Posted: 8/4/2011 8:31:05 AM EDT
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Can someone recommend a sewing machine for me? Uses: #1 : For my wife to make things on (she seems to want one). #2 : For me to make nylon pouches and bandoleers on (I think it was Forest who had a GREAT tutorial a while back) I'm looking for the best value here.... not necessarily the most capable machine, so naturally I turn to SF. |
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This model of Brother is what my wife decided on after a long search. My MIL is a sewer from way back, and owns one of those expensive Bernina (sp?) $1200+ machines and said that it was GTG:
I'll be learning to sew silnylon as soon as we get some in the house 
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http://www.amazon.com/SINGER-4411-Heavy-Sewing-Machine/dp/B003VWXZKG/ref=pd_sbs_ac_2
Thoughts on this one? Not sure if the heavy duty in the description is accurate or just marketing. |
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I picked up a (iirc) 1955 Brother sewing machine for $14 from my local thrift. A lady friend who does commercial sewing work told me I had a good, simple machine at a steal of a price. Heavy little sucker––all metal. Has an OEM box with all sorts of gizmos that she said she would ID for me.
Obviously lots of trash at thrifts, but if you know what to look for, some pretty good deals, too. |
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I did some research on this a while back. I was thinking about making my own gear, but other things have gotten in the way of that.
Anyway, it seemed that I found that most home machines were not designed for things like cordura fabric and webbing. Todays machines are mostly plastic and don't hold up to the abuse. Therefore, the wife won't let me practice on hers with real heavy fabric. If going with a home model the old singers are best like others have mentioned if you are going to do heavy duty stuff. If mainly looking to work with lighter fabrics for the bandoleers that you mentioned most newer models will work, but you get what you pay for. My wife has a Viking (made by Husgvarna I believe) and it is great. If you go get the cheap singers at Jo-Anne Fabrics you will be disappointed, my wife sure was even just to learn on. That is my .02. Good Luck! |
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Most ex-industrial machines by Singer, Adler, Juki, etc. can be picked up on-line easily
MAY be best to go to a dealer that does factory clear-outs - that way your machine will have some warranty & will have had a recent service I'd stay away from modern made domestic machines that are in the stores right now - they don't have the build quality to handle heavier materials that you may want to work with down the line |
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Buy a Consew 206RB and be done with it. About 75% of our machines are these. Its what I personally use every day. I buy them refurbished with brand new tables and new servo motors for $650.00 each. Search industrial sewing and commercial sewing on Craigs list.
Buy a lesser machine and you will fast spend more than that having it fixed and trying to make it do something it cant. |
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Quoted:
Buy a Consew 206RB and be done with it. About 75% of our machines are these. Its what I personally use every day. I buy them refurbished with brand new tables and new servo motors for $650.00 each. Search industrial sewing and commercial sewing on Craigs list. Buy a lesser machine and you will fast spend more than that having it fixed and trying to make it do something it cant. Thanks man. ON my bookmark list for future |