regardless, the machine is constructed not just of metal housing, but of metal innards as well. You wouldn't know that unless you took it apart to see inside (or watched a fantastic video from someone who did czcams.com/video/tImTTD8y750/video.html). That's what is commonly referred to as Heavy Duty construction. Minimal plastic, maximum metal. For durability and longevity that's hugely important. You can sew leather with this machine. Multiple layers. Denim. Multiple layers. Pretty much as much as you can fit under the foot. For the average user (who isn't sewing inch thick saddle gear or sewing together nylon towing straps or load bearing equipment harnesses) that is PLENTY. And, by any non-industrialists standards it is absolutely 100% a Heavy Duty machine. Speaking of which, I think you are confusing the term Heavy Duty with Industrial. HD consumer machines are not Industrial machines, and are not meant to be. For 99.9% of the laypersons who would need a tough machine this one will easily do, and then some. Also, while it's probably somewhat impolite to link to another YT video on the same topic, I think I would be remiss in not suggesting again you watch this technical breakdown of the Singer 4452 HD. Hopefully this will help. Peace and kind regards. czcams.com/video/tImTTD8y750/video.html
Thanks for the comment, I found that video actually super annoying and there is not a single example where this machine is so „bad“. All the machines she’s not even mentioning one solid alternative.
It’s just a lot of hate with no proof, no examples, no comparisons or any other valid points.
The only point against singer is their poor quality control and a lot of machines that have issues because of that.
ok... So i started this video about an hour after I had watched a Teardown and view of the exact machine types. Sewing Machine Repair Guy on youtube did an actual breakdown by opening and showing you the inside of the machine. He broke down what parts were metal and what was plastic and why one could be fine being plastic.
She started talking about how the motors only take so much in regards to power. The motor is always geared with a small gear on the motor and a big gear on the Top. they are belt driven and if a belt can work in a motorcycle they can and do work on a sewing machine. All of her rants were second-hand because she does not have the first-hand knowledge to understand what she is talking about. The electrical part was a huge giveaway on why she doesn't understand half the topics she is talking about.
I think she is pushing for other brands. Babyloc is her push of choice.
I won't watch more of her videos.
Thanks for the feedback! Yes a large portion of my opinion comes from secondhand information. And I have no qualms with plastic parts inside machines. The main point I was trying to make is this machine is not better than other basic sewing machines I would not consider it “heavy duty. As far as pushing specific brands actually really adore Juki Janome Babylock & brother sewing machine I just particularly find singers to be of lesser quality, so no, I won’t “push” those.
@@KatchiVatchi I get that... the key to the Heavy Duty versus nonheavy duty I suspect is within their own line. Is it heavy duty compared to a commercial product.... probably not. does it contain heavier components compared to the non-HD versions in their line? That is where I think it does. Me personally, when I viewed the video (especially after watching a repair video that showed what actually was heavy duty and why by having a stripped down model on the video and being an ex nuclear engineer) it was hard to hear much after the part when you spoke of the motors as the motor is only a MINOR part of what does or doesn't make a machine heavy duty.
I love the Singer HD. It was really cheap, it honestly goes through multiple layers of denim and thick leather like butter if you get a good needle. It has all the basic functionality I need to do anything from making simple pillowcases to dresses to adjusting thick leather pants and jeans. Sure I would rather have a Juki industrial grade one, but that is out of budget.
I think the point of the video was to say avoid allowing badges like Heavy Duty or Tough Series stop you from looking at more models, not to really say Singer HD is garbage. Despite what her cynical technician said.
The matching heavy duty and jumping to a specialist straight stitcher was not well explained. First, heavy duty doesn't have a standard meaning for sewing machines so one person's heavy duty needs doesn't match another. Thus, arguments start. First, I would discard if you need a heavy duty machine. I think someone typically who wants a heavy duty machine doesn't have a clear idea of what fabrics they will use and just doesn't want a broken machine due to not knowing what to get. Someone who wants what she defined as heavy duty knows very well what they are using it for and wouldn't be looking for heavy duty but for something for their specific needs. Notice none of these industrial machines say heavy duty? It's typically the lower side that says HD.
The Singer HD is a safe choice that is priced slightly higher for being a household name and overall no research generally do what you want big box available everywhere choice. So look for the sales. You can get better but it takes leg work doing the research and maybe literal leg work trying out sewing machines. But it's not like double the value better, just oh that's nice and I appreciate it better. You probably wouldn't miss it if you never experienced it.
I would give you a hug for this, I 100% agree, it's all marketing, and it works well on a lot of people!
Heavy duty machines handle leather and denim better than a standard machine. It’s not “just”!marketing. There’s a difference between heavy duty and industrial.
Heavy duty is literally a marketing strategy. It has no legal definition for sewing machines "heavy duty equipment" does for earth moving equipment, not sewing machines. They could call these "military grade" sewing machines or made from "military grade" metal and plastics if they thought it would reach a demographic they could market towards.
I don't know what this difference is because it only exists in your head, it isn't real. If you brought up a complaint saying hey this sewing machine isn't heavy duty or isn't industrial duty the judge would ask you, "what is that supposed to mean?" Then dismiss the case if that's all you had to go on and no other concrete promises the company made and failed to deliver.
@@DaniGirl6 it's supposed to be better than a standard machine in the same price range. the name is a marketing strategy and it's also exaggerated, but it's clearly indicating some real features the product has. So it's not heavy duty, but it looks like there is no real reason not to buy it, as the klickbait says.
@@lalon2337 the machine that handles thick heavy weight materials cannot handle lightweight materials. That's where people are going wrong. They think it's quality and upgrade, when it isn't. It is one or the other or buy multiple machines. Look at the differences in Juki DDL-8700H and the Juki DDL-8700. It's only a few parts, but it is significant. A do it all machine that people want doesn't exist exactly. It's only going to be okay, never great.
I'm a yachty and needed a heavy duty sewing machine and something I could sew my clothes as well. I bought the Janome HD 3000 and couldn't be happier with it. It sews throught 12 lawyers of denims, sail covers and smaller sails, but once you take the sails off you would usually have a long lasting work done in a sails loft anyway, but its good for tears . It sews delecate fabrics like chiffon and silks. I've had this machine for 6 years and love it. The best thing is that its not Electronic so very few things go wrong. It has plenty of stitces including stretch and serving as well.
Hey thanks for sharing. Janome makes awesome stuff.
I've got the heavy duty denim. I just bought it because it looks so good.
It actually does work too!
Nice vid!
This helps a lot!! Now I’m going to check out your video! Thank you for being honest with us!!
I have a singer HD and it works through everything, i can fit under the foot. 8 layers denim? No problem, doesnt even slow down much. It is a strong maschine targeted at new people to the Hobby who are searching for a maschine, that will do a lot of denim etc. Without problems and thats exactly what it does. And it is light and small enough to Just put it away when you dont use it. I think its the right marketing. Its not a disadvantage for the buyer. I wouldnt have bought a more expensive one.
Really ironic that you didn't actually show the machines not doing what they claim ???
mane syhau
Thank you for putting g HD machines where they belong on the buying list. Years ago I needed a stretch stitch machine so I went shopping with a $20 bill in my purse and the only 4-5 stitches I needed. Kenmore fit my bill and I've had her for years. Currently looking for a mechanical machine that I can use set up with a different thread, double needle, whatever and almost fell into the HD talk. Was more into the metal frame lasting longer. (At 70 y.o. forever is exactly what I need. Lol. ) Thank you for letting me know that I was right to keep on looking ~~ not saying I won't get one but knowing facts is important. Once again, thank you.
What did you buy instead?
I did a search on CZcams University for the Baby Lock Joy and watched a few of your videos and I am happy that the purchase I made. You said all the same things the wonderful Lori @Sierra Sewing told me! I took in a 1960 something Singer for repair and really am bummed that it was far more to fix it than buy new. I am only missing the nostalgia but you both have made my decision feel safe and sound! Thank you!
This is fascinating! Really learning a lot from your videos.
I was considering Singer Heavy duty but now I will explore some more options. Thanks for sharing your experience. It'll certainly help people to look past the marketing gimmicks.
I have a singer heavy duty machine, it’s really good I sew 5hrs a day for a home business and it’s never skipped a beat
the singer machines have a 1 amp motor. using the proper needle and thread will allow you to do some heavy sewing. it actually isnt a marketing gimmick these are not meant to ne a commercial machine but i know of several that is being used in that manner be it as a back up for when their commercial consew is off to be serviced. same with the brother st i know of another who uses the brother st machine in his leather shop. again its not used 24x7 but maybe a couple times a week. but seriously how many of us need a 100% duty cycle sewing machine? and yes these hd machines will sew heavier fabrics for the simple reason of having the means of fitting thicker stack under the lifter foot. and the janome hd3000 has all metal gears that if you dont push the sewing machine hard it will last a lot longer then the brother made babylock joy recommended. sad thing is they no longer put a 750watt motor in the machine and are only using 500watts.
I will give you some advice that repair men will not: slow the fuck down and use the correct needle for the canvas or leather your trying to ram through, and you won't break your machine
A walking foot is a must sewing soft furnishings. The 4423 works so well when using it and you get better results every time. It regulates 2 layers of different weights of fabric so you get a flat seam.
My 1990 Singer Quantum CSL is a total workhorse! I do a lot of upholstery, sometimes up to 4 layers of duck cloth or Sunbrella and with the proper needle and thread it’s never let me down. My main complaint is parts are hard to get.
Im so so happy im reading the comments. I am basically trained more than 10years ago to sew and repair fabric. Im researching, i need cheap, im not going to be using this as my main income i just need cheap but reliable as well as able to run through tough thicker materials. I don't have the money for anything like what you're recommending.
Oh man this was the first USEFUL video about Heavy Duty branded machines I've seen. Thanks!
Great advice. Thanks. You confirmed my suspicions and reminded me of previous readings and research I’d done.
Thank you. This video has helped me to finally make the decision of which machine to buy.
This answered all of my questions thank you so much!!
I have the Singer 4432 Heavy Duty machine. I got it when they first came out.
I didn't like it much at first, but I grew into it. I actually enjoy it now.
I had a cheap Suinger basic machine that broke sewing denium. It busted, and the timing was way off. With the heavy duty one can sew denium.
I don't care if it is hype or not. I'm pleased with my machine. It works for my needs.
I have a vintage Singer 414G. That machine can do heavy duty. It doesn't do much more than a straight stitch, but it works.
I get what you are saying. I do believe for a home machine the Heavy Duty is good enough. It does do more than the regular Singer does.
I have a Husqvarna Viking Emerald machine too. It is a little more fussy but it's a good machine.
I may be a sailor (In a Navy veteran) but I'm not going to sew sails. I'm not sewing layers of canvas.
I'm not a machine snob.
I’m on my second Singer sewing machine (by choice I wanted to have a second one) and I sew hours and hours a day and it’s never had any problems. My first one is from 2014 and it’s never had a single issue
I can absolutely believe this, I simply make the point that these machines are no more heavy duty than a normal sewing machine. Many many machines can be sewn on for hours and hours for years and years, this is a normal function. By no means “heavy duty”. I’m glad your machines are serving you well!
Thanks this helped me out. I'm a beginner and need it for basic sewing like curtains and hems.
Yes you can invest in an expensive machine, but when they need repair, there lies a difficulty for a rural sewist. Invest in Singer HD and if unable to repair, you can buy another a few times over compared to high end machines.
I’ve owned the Singer HD 4452. I sew home decor, faux leather handbags with no problem. I recently purchased the Singer 6700c they can handle multiple layers of thick fabrics. I can sew up four layers. Of course an industrial machine has more power. I’m speaking honestly from experience
Of course you get paid per view and comment so I guess this helps your algorithm. My Singer Simple and Heavy Duty both made it through the pandemic with basic maintenance. Not a single one of them failed me. Even now my Heavy Duty is making pageant gowns with all the sequins imaginable. No threads busting, there’s a broken needle here and there as with any other machine, and have used heavy fabrics. To each their own on this machine but I love it and do recommend
I second that. I love my singer HD
This was very informative. Thanks!
I have a vintage Singer and it is all metal. I love that 301A! I', not sure which machine I should look at next.
Vintage singers can be so fun to collect! They are so neat and if you get them in good working order its kind of like taking an old car for a drive. It's about the experience. New machines are just easier to use. I'd look at the metal straight stitch machines like the juki tl 2010 or something like that.
If your Singer 301 still runs, and does the job for you, just keep it serviced. It'll be a better machine than most household sewing machines that are made today. Otherwise, invest in a commercial machine. You're used to the direct-drive motor that will sew most anything you can put under the foot. You can't get that in a household sewing machine today.
I just made a sheepskin zip up hoodie with mine and it worked great. Easiest machine to use. The titanium needles work awesome in it.
I'm looking to buy my first sewing machine and this video was very informative. Thx
I gotta say thank you for stopping me from buying these machines to start up my business… i got the juki 😊🙏🏼💜
Oh yay! My pleasure, I hope you love it! Best of luck in your business!!
I have the Singer 6217c which was the heavy duty of its day. It's 30 years old now and I'm still sewing! Not sure if it's heavy duty with regard to sewing (although 30 years!) but the frame is so superior to anything they are building these days unfortunately and the presser foot lever is metal! On the downside, it's so heavy to lift!
My grandmother used that same machine---it's a tank!!
I have two of my mother's old Singer Sewing Machines but what I've found out through the years is that it comes down to the needles and the feet. However, I look forward to buying a Baby Lock Machine.
Yeah, when I wanted to buy a sewing machine my parents kept telling me "singer! singer!!" Im glad I went with your advice and got the babylock joy. Its a pretty solid machine even if im still trying to figure out all its quirks! Havent had much time to use it though because school, but since it lets out soon i hope ill be able to make some garments and things with it
Yay! So glad to help! Tag on on Instagram whe you get to start making things!
Just a piece of sh... At 200$ you can't get the same reliability than a sewing machine of 600$
I grew up using vintage Singers, trusted the brand, bought my first personal singer machine, I had to return that junk back to walmart asap 🏃🏿♂️
@@hajalameh was it a HD?
Good call! Baby lock sewing machines are fantastic and you can get one of their entry models for what you would have wasted on a "Singer" (which, by no means is not the original Singer company. Folks, if you still want a Singer, pick up a pre-1970 model from a garage sale).
Great job and perfect message. So true on the "Heavy Duty" term used for the Singer machines. They are great machines for normal sewing They just are not made for heavy or large material like awnings, upholstery, Thick tarp etc.
Exactly!
@@KatchiVatchi Problem is that the HD on the Singer loco makes people think its Heavy duty, I did a lot or research before I bought the Janome HD 3000. Lot of my
yachty friends were annoyed with their Singer HD , and sailright machines are quite bulky, heavy and difficult to handle as well, but mostly used by yachties, I wanted a dual machine for all kinds of sewing. My research showed that the Janome HD3000 comes normally with a 110 V for the American market .
So I flew to Singapore to get the one with the 240 V.
Hope that helps people who want to buy a genuine HD machine.
Is great for jeans
I’ve given up on Singers , I’ve dumped them in the trash 🥲
Are they good for sewing clothes ? I want to make a dress
I fell for the wording on machine - the Heavy Duty on Singer. During lockdown I bought one and regret it. It’s noisy and slow and it’s light. It kept jumping backwards during fast sewing. I have a old Pfaff and I’m sticking to Pfaff forever.. Thank you so much for highlighting what many people are experiencing with this Singer Heavy duty crap machine.
so what would you recommend for first time buy? I wanna sew some pouches(EDC) in some canvas and condura material. does the Singer do the trick? what do you reccommend?
This is soooo true (about the HD part). Im just trying to find a machine that I can do general sewing and some quilting on.
Great video. I'm mostly in agreement with your opinion, but having sewn on the machine and pulled the covers off, I think it deserves good marks among PoS machines.
BTW, the Singer HD series is one of several brands (Bernette B05, Pfaff 160s, Necchi Q132A, etc.) that offer a clone of this machine. The plastic skin, features and accessories vary, but the base machine is the same. We have a Necchi Q132A version.
It's not the smoothest, straightest, most powerful, but it does a good job (for a cheap machine) on material considered heavy by modern home machine standards. It will handle heavier poly and lighter nylon thread and responds to tension adjustments well. It punches thru extended runs of maximum thickness (6mm?) fabric (denim, etc.) at speed with no strain. It will sew some coated nylon, webbing, garment leather, etc., but technique, (start position, attack, thread tension...), needle type (denim, leather) and possibly thread lube are important.
It's reasonably well designed internally. There is a fair amount of metal where plastic is often found (on modern machines in the price range). It's simple to access, clean, oil and adjust (internally). High mortality rate parts are cheap, common and appear uncomplicated to replace. There are some (felt washer) oil points which help with durability.
It's not a lifetime machine or worth expensive repairs, but among PoSs there is a decent value proposition in the heavy duty marketing.
Can it sew with my Bernina 1030, Pfaff 1222SE or Juki walking foot, no, but IMHO it's (they are) a good value.
Great information. Thanks!
Hmmm-- the Sewing Machine Repair Guy tested out the Singer Heavy Duty line with all sorts of electronic gizmos and said it really is a heavy duty machine. I have seen the Janome HD1000 compared with a "normal" home machine and it really does handle more. It may be a marketing thing, but that doesn't make it not actually heavy duty.
Oops, no, you're referring to an industrial machine:-). Heavy Duty and industrial are 2 different things. HD means thick layers. But you're right, I would not sew on the Singer HD for hours a day. For that I have my Singer Studio 16.
I am researching for an industrial machine and I’m glad I found your video as I was considering one of these as they’re cheaper but it looks not a lot better than my 30 year old brother thanks.
I bought a singer 4452 brand new for 100 bucks at auction and it's been fantastic for me for the price point. Solid build and the insides are well put together. There is definitely a difference between these
Great and honest video!👍👍👍👍
I can't thank you enough, the word "heavy duty" printed on the sewing machine, really got me. 😅😅😅
Glad it was helpful!
You've given me points to think about. I've sewn since I was a school-girl, but haven't sewn in the last few years as I've had other things I've needed to deal with. Now I want to get back into it and sew up the stash of fabric that I have in the cupboard. I got my old machine out and thought 'I forgot how much I hate this machine', so I thought it must be time to get a machine that I love. The machine I had before this one was a Janome, I don't know the model, but I bought it when I left school and the metal pieces started breaking. I was devasted. It did weigh a tonne and I could hardly lift it. So the newer ones are better for lightness factor.
Now I'm going to list what I hate about my current machine and what I stitches etc I need.
Thanks for the video.
Weird. I must have gotten their rainbow unicorn. It's doing everything I need in terms of heavy duty. How many home sewers are in need of a Juki industrial or a Sailrite?
I suspected this was the case. Glad to hear your perspective.
Great video! I love to hear the real inside scoop before I buy vs making my purchase just on the branding and hype alone.
Thank you!!! Was about to buy one but feeling good that I didn’t now.
Its good
I just got a Janome HD3000 is that a ploy as well? It sewed leather and denim in the review I saw.
One indication that heavy duty is just a marketing term is looking how Singer market the same machines in different countries. In Brazil it is not called "heavy duty" (or the equivalent in Portuguese). It is called "Facilita Pro" (which translates to "Ease Pro").
Hello, do you know the Necchi q132a which falls in the category of Heavy duty? Is this a good sewing machine, comparable to the Singer HD machines
I’m hemming jeans and maybe some leather what do you recommend??
I have the Singer 4452, Consew CP206RL, Janome HD3000BE, Singer HD110C, Elna XQuisit II, and Viking 21e. Also, just found a Singer Quantum XL6000 at Goodwill. The only ones not technically "Heavy Duty" are the Elna XQuisit and the Singer Quantum XL6000 (although both have more power than many Heavy Duty Machines (.9 amps Singer and Elna [same machines]). I have zero complaints regarding the Singer 4452. Sews denim and even light leather.
The name heavy duty is weird, but if you don't look at it as some professional industrial machine, rather casual hobby machine, then it really delivers. And the price is at that level as well. Personally I would recommend HD line over those cheaper non-HD white machines from Singer because those machines are slow and can't sew through thicker fabric.
I've had mine for 6/7 years and for home sewing sewing..I live it..2 of my sewing machine mechanics say it is one of the better home sewing machines
This video has been long over do! I can’t express enough how much this video is needed for anyone looking to buy their first or to replaced a sewing machine. Your point is clear and honest for folks to understand how heavy duty sewing machine is being marketed. Also, a good point about Singer. Yes, it’s true that Singer is no longer a trusted brand since an outside investors ( SVP Worldwide - Kolberg & Company, LLC) purchased the Singer company in 2004 for $134 million. SVP Worldwide owns Singer, Viking, and Pfaff. Kolberg & Company, LLC is a private equity firm who has no knowledge about the sewing industry. Kolberg & Company, LLC are nothing but investors, whereby destroyed Singer, Viking, and Pfaff brand names. Kolberg & Comapny, LLC after Singer, Viking, Pfaff ownership stripped these brands down to nothing. Good example is SInger’s line up of models they had not produced in the last 20 years, nothing new. Singer has not produced any new sewing machines for years -older models are still being sold to this present date (with a few exception). Fact, after Kolberg & Company, LLC take over, Singer services centers were closed. Any Singers sewing machines must be shipped (owners pays for shipping) to their main services center -no more to a local dealer for warranty repairs. Viking is only handled by a Joann’s dealership that rents a space to sell or send out for repairs. Pfaff is the only brand that is still sold and service throughout the US local dealers.
As for heavy duty sewing machines? Janome and Bother isn’t alone in their marketing schemes. Both brands, Janome and Brother make sewing machines for under $300 that is considered to be heavy duty -not! Just another way to market these models as heavy duty for gain of their investments. And it is working! Folks buy into their marketing schemes because lack of knowledge. And that is why this video has done justice letting everyone know not to fall into buying the so called heavy duty sewing machines. Most sewing machines can handle heavy duty sewing with the proper settings, needles, threads, and foot. As Katchi stated, for long term sewing with heavy weight fabric of any kind will require an industrial sewing machine. But, for moderate or occasional heavy weight, most household sewing machines will do the job. Extra note for those thinking that cast iron or any type of metal built sewing machine will handle sewing through heavy materials should think again. The metal frame is good, but it is the plastic gears and cheap motor that will take a toll sewing with heavy or layers of materials. The plastic gears and cheap motor what gives first after time of stress has been placed on the sewing machine.
Again, awesome video and the first of its kind 😎👍
The Singer heavy duty went through leather for me just fine. Much better then the standard ones. My Janome HD is going through thick materials like butter so... I think it does help?
I totally love your outlook! I have a Singer Stylist 7258. I love it!
My first was a refurbished Brother, when I was in 7th grade.
I'm 63 now. Lol
Thank you, thank you thank you! I am sooo tired of seeing YT videos claiming these Singers are the best beginner machines for a given year.
As a professional sewing machine technician, we have these machines come in to our shop for repair all the time--some as new as six months. Broken gears, bent shafts: there is nothing we can do for them.
You recommended Baby Lock joy, which is a great alternative. There are a few baby lock machines one could buy for the price of a Singer HD.
Folks, instead of picking up a cheap Singer at Walmart or the hobby craft store, take a trip to a real sewing machine dealer and get a quality machine on any budget.
As the point was made, Singer is owned by an equity firm and has noting to do with the quality machines of 100 years ago. Singer of today could just as well market pogo sticks!
Hello, thank you for the video. Can this machine sew 3 or 4 layers of canvas fabric?
great video - thanks so much!
So people shouldn’t buy it because it has heavy duty on it? Everyone knows you can’t buy an industrial machine at Walmart…In todays market more domestic machines (in this price range) have nonmetal frames/components. It’s popular because it’s a solid machine for the money.
There are better solid machines in the price point or even cheaper that are going to hold up equally as well. I don’t want people to be duped by Heavy Duty, when other quality machines for $200-$250 will perform better or equal for possibly longer even. Heavy duty is a marketing ploy and isn’t providing the services that the name implies
Thank you !
You right, Thanks not so many people said that .
I bought the 4452 last spring and use it with a multitude of indoor and outdoor upholstery fabrics and automotive leather and vinyl, using T45-90 polyester thread (in the bobbin also) ... so far so good for me at least ... it seems to handle them just fine :)
I need to sew 10mm neoprene. Would something like the Sailrite leather sewing machine work?
What machine would you recommend for doing alteration work?
What machine do you recommend for putting patches on a leather vest?
I been owning heavy duty more than 10 years works very well for business
Thank you for this. Just when i was about to buy a machine.
I was given an old (japanese made) montgomery ward sewing machine. Are these machines any good? I was having trouble getting it to stitch consistently without stalling. But I'm sure it's probably just something I'm doing wrong. (like the tension on the thread)
My wife wants a sewing machine for Christmas. Mostly for your average tasks. However I’d like to use it in the future of sewing some things with 500D-1000D Cordura fabrics. Do we need a heavy duty model or will the Janome 4120QDC-T model work fine for cordura?
Thank you so much xo
Thanks for telling the straight-forward truth. Most HD reviews are ... useless. Great vid.
Would a basic brother machine handle sewing patches on jean jacket?
Thank you for thing information on heavy duty sewing machines.
Nice! -- QUESTION -- I am looking at a CONSEW 206 RB-1 as it seems nice. Do you know whether it can do a ZIG ZAG stich on that machine or is it too old? We want to be able to repair sails on our sailboat and do stuff like that. Heavy materials.
Can you recommend an inexpensive machine that can do a chain stitch?
What do you think about Necchi Q132A 32? For thick materials ansd everyday use
I have this machine and bought into the 'HD' stuff as what I was making at the time needed a machine with more 'oomph'! My Janome actually did as good a job - after 20 yrs the motor gave up and now I only have the Singer HD, but I do agree with you. It doesn't actually do much more than the Janome did! XXX Thanks for the honest review xxx ps. I wonder if you could recommend a quiet sewing machine? xxx
When you said " sucks for you" I instantly subscribed. Tell it like it is girl.
I used the Signer Heavy Dutty for few month. Sewing a lot of thick stuff (1000D cordura, often multiple layers), I hit pretty quickly the limits of the machine. Being lucky enough to be able to affort the Sailride LSZ, I did (I discovered it through this video, then did my research on the subject). omg, the difference is crazy! It's a whole other level of quality and smoothness. But again, the price tag is asolutely different. Got the signer 150 $ cad second hand. Sailrite LSZ with customs to get it to Canada was nearly 1800 $ cad. But if you can afford it, it's absolutely worth it.
Thank-you for replying/making a comment on this! ! Making petbeds (one for an aggressive pitty (pitbull)
Thank you for your great review, but I must admit when I compare my CS6000i and my Singer 44S /4432/4452 the CSI cannot sew heavy duty. The singer heavy duty has been great to sew my heavy-duty items. So I do not agree with the fact that it is not heavy-duty machine. It does sew better than a smaller regular non-heavy-duty machine.
I found a used sewing machine dealer, I told him I wanted a sturdy clothing capacity machine. He told me "I have just the thing you need," a Sears Kenmore, 1980's vintage, made in Japan. It's almost entirely machined metal parts, and has a step reduction speed drive that walks through blue jean/canvass layered fabrics relentlessly. It had very low hours use like many used machines and I really like it. Sold to me for $300.00
i dunno. these machines are solid. are they the best? no. but will they hem jeans without problems? yup. will they sew 4 layers of heavy leather? yup. someone last year did a side by side between the janome hd3000 and the 5532 and you couldnt tell a difference. and the 4432 is 300 less and has a higher output motor. problem is people dont use the right needle/old needle and think putting foot to the floor is how it should go. and no 99% of sewing machines dont have a metal frame. only benefit to spending the extra 300 on the janome hd3000 is the all metal gears. but changing out gears are easy enough or drop it off at your dealer. btw the babylock joy is made by brother which is owned by the same company that owns singer viking and Husqvarna so why not save some cash buying a sewing machine that actually has a 1 amp motor which has a higher duty cycle and can sew heavier material and more layers? .
Totally agree!
I bought the latest singer heavy duty computerized bundled with the hard case for 260 after a lot of research. Wanted it for denim. It can go through 10+ layers of denim with ease. Why buy a lesser machine that cant even do a zigzag stitch for only a little bit less money.
This is really helpful. I'm going to a big sewing Expo next week. I used to sew patterns as a teenager (20 years ago) but moved around so much since then. Now I have a house and want a machine. I thought heavy duty meant it was geared toward denim, leather, etc. One of the projects I'm looking to do is cotton rope bowls, baskets, etc. for my house. I tried the Baby Lock Jubilant last week and really like it but all the Amish ladies around me swear by Janome. Are there good Janomes in the $500 price range I should be looking at? The HD3000?
The Janome 3610 is the most comparable to the Jubilant and it runs around $650. It add the scissor trim function but doesn’t have an easy set bobbin. I love it though bc it comes with an extension table and hard cover and a walking foot which could easily cost that extra $150 that to purchase for the Jubilant( which really is a solid little machine too though). HD 3000 isn’t worth the price difference from the hd1000 in my estimation. ☺️
Thanks for pointing out the flaws in the term "heavy duty" on this machine. My first machine was a vintage straight stitch and zig zag machine from the 1950's. All metal and plenty of power to go through even leather. The vintage domestic machines are truly heavy duty compared to the machines made today.
I agrée. I love sewing machines but modern domestic machines are toys compared to machines from the 50’s, 60’s. I have several and after oiling and a new needle they are brilliant, and we’re so cheap compared to the Singer HD range . Mine don’t give the stitches, but another vintage machine does, so I’m happy.
Still I’m enjoying this video.
hi guys
I am a beginner
What would I buy for sewing leather, plastic as well heavy fabrics?
Any brand specific models etc.?
Thanks, guys, for your time.
excellent content
Thanks for this video. I was looking into a HD machine as I sew bags with multi layers and foam interfacing and my current machine struggles sometimes.
Do not get the singer 4452- mine broke after 4 small pouches. Last week I was singing its praises, this week I can’t find a repair man that wants to take my money to fix it. Even the Singer service was not jumping up to do it
@@sheila003d I'm sorry this happened to you Sheila. I expect you were very frustrated.
I'm not assuming that a plastic gear was the reason your machine broke down, but plastic parts can be a problem. And of course there are many other things that can go wrong as well. But this is the problem with modern-day machines. The quality of manufacturing, plastic parts can be faulty, or simply give out when the machine is forced to work too hard. I'm sure Singer makes the effort to produce quality. (Although the Singer company no longer exists. Singer is now just a name put on certain sewing machines. It's owned by a very large conglomerate.) But the the built-in planned obsolescence factor ruins it. The machines are expected to fail at some point, then the user learns that it's either unrepairable or would cost too much to repair - sometimes more than the cost of a new machine. The only way for companies to profit is to keep selling more and more machines. They can't make machines that will last indefinitely or they'd go out of business. A sad comment on products of today's manufacturers, not just sewing machines. Consider dishwashers, furnaces, ovens, refrigerators, and so on.
On the other hand, vintage machines were built to provide generations of service. No, they won't last forever, but plastic machines will often be in the recycle bin while 50 to 80 year old (and older) machines are still being used by a fourth generation. Vintage machines are not perfect, but finding the right one for what a person wants to sew is frequently a great solution, especially a machine which can handle much heavier use than what's produced today and not break down.
I didn't mean to get this wordy and I'm not knocking all modern machines, let alone all items made with plastics. I own some modern machines myself, along with a collection of vintage "old ladies". Modern machines do have their place, you just need to be sure the machine purchased is suitable for your needs so that it will work for you as long as possible.
Some people may scoff and say I don't know what I'm talking about - they have the right to do so. But I've been around since the middle of the last century and have watched planned obsolescence develop and become the norm. I find it rather sad.
Hi I m looking for a sewing machine that can sew leather, pvc, canvas n cotton . What is the best sewing machine to buy tq