Do You Need An Industrial Walking-Foot Sewing Machine?
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- This video is a discussion on whether or not you need an industrial, walking-foot sewing machine to sew bags and other utility items from heavier or more difficult-to-sew fabrics.
I try to cover a lot in this video, but this is a deep, complicated topic, and I am limited by both time and the extent of my knowledge. If you are considering adding an industrial machine to your arsenal, I recommend seeking out additional information.
The content of this video is my opinion, and is presented for entertainment purposes.
Need to buy some waxed canvas or other fabric to try in your machine? Use my affiliate link with Big Duck Canvas and your purchase will help me with a small commission at no extra charge to you - lddy.no/5dpy
Another way you can help support my efforts here is by purchasing a t-shirt, coffee mug or other merchandise from my Teespring store - teespring.com/stores/the-jaso...
You can also follow me on Instagram for more content - / thejasonofalltrades
Check out Alexander Dyer's excellent Consew 206 video - • The Walking Foot Indus...
How I made the table - • Custom-Painted Industr... - Jak na to + styl
I wish people would comment why they "clicked" thumbs down for ANY video.
Thank you for the informative vid.
YES. If by 'need' you mean 'don't need but really want because they're just cool'.
Isn't that what "need" means? :)
No, he is right. I'm doing bags with a crappy home use singer (the crap moms make diapers and skirts with) and it will go through several D1000 cordura nylon BUT when I add in webbing/foam into the mix, things get dicey and slippery. And the machine sounds and looks like it's going to fall apart. You need one of those to make a quality job.
Edit: and my thicker thread was fraying like he says when he does the leather demo. My machine is a Singer for home use 2010 issue (Walmart stuff - my fam really knows how to research their products ... not).
@@cubul32 - If you choose, go look for a good vintage Brother, Kenmore, White or Singer from the 50's or 60's. If you can, find one with at least a 1.0 or 1.2 amp motor. They have metal gears and a lot more torque than a "Walmart special" and you can probably get one for a song at a thrift store or garage sale. Then take it to a sewing machine mechanic (most sewing machine dealers have one) and get it refurbed. It will cost you a hundred bucks or so but would be worth it. I have several vintage Kenmores and compared to modern domestic machines, they are powerful beasts. They don't have the speed or as much power as an industrial, but they're10 times better than your poor little Singer which is mostly plastic and probably has a paltry little .7 amp motor.
I don't necessarily expect you to believe me, so do some research and decide for yourself. Good luck!
p.s. If you have some bucks to spend, go to www.stagecoachroadsewing.com and look over what they have to offer.
@@PibbleMom297 I don't have to believe you. I know exactly what you're saying. But I think I'll invest in a Sailrite knockoff with sailrite mods in it. There is a local guy in Laval, QC offering those and they're good stuff from what I hear.
@@cubul32- Sounds like a good plan to me!! p.s. 11/23/20 - I wouldn't mind having a Sailrite or Sailrite clone either.
I missed a fully equipped (U.S. made!) Sailrite LS-1 with all the accessories (monster wheel, thread guide, binders, light, thread, bobbins, hard case, etc., etc.) a few days ago on the **ONE** day I forgot to look on my local Craigslist for sewing machines. It went for $650. Not a steal for just the machine, but with all the other stuff, definitely. I was momentarily overwhelmed with grief until I tried to convince myself that I really wanted a zig zag. ; )
Spot on advice! As a hobbyist I have a straight stitch Juki industrial and it does nothing that my 201 won’t do other than blaze quickly(that’s its industrial purpose - not necessarily thickness). It sits. I have a Singer W111-155 but nobody will buy it. It has been eclipsed by a new Japanese-built Juki 1571S! It has the larger bobbin, a higher lift, and a servo motor. My vote is get the biggest baddest walking foot one can afford(of any era) and a 201 or similar domestic for everything else. Vintage machines are much higher quality than the computer stuff out now IMO. Other buying tips: Don’t be an intimidated 1st time buyer. Just say if you have never run a walking foot or industrial machine and ask to be shown how to work it as part of the sale. For denim or leather garments one really needs the walking foot machine(not a hokey attachment) as thickness is the issue. Four layers? No problem. Add in three more for an epaulet on a jacket sleeve? Fine. Now fold that back to top stitch it all or cross two flat felled seams and some walking feet can struggle without other tricks of the trade. No domestic will do that even once. As for domestics, the mechanical sensitivity and control of vintage machines can’t be beat. Great stuff!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! If you had been in the room when I was filming, I think I would have just turned the camera on you! :D
I strongly agree with your advice for a first time buyer. I have totally been that guy, having no idea what I'm looking at but too embarrassed to admit that I don't know, and ending up buying something that wasn't right for me. Admit what you don't know and ask questions for sure!
Thanks for watching and commenting.
...i wish i had the money to purchase an industrial machine; but i settled for the 2 machines i found in a garbage bin outside my home; a Singer 2662 and a Kenmore 3/4 Overlocker! GREAT FINDS and for free!
You can do a lot with a free sewing machine! Congrats on finding two of them and saving them!
Thanks for sharing Jason and I am glad to hear you've got more videos in the pipeline! Really looking forward to them.
That machine is on my bucket list. For sure.
I always appreciate your channel and have learned a lot from your videos. I currently have a heavy duty domestic and can knock out heavy waxed canvas backpacks and thin leather (2-3oz thickness) items. Using the correct needle has been the key. Saving up for a leather-specific walking foot machine (~$2k). Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I own 2 industrial , clutch, singers and 7 others. I have been sewing since preschool and am in my 70s. Like your show
Grand epilogue-type story! We've all had such experiences, but it remains lovely to hear those from others. I am new to your channel and I appreciate much the thoroughness you provide. Thank you!
Thanks so much!
Thank you so very much for such an informative video. Answered a lot of my questions.
Thanx for the video, just bought a Consew 244 RB1, have also been looking for a Walking foot machine for a while now. Found one for R2500.00 (South Africa)...around $200...or less...it needed a service but I am very happy...
Thanx for sharing the Sewing interrest...
Thank you for sharing this wonderful informative video. I sew as well and have two consew machine. 206 RB1 and 206 RB3. They are really great machines. Blessings
I was glad to weight I have been anticipating more of your video .... I am a hobbyist sewer and I love watching your videos .... I see a lot of people who make sewing videos on bags but not a lot of video on my tactical bags. I say tactical meaning outdoor and heavy duty and not for going out to lunch with LOL .....Looking forward for more ....
the piant job is cool on the singer
My Father tried to get into upholstery work and had a machine for that purpose. I loved using it as I could sew any material with it. It came with straight stitch and zig zag stitches only, was not a lot of options for using it, compared to my standard machine. He also tried his hand at shoe repair and had the equipment for that as well, which also learned how to use.
Thanks for adding the last bit. Enjoyable.
Fair winds 😉
Love old 201’s have old German made with hand crank . Keep up the great videos !
Watched the whole thing and subscribed after. Good story.
I'm commiserating with you! The story of my life: a day late and a dollar short! I cannot begin to count how many times a decent industrial machine went for a song just hours or minutes before I could get there to buy it. I sincerely hope the next one you come across doesn't get away from you. I did finally get my machine, but that's another story altogether. LOL!!
Nice to see you again...
Thanks Mike! It's nice to be seen :)
Thank you for sharing this .I sew and I have a collection. I have two Consew 206 RB 1 and206 RB2 ..I repair also. Really I can sense your experience which is well appreciated. Bless you and your channel..From the French island St Martin
Merci!
Thanks for sharing Mr.Jason. You had a flat tire on your way is something like saying don't buy it. If you miss something, its nature's way of telling, ''Wait Jason. Better one is on its way!!" I enjoyed the video thoroughly. Also learned a new lesson. Don't press on the pedal just because you have switched it off. The motor is still running. Nuances nobody teaches. Very valuable lesson. Thumbs up. All the best. Take care.
have to say. probably the most informative video on the internet. been trying to find out more about industrial machines, in particular walking foot machines and if i should get one. Cheers! loved the skipped bit in the middle and the improvised scene. Sorry you missed out the machine..missed a couple here in Finland. ..and nice score on the 201!
Thanks again.
Thank you, and thanks for watching and commenting!
Glad to be one of the 3 still listening.
I was just going to say the same thing!! lol
Biggest issue I've ran into is the low foot lift height. I have a Rex off Amazon and the foot only goes up 1/4". Would like a machine with a 1/2" or more. Mainly dealing with getting seams under and through it.
Sewing, cats, drums:
A man after my own heart.
WOW 1936 Singer AMAZING!
Thanks great video.
My mother bought a davis Verticle feed sewing machine in the 1920's foot treddle. she sewed hundreds of quilts. The verticle feed moves the neredle similar to what a dual feed walking food does
I would like to add that if you rock back on the pedal with a clutch motor it will put the breaks on. Good video thanks for putting it out there. I wish I knew this information before I bought a non walking foot industrial Singer. I latter found a Pfaff walking foot and added a servo motor.
You make a good point - my machine seems to apply the brake upon letting off, and I don't need to rock back on the pedal, but other machines I've used were set up that way. I might play around with mine to change that, although I think a servo motor is probably in my relatively near future.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
The answer is yes. When I have a house again, I plan on getting a big machine so I can start working with leather. I have an endless supply of leather and hair-on sheep hides. I want to start making moccasins and mittens and more pillows out of sheep hides!
Where from how??? I want a bit of leather too for projects, how can I get some ??
I didn't really need one , but I bought one and really enjoy making leather goods with it 👍👍👍
This is a great video for folks trying to figure out what they should buy. I would second the idea of hunting craigslist for something used (even well used) to start out, don’t be too picky about finding the “ideal” machine right away. Sometimes certain models get popular and the used market skyrockets, while similar machines go for cheap. It would be rare to find a machine so worn out that it’s unusable, no joke half of my machines have come from barns and were completely seized or rusted. If it makes a stitch and hasn’t obviously been dropped it should be good to go. Lotta options out there, and it’s certainly possible to sew heavy materials with a regular drop feed industrial machine as well. Don’t get stuck by thinking you can’t start because you can’t afford that unicorn machine right out of the gate!
Well said, Joe!
I've got a few industrial machines in my studio as well as a few domestics, but I have not yet found a walking foot machine. I REALLY would love to get one tho. I sew mostly heavy denim and canvas so it would be great for me. There is a large textile industry in and around Bangkok so there are always used ones popping up for sale, just have to keep an eye out.
My 201-hate for you just escalated! 😂😂 Seriously, good score!
@23:13 "The one I lost today" made my mind go to the 1200. I thought it might have gotten stolen. Thanks for clearing that up. I know the 1200 isn't technically industrial, but the way you said that shook me! 😁
I watched to the end...I do not need another sewing machine....but what does need have to do with sewing machines😂?
Great video
Thank you!
My first introduction to sewing was when I was a kid. All of my siblings sew. I didn't really get into sewing until I got into a sport where it is frequently needed. I started with a Singer 401A, the same thing I learned on as a kid. Great machine, but when that wasn't strong enough, upgraded to a Singer 20U-33. This a the perfect machine where a domestic is too small, but don't need a absolute industrial machine. Drop feed, straight and zig-zag. Sold that when I needed something a little more refined and with a bit more ummff and a walking foot. So I found a Consew 206 RB3 and Bernina 217 with stitch cam drive for a great deal. The 206 is such a wonderful machine, especially when driven by a servo motor with needle positioner.
It didn't take long and I was hooked (yes, a sewing pun). I started cruising CL and picked up deals for stuff that looked interesting at a good price. I now have 19 machines, domestic and industrial. 5 industrials are always set up. Collection includes Pfaffs, Jukis, Consews, Seiko, Bernina, Singers. Oldest is over 100 years old. Types include walking foot, zig-zag, some have pullers, bar tacker, serger, double needle, free arm. and harness machine.
So be warned, these things can be come addictive. I tell everyone I can stop at any time.
I just don't want to.
I'm "only" at 16 machines, so I don't have a problem :)
Thanks for sharing your story!
I know, my heart is beating so fast...
I'm "only" at 14 machines (including 2 duplicates for parts). I don't have a problem!😁 Although my husband may begin smoking from his ears and sparking from his eyes if he sees another one come in the house. I'll have to sneak it in when he's out playing golf.
As we have previously discussed, I am definitely looking to upgrade from my Singer 237 to an industrial walking foot machine to help with those bulky seams and zippers in utility pouches and bags. Better luck next time! Wait, $20 for a working Singer 201 is lucky!
Yeah, the 201 was a nice consolation prize! Thanks Stephen!
I paid $250 for my 206RB-1, but like you said I had to replace the tension assembly, bobbin position finger, and I added a servo motor(best thing ever!) Luckily parts for the 206 are plentiful and inexpensive. My Singer 1200 is still in pieces, I am prepping it for paint, I put one of 210-2s in the table for until I have the 1200 restored. I love them both! Thanks for the great videos.
Nice! I'm sure a servo is in my future. If I had gotten the other 206, I would have liked to have one with a servo and one with a clutch, just for the opportunity for a side-by-side comparison, but not this time :(
Are you restoring your 1200 to stock appearance? I'd love to see it when it's done if you post anywhere!
@@thejasonofalltrades I haven't decided if I'm going to go back to factory appearance or not, I probably will, just because they're so rare, and I have 3 201-2s to play with for custom paint. I am on few of the vintage sewing machine FB groups, so I'd probably post pics there.
Thanks for the clip -much appreciated; small feedback: learn about cutting and editing techniques like slightly speeding things up to make this half their size and to loose dead moments (I work in cinema, I edited before). I was super interested so I enjoyed every single second of this but other might be in a hurry and might not stick to watch even though your info might be what they needed. I'm a home serious user making my own custom gear for work/photography repairs camping etc etc. I'm looking at a portable heavy duty machine as mentioned in my other question, def walking foot, not sure if industrial. But something heavy duty is def needed to make that kind of projects well. I'm sickntired of my weakling of a home use Singer.
4th person watch all the way through!
I have way too many sewing machines! Mostly I love how they work and the mechanics of them. My industrial is a Juki 1541 walking foot and it is a beast. Once I got used to the knee lift I really didn’t want to use a machine without one. The 201s are really cool but my 1200 (I believe you refer to it as the fire breathing unicorn) helps fill the knee lift gap. I would like a zig zag machine with one. Don’t get me wrong the 401a and 500 are awesome machines but the knee lift really fits my work pattern. #seamster
That 201 seems like your trip wasn't a complete waste at least. Thanks for the video.
I started sewing with marine upholstery on an old singer 107 I believe no walking foot no reverse and an open clutch motor that stunk up the house, now I subcontract through an insulation manufacturer at one point I had two rb2’s but am now running my rb2, my wife runs a 226r1 also run a 206 long arm and a 745 long arm. I have a 206 portable but rarely used as it is not very good, but otherwise I swear by these old sieko made consews. Of course they all have servo motors, that upgrade lowered our power bill 50 dollars a month. The needle position sensor is a god send. I got curious one day as to just how strong my rb2 is and managed to sew a hard back children’s book shut, about like a large cat in the hat book. I don’t recommend doing this but I wanted to see what it could do. This machine runs an Eagle ea750 motor.
Awesome info, thanks for sharing!
Recommendation: make a clip about used machines or other models - beside Sailrite line - that are heavy duty and good for making these kind of heavy duty fabric projects. I'm in the market and don't know much about models and specs.
Thanks for the suggestion. You might want to check out my "what sewing machine do I need?" video if you haven't seen it. I don't usually go far into brand specifics when discussing used industrial machines, because there are only a few brands to choose from and they're all pretty similar. The main thing, in my opinion, is you want a walking-foot machine.
I hope that helps!
Singer 211 but with reverse is my go to for this kind of work.
But I think that if I had to keep just one of my machines, I would keep the pfaff 545 h3
I LOVE both my 1940s 201s and got them for $60 each from two different sellers. Sometimes people want almost $500 for them. It's funny to look online and see people selling a vintage Singer for $40 or less when they are clearing out a relative's houes. I saw a featherweight for $30 the other day and I was tempted but I would then be headed into crazy sewing machine hoarder territory😂
I would buy every Featherweight I saw for $30, unfortunately I've never been so lucky! I've paid between $20 and $100 for my 201s, and I've seen prices all over the place. My favorite way to buy them is when they are listed as "old sewing machine" lol.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
The walking foot is needed mainly to do uniform Top Stitches.
A bottom and needle feed industrial machine would do fine for blind stitches in pretty everything the walking foot machine would do.
I point this out because typical walking foot machines run about 800-1200 used. A typical needle feed, like the tons of ddl 5500 out there could be had for 200-500.
Hi David,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I don't have any time on needle-feed machines, somehow I've just never been in the room with one. I suspect that there is still an advantage to the higher clearance of the walking foot in overcoming thick transitions, but that's mostly a guess. Hopefully a needle-feed machine and I will cross paths one of these days!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Are industrial machines powerful? Yep. Are they fast? You bet. Can they sew heavier materials than domestic machines? Absolutely. Are they durable? I'm sure. Are they easy to use? I wouldn't know; I've never used one. If I wanted to produce "heavy" goods such as you make, I think it would be a wonderful tool to have. But with the things I sew, I'll never need one. Besides, at my age, I'd probably kick the bucket before I had it paid off! 😉
Great video though! And a good explanation/comparison to help those who may be evaluating the purchase of an industrial machine.
Clicked Like - Check.
Clicked Subscribe - Check.
Clicked Bell - Check.
So I got a Singer 211G 156 for appx. @100. And it came with a spare machine head that seems only to miss the feet. I ordered them on Aliexpress in hope they fit.
It seems I got a good deal then. To be fair, I did have to fit new bearings to the motor for appx. $40. And the clutch is much more gentle than my W&G.
I already have a Singer 201 and a Husquarna "plastic Fantastic" inherited from my mom. And a Wilcox & Gibbs overlock that I converted to 5 thread. I believe that will make it a 516.
The W&G and 211 I equipped with VFD's to keep the top speed down into my comfort level. And to make them run from 1phase supply ( 240V here in Norway ).
I got my singer 145w205 long arm for 175$ buddy. A new one runs around 10 grand….. you gotta be fast…
Would this kind of machine also be good for sewing stacks of paper (as in signatures for bookbinding)? I'd love to have a heavy machine that would do canvas and also maybe down the middle of 20 sheets of paper so I could fold it over into a booklet. Thanks!
I would love to have an industrial sewing machine, but I can't afford even the used ones..My Mother's sewing machine from Singer came in a cabinet and had the knee needle control. I learned to sew on it and loved being hands free. That one, however, bit the dust many years ago and now I have a regular domestic machine. I really do like it, but still miss that knee lift pedal
Hi Peggy,
Just for the sake of accuracy, the "knee-lift" I refer to in the video is the lever that raises and lowers the presser foot. Many older domestic machines had a knee lever to engage the motor - I have a few but I've never used them, I'm so used to using a pedal it just confuses me lol.
Industrials are definitely more expensive to acquire, although if you keep your eyes peeled you might find a deal one day!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@thejasonofalltrades Sorry I didn't use the correct language. I did mean the presser foot. Sorry and thanks for responding!
Thanks for the informative video. How do you rate the Singer G211?
I haven't used one, but Alexander Dyer recently posted a video on a Singer 211, and it looked great. You might want to check out his video.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent vid. I learned a lot. If u had a choice between a Juki LU563 and a Consew 226 (both in equal condition) which would u choose? Does one have superior features to the other?
Hi, and thanks!
Boy, that's a toss-up! The 226 is essentially the same as my 225, but with reverse. I like that machine, and I have some time on a 563 that I also enjoyed using. They're virtually identical machines.
I don't know if there is a big bobbin version of the 226 (the 563 uses a larger bobbin, I think the 562 uses the same bobbin as the 226). That would probably sway me to the 563.
Consews from the earlier generations were made by Seiko, and are as good as they come. I don't know exactly when manufacturing switched from Seiko to China. I believe similar vintage Juki and Consew machines compare quite favorably.
So yeah, based on my limited experience with either machine, I think the big bobbin would sway me to the 563, but with the caveat that I just don't know enough about either machine to say for sure. Either would be a "buy" for me if one popped up at the right price!
I hope that helps, thanks for the question, and thanks for watching!
@@thejasonofalltrades Thank you for the info. Yes, both r Made in Japan machines. Actually I'm going to look at them tomorrow and the owner informed me she also has a Seiko LSW-8BL. I never heard of this machine but it looks like the other two. They have been in storage but I'm hoping they check out mechanically. I probably won't be able to hear them run, but I've been told by a couple of repair persons that if the hand wheel turns with no play in any gears and I find a sharp bobbin hook buy it😝.
Hi from Australia. Enjoyed watching your video and I was wondering if you could give me some advice, encouragement... I started to sew bags with vinyl and or canvas. I currently use a Singer HD 4423( I can hear you laughing), which is doing alright, but sometimes I am not happy with the stitch quality and of course it struggles over thicker seams. I find it also depends on the different vinyl and also colour, I use mainly marine vinyl. I do it for a hobby, so think an industrial machine would be way over top, although I love the walking foot industrials, but worry about the size, weight and the oil. So I am looking at a Singer 201 just for the beauty of its straight stitch and I believe it would not struggle as much as the modern domestics. I probably would use it mainly for the top stitching and I was thinking to have it set up with the thicker thread, as I believe it can handle it both in the bobbin and top. At the moment I have upholstery or top stitch thread in the top and normal sew all thread in the bobbin, as I can't change it with the Singer HD easily. Also wouldn't be sewing every day and not all day. What do you think, would a Singer 201 be alright for what I need it for? Also I can't believe the pricing on your used machines in the States, here they still charge a fortune, and even the Singers are advertised very highly priced, often in quite a sad state, too. Thank you
Hi!
I have 4 Singer 201s, and I think very highly of them. A 201 will likely be more capable of executing a perfect stitch on somewhat thicker materials than a more modern machine, but it still isn't a walking-foot machine. I have very briefly tried a walking foot attachment on a 201, and was preliminarily impressed, but I'm planning on fully testing this for a future video and don't have enough experience with it to recommend that as an option.
For vinyl and canvas, a walking-foot machine (even a portable like the Sailrite Ultrafeed) will make the job SO much easier, if you can find one that works for you. You will likely find the 201 an improvement over the 4423, though. Even if you ultimately move on to a walking-foot machine, you won't be sorry to have a 201 around!
I hope that helps, thanks for watching and good luck!
How does a machine like that compare to your Sailrite? Will a Sailrite do everything you need it to when making bags out of heavy fabrics and light leather?
I've used my Sailrite to sew basically anything I've ever sewn on an industrial walking-foot machine, and it essentially works just as well. If it were mounted into a table, it would be even better, with two things lacking. One, the throat size is a little smaller than on a full-size industrial machine. Two, and this is the biggest issue, there is no way I am aware of the make a knee-lift work with the Sailrite.
Frankly, while I have used (abused) my Sailrite hard for a couple of years with no issues, I'm skeptical that it could hold up to constant use/abuse the way an industrial can (they are built to run 24/7). But for a hobbyist who sews Cordura, canvas, light leather etc., it works very well.
I hope that helps, thanks for the questions and thanks for watching!
@@thejasonofalltrades Thank you.
What do you think of Sailrite vs Omega machines? There is a shop near me in Montreal which has the 9" - longer than 6" anyway - throat Omegas and, besides the 50% Sailrite price, that feature is tempting. I was looking on this sailing forum and some mentioned their Omegas/Rex did well, other say that they broke down. I am mechanically very inclined but not sure what to do - are things that bad? are people exagerating? Btw I hear that ppl buy machines like Omega then add the Sailrite flywheel and whatnot and they work great.
My opinion on all of the Sailrite copies is that they are stolen intellectual property. The 9" bed might be the only one that has an argument of having improved the design at all. I've also heard opinions ranging from "works great" to "needed lots of work out of the box just to get it to sew." Sailrite has some good information on their website regarding the use of their design by other companies. It might be worth checking out if you are interested.
My opinion is only my opinion, and I understand that Sailrite machines are pricey compared to the knock-off ones. To me, the set-up, quality control and customer service, in addition to the additional included equipment and improved features not found on the knock-offs, justify the price.
I hope that helps!
I would like to buy a cylinder head to do some Leather work. Also good Singer Patcher..Blessings.
I'm in the market for a cylinder arm machine as well. They're very handy for accessing hard to reach areas in backpacks and the like.
I have tree machine all type Brother DB2-B735.
So how does the Sailrite compare to the Consew? Do they handle a given thick material in the same way? Thanks for all your videos, I always enjoy them, along with the occasional kitty photobombs. Cheers.
I've used the Sailrite and it's predecessor the Thompson Mini-Walker, and in addition to my two Consew industrials, a half-dozen or so other walking-foot industrials. In terms of feeding and penetrating materials, I've detected no appreciable difference in performance between them.
I now have another Thompson that came in an industrial-style table, and it perfectly illustrates the advantages of a true industrial over the portables like the Sailrite, etc.: the knee lift, and larger throat space (the space between the needle and the upright base of the machine).
The Sailrite, etc. are not compound feed (the needle does not participate in the feeding action), but I have personally not encountered a situation where that made any difference. There may be some material or situation where that would be disadvantageous, but I haven't experienced it.
In general, I only prefer the industrials from the standpoint of speed and ease of use, due to the knee lift and larger throat space. There is a way to make a knee lift for the Sailrite, but it is not a simple bolt-on operation, and might be beyond what most people will want to do. The throat space is only a limitation for sewing in the middle of a large piece, and can usually be worked around to a great extent.
I hope that helps, if you have other questions feel free to ask. Thanks for being part of the channel!
@@thejasonofalltrades Yes that helps, thank you for the detailed answer!
@@thejasonofalltrades Thank you so much for the detailed reply, appreciate it.
Depend!
Hi Jason, I just ran into your video, looks great. What I'm after is a machine like this but with a big feetlift, as big as possible. Could you recoomend one? The reason is I'm sewing several layers of felted wool and really need the height for that. If possible at least something like 1 cm or half inch.
Are there machines with walking foot like that in the market that you know of? If so, can you tell me which ones I should look into?
Thanks, Will.
Hi Will,
My Consew 206RB-1 has a foot lift height as it sits right now of about 3/8ths of an inch or 1 cm, and that's typical of the industrial machines I have used (about a dozen different ones). It is possible that some adjustment will yield a greater foot lift, but I haven't experimented with that enough to know how effective that would be. In my experience, machines specifically made for sewing leather tend to have the greatest foot height, although there may be other more specialized machines that have higher foot clearance as well.
If 1cm is what you need, that's within the range of many medium-duty industrial walking-foot machines, like the Consew 206, Consew 225/226, Juki LU-563/563, Singer 111W155, many Pfaff walking-foot machines, etc. My best advice is if you find a machine locally to check out, bring the material you need to sew and give it a try! If you are in or near a larger city, you might find an industrial sewing machine retailer that has new and used machines you can test out (there's a great one in Denver!).
I hope that helps, let me know how it turns out!
are the teeth paint on decal on the singer
Hi!
The teeth are hand painted, thanks for asking!
First, I need an industrial because I broke the vintage domestic despite what folks said about its ability to sew threw 16 ounce canvas.
Second, what do you then call a sewing machine driven by a servo motor that has a stationary foot, since only walking foot machines can be industrials? The head in question is a January 1940 Singer 31-15 I purchased for $40.
Thanks in advance.
Hi,
I may have made this sound confusing, sorry if I did. There ARE industrial machines that are non-walking-foot machines. For my uses, they don't add enough capability over a quality vintage domestic machine, but they are most certainly out there (and in my earlier days, I bought one not really understanding the difference). I've heard people use the term "commercial" to describe some of these machines, but the term really doesn't have anything to do with whether it's a walking-foot or not.
Non-walking-foot industrial machines would be used in the manufacturing of some garments, lighter-weight draperies and other products made from lightweight materials. They can be VERY fast, but they still lack the superior feeding capabilities of walking-foot machines. They tend to be available at a much lower cost on the used market, but IF one needs a walking-foot machine, a non-walking-foot machine just isn't going to work as well.
You can DEFINITELY do a lot with a non-walking-foot machine. However, there are many times when you might struggle where a walking-foot would make the job much easier.
I've almost bought a few 31-15s, and I imagine they could be very useful, given the limitations of no walking foot. Enjoy!
had 6 juki 563 running 7 hours a day. lube at lunch. your sewing light should be behind you!
Hey. Been watching a lot of your videos. I am new to sewing and in my research/learning stage. I pretty much narrowed my list down to sailrite lsz-1. I know you've been using one of those for a long time. For a hobbyist what would you recommend? Lsz-1 or a used industrial like consew that i can get for a couple hundred bucks cheaper then a new lsz-1 (since I can't seem to find one used). I'm ok with industrial taking up more space. My question is: are these industrial machines better then lsz-1? And if they are, what exactly makes them better?
Hi!
An industrial, being full size, and having a knee-lift, is a lot easier to work with. If space isn't an issue, and if you have no need to move your machine from room to room, etc., I think an industrial is more user friendly, but with a steeper learning curve if it has a clutch motor. There are some pretty inexpensive servo motors available, but a clutch motor is not a deal-breaker, just might take a little practice.
The LSZ-1 has the advantage of having zig-zag, which a walking-foot industrial will not have (there might be one out there, but it would be highly unusual). I have a few zig-zag domestic machines, so if I need zig-zag I can usually get by with one of those. My Sailrite is straight-stitch only, and I wish it was a zig-zag.
For what I do, I find the industrial to be easier to work with, and I'm able to do more with it. That said, I did a LOT of what I do on the Sailrite (and before that, its predecessor the Thompson Mini-Walker) for years before I got my Consew. I've said in the past that using the Sailrite is like driving a truck - not a smooth ride, but when you need a truck, you need a truck. Extended that analogy, an industrial is like a commercial flat-bed - if you need a truck, a big truck is better :)
Another thing to think about if you prefer new machines with a warranty is the Sailrite Fabricator. I haven't used one, but on paper it looks like a good way to go. Not cheap, but comes with a servo motor, and they have excellent customer service.
One last thing: if you're brand new to sewing, you can do worse than finding a vintage sewing machine for as little money as possible to start learning on. You will learn a lot, and you might be surprised what you can make with them. When you find you need more capability and move up to a walking-foot machine, you'll have a better appreciation for the increase in performance, and the vintage domestic can stick around for jobs on thinner materials, etc.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching! Let me know what you end up doing!
@@thejasonofalltrades I actually did go out and buy a singer 15-91 at Goodwill for $75. And it does fine for clothes of thinner material. But I've tried doing a hem on a pair of cargo pants and the machine just didn't have enough power to punch through. My specific machine might just be old and tired but since I do want to make some things like backpacks out of heavy duty materials and possibly do some leather work I figured might as well get a walking foot and not waste anymore money on domestic machines.
@@thejasonofalltrades bought myself a consew 226 for $500. Time to go crazy with all the projects Ive been wanting to do.
@@DenisZ2023 was That's awesome, enjoy! And I'd love to hear what you make with it.
Where’s the best place to look for this type of sewing machines ?
Pretty much everything I have bought has been used from Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, estate and garage sales, and thrift stores. Industrial machines rarely make it to thrift stores, in my experience. Some larger cities might have a dealer who will sell used industrial machines, although usually at higher prices than the person-to-person market. I hope that helps!
OMG i wanted to crying w/ you....! I've had a few similar experiences through craigslist - one for a mint condition consew and one (also in mint...) artisan, both walking foots. Consew was a name your own price deal & the artisan was free - person just needed to free up space in his garage. The possibility that they may get flipped for profit also irritated me to no end (at least the folks who got lucky at the estate sale needed that machine for personal use). Also, i live in SF (a studio mind you LOL) so just as well. I am a hobbyist who's been sewing for decades and work more in fashion. Also, you said this was your only industrial. Didn't you make a video about an industrial singer you purchased @ around $200 (blue color) - had the capacity to do zig-zag stitch?
Yeah, the ones that got away are tough!
I did have a Singer 20-33 (20U), but I sold it before I moved back to Florida 3 years ago. It's a fine machine, but being a non-walking-foot machine, it didn't perform significantly better than my domestic machines in terms of feeding, and around that time I got the Sailrite, which did what I needed better. I wouldn't mind having another 20U, but at that time I didn't want to move it across the country.
They really are…. Moving is always going to be the biggest issue for me as well (don’t foresee living in a studio apt in one of the most expensive cities forever LOL). I got motivated to search for a 20U obsessively after seeing your vid. Found one on craiglist w/ table/motor & got the price down to $250 - in the end, it was another one that got away. Side story - I’ve been using a singer overlock (domestic piece of plastic) for my knits and jean alterations. Got sick of it not being able handle super thick material so i impulsively bought a Juki commercial grade - 2416 that was manufactured decades ago for $400 ($100 to ship). OMG - in the images it looked like it wouldn’t weight much (clutch and table included). It was shipped in 3 parts. I had no idea what I was getting myself into! All three parts weighed a ton!! Then I had to figure out how to re-assemble it - when I finally did, it took me forever to thread it and trouble shoot. Still trying to figure out why one of the threads is coming out wrong. I know you don’t deal w/ overlocks but wanted to share….LOL. They seem to require much more patience than lock stitch machines. Mine does the three thread side seem with a 2 thread chain stitch running along side. :)
I have a newer (plastic) Juki serger, and I've used it exactly once for about 3 inches. My wife has mastered threading it, and uses it pretty frequently. I need to get her to teach me lol!
Nice! They are perfect for knits and light to medium woven fabrics. Thus far as i've played around w/ my commercial grade juki, its made operating a home version seem like a cake walk. LOL. Domestics are definitely much easier to operate. :)
OK... I listened to all of this and missed the part about why (or why not) I might want a walking-foot machine.
Lots of discussion about industrial machines; about what I expected.
So what's the deal on the walking foot? What is it for? Do I want (or need) one?
Hi!
An industrial (or portable) walking-foot sewing machine is ideal for someone who sews complex assemblies and thicker materials, because a walking-foot sewing machine excels at feeding thicker stacks of material and overcoming changes in thickness. A standard "drop feed" sewing machine often struggles to evenly feed over seam transitions or other difficult areas, particularly with the heavier materials used for making bags, for example. My apologies if that wasn't clear in the video; I've been having this conversation both in my head and on this channel for so long, I often forget that some viewers may be encountering this stuff for the first time and don't already know the context I'm starting from lol.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
@@thejasonofalltrades Nice. Thank you.
This looks like a compound needle/walking foot. There are walking foot machines without the compound needle (Sailrite) and there industrial walking foot machines that do not have the needle that moves to move the fabric through the sewing process.
Hi Larry,
This is a compound-feed machine. I didn't want to get too in the weeds in this video about those specifics. Good point, though!
@@thejasonofalltrades ok thanks for all your great videos.
Jason, you should call that machine a needle feed or triple feed machine, your sailrite machine is a walking foot machine it's needle does not move front to back. I also have a sailrite machine and would NOT buy another your better off buying a used industrial machine if you sew a lot of heavy material. ( Heart of the lakes marine upholstery)
Hi Jack,
I'm willing to be corrected on this, but my understanding has always been that triple-feed or compound-feed is a kind of walking-foot, not something other than a walking-foot. (For example, there are needle-feed machines that do NOT have a walking foot.) For the purposes of this discussion, I would consider any walking-foot (compound feed or not) to be a substantial improvement over a non-walking-foot machine - specifically for sewing thicker materials with drastic changes in thicknesses, thick seams or other difficult-to-feed materials.
As I mention in the description, this is a much deeper topic than I can thoroughly explore in an already-too-long video, and my hope is to help those wondering if an industrial machine is something they should think about have a place to start that exploration. Further research is needed for any individual to make sure they are buying what they need most.
I agree that an industrial walking-foot machine is a better choice if you have the room for it, but I've been pleasantly surprised by how well the Sailrite performs. If you can't devote the space to an industrial, it's not a bad second choice.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Yes, I do need An Industrial Walking-Foot Sewing Machine, but do I need Zig Zag?
No. And yes.
I rarely use zig-zag, but it's nice to have. If I had a dedicated bar tacker machine, I'd probably almost never use zig-zag. Then again, if I had an industrial walking-foot zig-zag machine, maybe I'd find reasons to use zig-zag more often ....
Thanks for watching and commenting!
9:10 non walking foot industrial not much of an advantage over a comes 😎
14:45 paranormal cativity
LOL that's hilarious!!!