thill

Somehow, I end up doing a lot of sewing. I have several machines, and they work, but I think it’s time to step up to a walking foot machine.

any suggestions or recommendations?
anyone have a used one for sale?
I see some on EBay for $319 new, but I’m pretty skeptical.

Any thoughts?

Onebadlarry

Sent ya PM.

hotwire_marine

I have an older yamata walking foot. Has no problem sewing multiple layers of vinyl, eisenglass and sunbrella. Pretty sure it could sew whatever you put thru it. Got it on Craigslist for $400

Also have a sailrite fabricator machine that was $800 but is very portable.

Best advice is if you get an older walking foot style machine that has that clutch type motor is to immediately remove it and buy a servo motor for it. The clutch style takes ALOT of practice to master not just going wide open. You get a lot of control with the servo motor and will get much better results.

wingless

My Juki DNU-1541-S has been a solid performer, as-shown in my custom enclosure topic.

The support from Sailrite cannot be topped, so their equipment should be considered.

tcijoe

I have a sail rite straight stitch. Has been an awesome machine. Sewn through anything I throw at it. Pretty easy to use and has paid for itself multiple times over.

capt_matt

I found an older straight stitch Sailrite on Craigslist. It needed some oil and a little adjustment but it now sews well. It can sew through 3 or 4 layers of sunbrella, and even thicker material like sunbrella with webbing with a running start.

One possibility is the portable walking foot machine that Bed Bath and Beyond sells. You can get a 20% off coupon. That type of Chinese-made machine will need some oiling and break-in to work well.

That Juki machine that wingless has is on another level!

805gregg

Consew 226R will sew through 1/4" plywood

Beanctr

Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 here. Agree with the post above about a servo motor although I don't have one. R

engdept1

Subbed. I’m thinking about a sailrite fabricator just because of the company’s reputation.

k2Freak

I bought the Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 after struggling with a "heavy duty" Singer. No comparison. The Sailrite is an incredible machine. I'm no expert but I was able to make my own Grady enclosure with it...

ReleaseMeMako

Subbd. I have a singer cg-550 that works well, but looking at walking foot machines too

Onebadlarry

I have the Sailrite LSZ-1 machine. The machine has been the only true industrial walking foot machine I have owned, so I can’t compare it to others, but.....

I have no complaints. This machine has been fantastic for me. Always did what I asked her to do.

I think what truly won me over and not regret one penny ( a lot of pennies were spent on Sailrites site) spent was their customer service and there site.

I had a question about my machine and a tech responded within the same business day.

Their troubleshooting and Maintenance videos have been a huge help and was always able to fine tune her without needing tech support.

that has been my own personal experience with the company.

if you guys have any questions in regards to the LSV-1, I will try my best to answer them. I have spent a lot of time in front of her.

I am no way associated with Sailrite. Just a happy customer.

Reelescape1

Wingless....... Did you get the optional 110V needle position motor and what does it do for you? Nice job on the curtains!

finbox

Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1

it cost more, but I don’t care, all the great videos, technical support, answer a phone when you call, means a lot to me

wingless

Mine has the Consew CSM550 servo motor. Great for going fast or one stitch at a time. Plenty of power, will punch through ½" of layers w/o issue.

Thanks for the feedback.

glacierbaze

Walking foot means different things to different people. A true compound feed walking foot has 3 shafts, 2 for the presser feet, and one for the needle. I've run miles of thread through the old Singer 111W's, 151W,153W, etc. since 1971, and still have my first in the garage, which is so old it has a solid wood table. But I don't recommend them for one reason, they don't have reverse. I back-stitched and tied off every seam at both ends, so I had to line up the work backwards, sew 2 inches, turn it around and then do the same at the other end. I didn't know any better, because they were the only machines I ever used.
So, make sure you buy a machine with reverse. Juki, Consew, Sailrite, later models of some Singers are all available with reverse.
Don't buy a short arm machine. Standard is about 11 inches between the body and the needle.
Never had a servo motor, but I highly recommend for a beginner, and would retrofit my own machine if I used it more.


If you plan to use it a lot, buy a machine with a large capacity bobbin. I always used pre-wound paper bobbins.
Buy, and learn to use attachments, they make life easier. Left and right zipper feet, welting feet, binders and hemmers in several sizes, etc.
The needle foot has a hole in the center. I always ground mine off so that it was just a half-circle. I did this because I double stitched most seams, and did it in the same holes, and it makes it easier to see exactly where the needle is, and also when you sew very close to an edge, or do decorative top stitching.

glacierbaze

Great job, Wingless!
Sailrite has great how-to videos, but I recommend people also check out Boat Canvas University on youtube. John has a very professional, yet very practical approach to canvas work, especially patterning with plastic sheeting and 2-sided tape. His videos alternate between available and subscription, so I'm not sure what is available at the moment.

wingless

Thanks. This was my first ever attempt at sewing. Being a dinosaur, I approached the learning process with reading and mental planning.

For those inclined to pursue sewing projects, here are some recommendations: use PTFE thread, I used Gore Tenara, to be impervious to sunlight degradation; use basting tape (double sided tape) as an assembly aid, I also used it everywhere on the Bimini as a sealant to prevent leaks at the thread holes; use a swing away binding machine when adding edge binding treatment; use a hot knife for fabric cutting / edge sealing; get a great pair of scissors; get a pair of thread scissors and get a clear ruler, useful when adding / subtracting from the pattern. The top stitch walking foot set is great / handy when following a curved edge, such as a full felled seam.

The pattern creation is critical. If it is wrong, then the end result won't fit.


Adding Binding


Making Pattern


Dual Row Top Stitch Along Full Felled Seam


Top Stitch Walking Feet

glacierbaze

Cut the front half off one of those, as in the photo above, and see how it changes your perspective, seeing the needle actually going into the work.

wingless

One of my zipper walking feet has one side narrow, exposing part of the hole, as shown in this image. Retaining the ramp on the front of the walking foot helps to ensure the fabric doesn't get stuck, especially when the thickness changes, such as at a fold.