Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I would
love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with thier
purchase.
Thanks in advance,
Mark
I have a SailRite LSZ-1 UltraFeed. This is a walking foot zigzag machine.
It is heavy and can handle very thick canvas and sail material..
The main drawback with this machine is the lack of room under the arm.
In general you can get buy with a lesser machine and one without the walking
foot feature.. I have in the past.. The real advantage of the walking foot
is better control of both upper and lower layers of the material.. With a
standard machine, with only lower feed dogs, the material on the bottom
tends to feed slightly faster that the top, so you have to manually
compensate for this. (been there done that).
It is true that you can find commercial machines, cheap that are walking
foot, but it is rare and expensive for a walking foot zigzag machine.
I would also say that zigzag is most important to sail making while canvas
work can be done with straight stitch alone (especially if your using
syntetics and use a hot knife for cutting and sealing the edges).
Sail Rite is a well established mail order company.. Family owned and when
you call you can be assured you will get very good information and
attentions from one of these family members. I have never had any complaint
with their products, material or service.
Sail Rite has a facility to computer design and cut sails for you and
deliver them all match marked so you just sew them together and finish the
the edges, etc.
They have instructional videos for most sail and canvas projects.
Prices of for raw materials are slightly higher but often you won’t mind
since someone will be talking your through you project and make sure you get
the right stuff.
Enough Said.
Steve
s/v Good Intentions
one word. Sailrite.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
>I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I would
>love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with thier
>purchase.
>Thanks in advance,
>Mark
On 01 Apr 2004 23:37:44 GMT, mlapla4…@aol.com (MLapla4120) wrote:
>Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
>I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I would
>love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with thier
>purchase.
>Thanks in advance,
>Mark
The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
http://www.sailrite.com. I’ve had one of their Sailmaker machines for over a
decade (I bought it used) and I wouldn’t swap it for most people’s
boats. It’s overkill for your stated purposes (and mine as well) but
they have a much more extensive product line now, with some reasonably
priced machines that look perfectly adequate for a single user. I’ve
found their customer support to be flawless. Their emphasis is
self-sufficiency and they stock all kinds of spare parts, along with
CDROMs that shows exactly how to disassemble, reassemble, and tune
critical parts of the machine. I’ve used it when I buggered something
up, with the result that I feel I could fix the machine anywhere.
Sailrite does most of the large boat shows, and they always seem to
bring along a couple of machines for shoppers to try out.
That said, I’m sure you could find a perfectly serviceable machine
elsewhere, possibly for less. You mileage may vary, but I find
several features to be important:
A) As large an opening as possible to pass rolled up sails/canvas
through
B) Smooth, powerful feed mechanism
C) Ability to handle multiple layers of thick fabric. It’s pretty
easy to get up around 10 layers of fabric doing canvas work
D) Handles the big industrial spools of dacron thread
E) It was a surprise to me, but a machine that’s easy to hand crank
is very handy. In the sail loft, the guy operating the machine has
assistants and equipment to support and feed long rolls of sailcloth
through the machine. You may not be so lucky. When you have to stop
every few seconds to realign the fabric, you might find it easier and
more controllable to just hand crank. I often do.
Even with a great machine, quality work takes practice and patience. I
haven’t got enough of either, but I found that I could turn out
serviceable pieces from the very beginning.
Good luck;
Glen
____________________________________________________________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson <usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com>
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.
Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/
Yea, what Glen said. I would add that Sailrite makes canvas needles for
regular machines. I’ve used these successfully on a regular home machine on
light to medium canvas stuff.
–
Keith
__
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops
to breathe. -Jimmy Durante
"Glen "Wiley" Wilson" <usen…@worldwidewiley.removethis.com> wrote in
message news:1jdp601jl6t4816prnv7tl462pfs5u155a@4ax.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> On 01 Apr 2004 23:37:44 GMT, mlapla4…@aol.com (MLapla4120) wrote:
> >Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
> >I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I
would
> >love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with
thier
> >purchase.
> >Thanks in advance,
> >Mark
> The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
> http://www.sailrite.com. I’ve had one of their Sailmaker machines for over a
> decade (I bought it used) and I wouldn’t swap it for most people’s
> boats. It’s overkill for your stated purposes (and mine as well) but
> they have a much more extensive product line now, with some reasonably
> priced machines that look perfectly adequate for a single user. I’ve
> found their customer support to be flawless. Their emphasis is
> self-sufficiency and they stock all kinds of spare parts, along with
> CDROMs that shows exactly how to disassemble, reassemble, and tune
> critical parts of the machine. I’ve used it when I buggered something
> up, with the result that I feel I could fix the machine anywhere.
> Sailrite does most of the large boat shows, and they always seem to
> bring along a couple of machines for shoppers to try out.
> That said, I’m sure you could find a perfectly serviceable machine
> elsewhere, possibly for less. You mileage may vary, but I find
> several features to be important:
> A) As large an opening as possible to pass rolled up sails/canvas
> through
> B) Smooth, powerful feed mechanism
> C) Ability to handle multiple layers of thick fabric. It’s pretty
> easy to get up around 10 layers of fabric doing canvas work
> D) Handles the big industrial spools of dacron thread
> E) It was a surprise to me, but a machine that’s easy to hand crank
> is very handy. In the sail loft, the guy operating the machine has
> assistants and equipment to support and feed long rolls of sailcloth
> through the machine. You may not be so lucky. When you have to stop
> every few seconds to realign the fabric, you might find it easier and
> more controllable to just hand crank. I often do.
> Even with a great machine, quality work takes practice and patience. I
> haven’t got enough of either, but I found that I could turn out
> serviceable pieces from the very beginning.
> Good luck;
> Glen
> ____________________________________________________________
> Glen "Wiley" Wilson <usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com>
> To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.
> Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
> logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/
Glen "Wiley" Wilson wrote:
> The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
Could these machines (the LSZ-1 for example) be used to sew clothes?
"Cindy Ballreich" <cynthiar…@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:406D9D31.9040602@sbcglobal.net…
> Glen "Wiley" Wilson wrote:
> > The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
> Could these machines (the LSZ-1 for example) be used to sew clothes?
I’ve never tried it. I think they would be overkill for domestic fabrics.
However, for denim this machine would be great since it could handle the
multiple layers that would be encountered in blue jeans.
Steve
s/v Good Intentions
>Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
>I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I would
>love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with thier
>purchase.
I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the mid
1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I have
seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have not
had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can sew 6
to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy thread
that some machines have trouble with.
Dick
It works fine. Nancy used ours to make a couple of shirts and
pants out of Androsia when we were in the Bahamas. You may
want to use a smaller needle and adjust the bobbin tension for
a finer thread (and of course the top thread tension). We also
used it to repair bed sheets with no problem.
Doug
s/v Callista
"Cindy Ballreich" <cynthiar…@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:406D9D31.9040602@sbcglobal.net…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Glen "Wiley" Wilson wrote:
> > The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
> Could these machines (the LSZ-1 for example) be used to sew clothes?
"Dick" <mstarunder…@aol.comJake> wrote in message
news:20040402121645.01345.00000461@mb-m15.aol.com…
> I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the
mid
> 1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
> seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have
not
> had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
> to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
> that some machines have trouble with.
I agree, the Pfaff 130 is a cruisers favorite. In addition to the reason you
state, this machine is still common in small tailor shops in the 3rd world.
I had a 130 before my Sailrite. I did both sail repair and canvas work with
it.. I paid $350 for it in a showing machine repair shop and sold it, after
8 yrs, for $400 and spent about $30 for a tuneup and inspection before I
sold it.
The nice thing about the Pfaff or the Sailrite machines, is the ease of
adjustment and repair in the field (on the boat). In fact Sailrite doesn’t
want you to send your machine in for repair and adjustment. Their manual is
a ‘field service manual’ and encourages the owner to learn how make
adjustments and repair. When I needed feed dog replacement, they sent it to
me and I had it replace in 20 mins. While I was doing this I discovered the
cause for the broken part.
–
My opinion and experience. FWIW
Steve
s/v Good Intentions
These are just standard needles. Nothing special about them.
Doug
s/v Callista
"Keith" <klREMOVEemm…@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:c4jk0g$ost@library2.airnews.net…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> Yea, what Glen said. I would add that Sailrite makes canvas needles for
> regular machines. I’ve used these successfully on a regular home machine
on
> light to medium canvas stuff.
> —
> Keith
> __
> My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she
stops
> to breathe. -Jimmy Durante
> "Glen "Wiley" Wilson" <usen…@worldwidewiley.removethis.com> wrote in
> message news:1jdp601jl6t4816prnv7tl462pfs5u155a@4ax.com…
> > On 01 Apr 2004 23:37:44 GMT, mlapla4…@aol.com (MLapla4120) wrote:
> > >Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
> > >I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I
> would
> > >love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with
> thier
> > >purchase.
> > >Thanks in advance,
> > >Mark
> > The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
> > http://www.sailrite.com. I’ve had one of their Sailmaker machines for over a
> > decade (I bought it used) and I wouldn’t swap it for most people’s
> > boats. It’s overkill for your stated purposes (and mine as well) but
> > they have a much more extensive product line now, with some reasonably
> > priced machines that look perfectly adequate for a single user. I’ve
> > found their customer support to be flawless. Their emphasis is
> > self-sufficiency and they stock all kinds of spare parts, along with
> > CDROMs that shows exactly how to disassemble, reassemble, and tune
> > critical parts of the machine. I’ve used it when I buggered something
> > up, with the result that I feel I could fix the machine anywhere.
> > Sailrite does most of the large boat shows, and they always seem to
> > bring along a couple of machines for shoppers to try out.
> > That said, I’m sure you could find a perfectly serviceable machine
> > elsewhere, possibly for less. You mileage may vary, but I find
> > several features to be important:
> > A) As large an opening as possible to pass rolled up sails/canvas
> > through
> > B) Smooth, powerful feed mechanism
> > C) Ability to handle multiple layers of thick fabric. It’s pretty
> > easy to get up around 10 layers of fabric doing canvas work
> > D) Handles the big industrial spools of dacron thread
> > E) It was a surprise to me, but a machine that’s easy to hand crank
> > is very handy. In the sail loft, the guy operating the machine has
> > assistants and equipment to support and feed long rolls of sailcloth
> > through the machine. You may not be so lucky. When you have to stop
> > every few seconds to realign the fabric, you might find it easier and
> > more controllable to just hand crank. I often do.
> > Even with a great machine, quality work takes practice and patience. I
> > haven’t got enough of either, but I found that I could turn out
> > serviceable pieces from the very beginning.
> > Good luck;
> > Glen
> > ____________________________________________________________
> > Glen "Wiley" Wilson <usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com>
> > To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.
> > Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
> > logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/
We picked up an old Necci at a yard sale for $35. Tough machine!
Absolutely no plastic parts and very tight. Retrofitted it with a Sailrite
Monster Wheel and used it to build a couple of sails. Got the LSZ-1
later so retired the Necci.
Doug
s/v Callista
"Steve" <est…@hctc.com> wrote in message
news:U-OdnVDzS8sfMPDdRVn-gw@whidbeytel.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> "Dick" <mstarunder…@aol.comJake> wrote in message
> news:20040402121645.01345.00000461@mb-m15.aol.com…
> > I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in
the
> mid
> > 1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
> have
> > seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I
have
> not
> > had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
> sew 6
> > to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
> thread
> > that some machines have trouble with.
> I agree, the Pfaff 130 is a cruisers favorite. In addition to the reason
you
> state, this machine is still common in small tailor shops in the 3rd
world.
> I had a 130 before my Sailrite. I did both sail repair and canvas work
with
> it.. I paid $350 for it in a showing machine repair shop and sold it,
after
> 8 yrs, for $400 and spent about $30 for a tuneup and inspection before I
> sold it.
> The nice thing about the Pfaff or the Sailrite machines, is the ease of
> adjustment and repair in the field (on the boat). In fact Sailrite doesn’t
> want you to send your machine in for repair and adjustment. Their manual
is
> a ‘field service manual’ and encourages the owner to learn how make
> adjustments and repair. When I needed feed dog replacement, they sent it
to
> me and I had it replace in 20 mins. While I was doing this I discovered
the
> cause for the broken part.
> —
> My opinion and experience. FWIW
> Steve
> s/v Good Intentions
On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 17:02:49 GMT, Cindy Ballreich
<cynthiar…@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>Glen "Wiley" Wilson wrote:
>> The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
>Could these machines (the LSZ-1 for example) be used to sew clothes?
Certainly my Sailmaker could. It’s extremely versatile. It’s a
slightly modified version of an industrial machine commonly used for
just that. As shipped, it has a heavy presser spring for heavy work,
but the original spring is included. But I don’t really know
anything about sewing clothes. I think it would take some adjustment
to make it work well, but those adjustments are all on easily used
controls.
Somewhere on the Sailrite site, maybe under Tech Tips, or some such
heading, there’s a breakdown of all their machines and which is best
for given tasks. I seem to recall that there’s also one on making a
standard home machine usable for canvas and sails.
____________________________________________________________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson <usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com>
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.
Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/
the pfaff 130 will also do zigzag. regret the day i sold mine. have
sailrite now and like it but pfaff was a better machine
bruce
"Dick" <mstarunder…@aol.comJake> wrote in message
news:20040402121645.01345.00000461@mb-m15.aol.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> >Do you guys know of good sewing machines for sailwork, canvas work?
> >I’m thinking of getting one to make my own sails and canvas work. I
would
> >love to hear from people who have done this and are happy or not with
thier
> >purchase.
> I have a PFAFF 130. It works well but not for everyone. It was made in the
mid
> 1940s. You can still get parts except for the tensioner. In the past, I
have
> seen them for as much as $650, but you can get them for a lot less. I have
not
> had any trouble with mine in the seven years that I have had it. It can
sew 6
> to 8 layers of sumbrella with a 110 needle. It can also use the heavy
thread
> that some machines have trouble with.
> Dick
From the Sailrite site:
"We have found that some home machines work better in heavy fabrics if the
tips of the needles are slightly blunted and, so, these needles have what
are called all purpose, modified ball points."
So are you saying all needles are made like this?
—
Keith
__
The best boating accessory is a good owner!
"Doug Dotson" <ddotsonNOS…@cablespeed.com> wrote in message
news:106rcap1befeq75@corp.supernews.com…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> These are just standard needles. Nothing special about them.
> Doug
> s/v Callista
> "Keith" <klREMOVEemm…@airmail.net> wrote in message
> news:c4jk0g$ost@library2.airnews.net…
> > Yea, what Glen said. I would add that Sailrite makes canvas needles for
> > regular machines. I’ve used these successfully on a regular home machine
> on
> > light to medium canvas stuff.
> > —
> > Keith
> > __
No, I’m just saying that these needles are not uniuque to Sailrite.
You can by them at most anyplace that sells needles.
Doug
s/v Callista
"Keith" <klemm…@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:c4m8p1$7ce@library2.airnews.net…
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
> From the Sailrite site:
> "We have found that some home machines work better in heavy fabrics if the
> tips of the needles are slightly blunted and, so, these needles have what
> are called all purpose, modified ball points."
> So are you saying all needles are made like this?
> —
> Keith
> __
> The best boating accessory is a good owner!
> "Doug Dotson" <ddotsonNOS…@cablespeed.com> wrote in message
> news:106rcap1befeq75@corp.supernews.com…
> > These are just standard needles. Nothing special about them.
> > Doug
> > s/v Callista
> > "Keith" <klREMOVEemm…@airmail.net> wrote in message
> > news:c4jk0g$ost@library2.airnews.net…
> > > Yea, what Glen said. I would add that Sailrite makes canvas needles
for
> > > regular machines. I’ve used these successfully on a regular home
machine
> > on
> > > light to medium canvas stuff.
> > > —
> > > Keith
> > > __
>> The standard answer to this question is to try Sailrite
>Could these machines (the LSZ-1 for example) be used to sew clothes?
The pfaff 130 was made to be used by commercial underwear makers. We have used
ours to do a lot of sewing in addition to canvas work. It does zigzag and
stright stich. As long as you don’t need fancy stiches it is the only machine
you need.
Dick
> The pfaff 130 was made to be used by commercial underwear makers. We have used
> ours to do a lot of sewing in addition to canvas work. It does zigzag and
> stright stich. As long as you don’t need fancy stiches it is the only machine
> you need.
Canvas underwear! Yow!
But the Pfaff does not have a walking foot, right? Doesn’t that limit
you somewhat? I heard that, for instance, sewing sailcloth is
extremely difficult without walking foot. Is that true?
–Ernst
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Cindy Ballreich <cynthiar…@sbcglobal.net> writes:
> > The pfaff 130 was made to be used by commercial underwear makers. We have used
> > ours to do a lot of sewing in addition to canvas work. It does zigzag and
> > stright stich. As long as you don’t need fancy stiches it is the only machine
> > you need.
> Canvas underwear! Yow!
>
>Canvas underwear! Yow!
>:-D
a step up from sackcloth and ashes.
a walking foot is nicer when you have many thicknesses of cloth. I also find
the walking foot works better on sticky material, such as vinyl.
btw, I bought a Sailrite rather than a Pfaff 130 a.) when I heard a sewing
machine repairman with no axe to grind tell that parts are hard to get for the
130 and that a Singer 107 (older yet machine) was easier to keep running, and
b.) I noticed that the price of a "rebuilt" 40 to 55 years old Pfaff was about
the same as a brand new LSZ-1 Sailrite.
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>But the Pfaff does not have a walking foot, right? Doesn’t that limit
>you somewhat? I heard that, for instance, sewing sailcloth is
>extremely difficult without walking foot. Is that true?
>–Ernst
>Cindy Ballreich <cynthiar…@sbcglobal.net> writes:
>> > The pfaff 130 was made to be used by commercial underwear makers. We have
>used
>> > ours to do a lot of sewing in addition to canvas work. It does zigzag and
>> > stright stich. As long as you don’t need fancy stiches it is the only
>machine
>> > you need.
>> Canvas underwear! Yow!
>>
<nie…@russell.mindbrain> wrote in message
news:m2smfil67l.fsf@russell.mindbrain…
> But the Pfaff does not have a walking foot, right? Doesn’t that limit
> you somewhat? I heard that, for instance, sewing sailcloth is
> extremely difficult without walking foot. Is that true?
You are correct, the Pfaff dosen’t have the walking foot and you have to
watch out for the gradual creap as the bottom material will want to feed
faster than the top.. Once your accustom, you instinctively allow for that
in you feed technique.
For the beginners, basting tape is a big help to overcome this problem.. I
did a UV cover on a large Genoa with out the basting tape and had a lot of
problem sewing the canvas to the dacron. Now they have a spray adhesive that
can be used to hold the cavas in place..
I like the walking foot because in a past life, I worked in a canvas shop
and we had commercial walking foot Singer machines for both canvas and
upholstery work. However, we never had zigzag so my ‘after work’ sail making
was only basted together and I used an old domestic machine for the zigzag
work.
Steve
s/v Good Intentions
Curious, my mother (63 years of age) makes sails for the local area. She has
owned a Singer model 24-11 for decades. It has an 18 inch reach, lower walking
foot only, and with one available feature; reverse. There is no zig-zag which
my mother says only makes the seams strech more under load. I don’t know if
this is true, but to make a long story short, this machine has a huge motor, a
seperate oil tank and pump to keep the machine lubed. I’ve seen this thing
handle the finest of fabrics as well multiple layers of leather without any
problems. I’ve worked as an installer for a small inland marine dealer for
years now but am seriously considering getting into the business with my
mother. I’m already spend my weekends in her shop helping out. Just a
thought…..
Dennis