Anyone have any recommendations for a decent sewing machine? I'd like to do some of my own DIY gear making so I'm guessing it has to be somewhat heavy duty. I'm thinking $500 or under if there are any to be had in that price range.

MrsWind sells them, what kind of fabric and how many layers I will ask her

I use a Brother SE-400

Some of the stuff I've made:

Tourniquet pouch



Velcro mounted light pouch for my helmet(s)


It was able to get through 8 layers of 1000D Cordura nylon and a layer of velcro using a denim needle in order to sew that ^.

It also does embroidery that I've used to design and stitch a few patches:

Blood type/donor patch

That is good work, I will ask her when she is home from work. She is Husky software Tech for a local chain, uses a Topaz,

Used leather type machine or heavy industrial. Used is only way your going to find a decent machine for that price. Best bet is to wonder over to diytactical.com to see what others are using. There are many heavy duty industrial machines that can handle it and also just as many that cannot handle tactical gear. That is to say at what you are going to be sewing.

I use a singer cg550 for a few years but it enviably died and you had to get creative with construction cause it could not sew think stuff.

I use a consew 206rb5 now.

You will also want a industrial with a servo motor and not clutch. Clutch is difficult to control and better for fast sewing.

At least that I what I've learned so far.

You can get budget machines but it's hard to get it all when on a budget.

She said a Brother industrial they start at $1,000

Consew or Tacsew on the cheap.




 

how much you sewing? I just hand sew small projects and repairs. A sturdy needle and tan colored t-70 or t-69 thread does the job for me