Industrial Sewing machine - Advice wanted

[1972]

Hi all,

I'm after a bit of advice, Lately in work I've been making a lot of one-off straps, harnesses etc from synthetic webbing and neoprene, now the trouble I'm having is sewing the stuff as the machine we're using at the moment just doesnt cut the mustard.

Looking at the industrial machines I can see a dizying array of brands and types, what I'm looking for is a machine capable of running a straight stitch through 2 or 3 layers of neoprene (3mm thick sheet). We're also probably going to go second-hand.

Any advice on brands, types, power etc. is very much appreciated.

All the Best

 

[Richie'66]

The make that comes to mind is Brother.
I got one off ebay a couple of years ago , set me back £100 but it was a brother chinese clone. I looked in the local sewing shop and could find no differences.
Have a looksee on ebay for industrial sewing machines.

 

[Shewie]

I'm watching this thread with interest, I've got loads of ideas for kit I want to make.


There looks to be an old factory clearance going on on ebay at the minute, lots of Singer and Pfaff machines going under the hammer about half way down the page ...

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_trkp...ksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=1&_sc=1#item4aa6101f0a

 

[firebreather]

lin makes all of her stuff on a bernina and she swears by them.

We make the campfiretents on a bernina

Greg

 

[antzy]

most machines these days have plastic gears, so cant handle the heavy stuff. I have a singer 201k - best machine ever made - metal gearing, sowed leather with it no problem, can be picked up on ebay cheap

 

[peasantchurl]

I'd suggest a Singer Long Arm Stitcher, shoe repairers / cobblers, saddlers use them for stitching thick leather or try charity shops, ebay etc but they are rare to find in good condition these days, although there is a clothes shop in the Arndale Centre in Manchester that has HUGE collection of them as a window display !?!?! must be at least 100 old fashioned singer type machines.....crazy

My dad use to have 2 of them until a 6 months ago and was my grandads originally, they had a manual rocking foot pedal to drive the needle it was amazing (handsfree operation) , cast iron stand, sit down on stool and it would stitch thick waxed thread through all sorts of materials

thats what the stand look like with foot pedal

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_itPpoVuAXpY/TH8wdvqPAkI/AAAAAAAAAQc/RE-MNh86_4M/s1600/singer.jpg

 

[1972]

Thanks for all the comments, I'll keep my eyes peeled on ebay and keep you posted on any progress.

The one we're using at the moment is a brand new Janome household machine but to be fair it really isn't designed for what we're doing with it.

Cheers

 

[FGYT]

im looking for a person who can stitch webbing strap and other similer stuff for sheaths if you get set up give me a shout

ATB

Duncan