Help With A Singer 29-4

[VonStrohm]

Hi All,

I was given a Singer 29-4 but I cannot get it to stich well. I though it was a tension issue as the bobbin thread keeps tangling on the back of the fabric. I tighten the top tension to the max then went the other direction in 1/8 turns. The top thread looks fine. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Oh yea, the previous owner ordered bobbins but they look a little small to me.

Thanks

[silverbullet]

The bobbins for the 29 are very small that's why the thread size of 69 is about tops. The machine will not so much more then about 1/4 " thick without doing what your talking about. And they only run one direction on the drive wheel . I have a 29 and the Adler 30-1 both sew very well as long as you take your time and let them do ther job . Are you putting the bobbin in correctly and using the the tension spring on top of the thread I know watch some of the vids on YouTube they will help. Silverbullet

[VonStrohm]

Thank you Silverbullet. I checked all of your suggestions and realized the thread that is tangling under the fabric is the top thread. I put two different colors in top and bobbin. I found the top thread is making large loops on the bottom. I attempted to adjust the tension, now it is so tight it breaks and the problem still exists. Any suggestions?

[Constabulary]

What needle system are you using? The 29K takes 29x3 / 29x4 or 135x16 / 135x17 needles

[VonStrohm]

What needle system are you using? The 29K takes 29x3 / 29x4 or 135x16 / 135x17 needles

Thanks I now have beautiful stitches. Is 6 stitches per inch as large a stitch as it will make?

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks I now have beautiful stitches. Is 6 stitches per inch as large a stitch as it will make?

Old and worn out patchers are notorious for ever-shortening maximum stitch lengths. If your old 29-4 can give 6 stitches per inch at 1/8 inch, be grateful. Don't feel too bad if you get even shorter stitches at its 1/4 inch maximum thickness. This is caused by excessive wear in the driving cam and ring, on the bottom of the driving head piece. You can see this clearance by lifting the presser foot with the hand lift lever and wiggling the foot forward and backward. Any appreciable slack translates into lost maximum stitch length.

A pristine stock Singer 29 patcher is able to sew 5 stitches per inch into about 1/8" of leather. One that has been built or rebuilt to the absolute minimum functioning clearance in the drive cam and ring can deliver 5 stitches per inch at 1/4 inch.

Edited December 30, 2014 by Wizcrafts

[kymbur202]

Hi, I have ques....will the patcher do the same work a consew 227r-2 does? Curious....I make handbags...

Thanks

[Wizcrafts]

3 minutes ago, kymbur202 said:

Hi, I have ques....will the patcher do the same work a consew 227r-2 does? Curious....I make handbags...

Thanks

Not even remotely close to it. Two different machines in two different worlds.

The 29-4 is a century plus old design with the tiniest of bobbins (about a penny wide x 3 or 4 deep), top feed via teeth on the foot, small stitches that get smaller with age and a limit of 1/4 inch under the foot. The maximum safe thread size for the machine is #69 bonded nylon, although some may be able to clear up to #92. It is purely a repairs machine, for sewing on patches, or repairing purses or shoe uppers.

In contrast, the Consew 227 features triple (compound) feed, uses a standard industrial bobbin that measures 7/8" wide, 5/16" high. It can handle up to #138 thread, top and bottom and clears up to 3/8 inches of compressed material.

[Darren Brosowski]

The new bobbins from Taiwan are slightly smaller than the originals but will not change performance.

A 29-4 is probably only going to get a reasonable stitch length at 1/8" if you are lucky