Economical Machine For Bartacking, And Buttonhole.

[Ken B]

I'm trying to find an economic option for creating bartack's, mostly on denim and webbing. I will also be creating button holes using this machine.

Those all in one home machines that bartack and have fancy button attachments would be great, if they ran at least #92 thread. Since they don't, I'm thinking maybe the $500 Techsew copy of a Sailrite "walking foot", portable machine. I would lay down a straight stitch, then use the zig zag option to come back over the stitch a few times to create a bartack.

I realize that a dedicated bartack machine would do a better job and be more efficient, but it's out of the question for me, especially since I'd then also need a buttonhole machine.

Is there any other "semi-commercial" machine out there, possibly even one with a bartack option, or one that would run #138 thread? I wish I could avoid this purchase all together, but I suppose for the $500 it will be nice to have a portable, semi-walking foot sewing machine.

Thanks for any input!

[Constabulary]

There are programmable bar tackers for different tack patterns. I´d like to own one but for the moment my Singer 3027G2 machine is producing the small tacks on flat materials. It is of course not as precise as a bar tacker but it works.

[Ken B]

There are programmable bar tackers for different tack patterns. I´d like to own one but for the moment my Singer 3027G2 machine is producing the small tacks on flat materials. It is of course not as precise as a bar tacker but it works.

I'd love to have one of the programmable bartack machines, they're just too expensive. With a basic zigzag machine the faux-bartacks should be good enough, plus I can use it to make the eyelet of a buttonhole. At least that's the best solution I've yet to come up with.

[Darren Brosowski]

Second hand Industrial machines are cheap as chips here in Australia as there is so little industry that needs them anymore.

[Constabulary]

Thats true but most used ones are cam driven and finding cams for special purposes is a pain and / or expensive. I´d love to own one that sews X boxes in 3/4", 1", 1.25",1.5", 2" and so forth but I need some 2mm x 16mm tacks with 42 or 52 stitches as well and it has to take 138 or thicker thread but these tackers cost at least 2500€

If some one has experience with such bar tackers I´d be happy to get some more information.

[Ken B]

... for the moment my Singer 3027G2 machine is producing the small tacks on flat materials ...

I've been unable to find any information on the Singer 3027G2, is it similar to the Singer/Reliable 20U73?

I'm still hunting around for the best solution to a bar-tacking / buttonhole machine. The singer is $1000, the Sailrite/Techsew is $500. I know the singer would work, albeit on thinner materials, but I'm unsure on the Sailrite, and can't find one to demo or any video of it creating a bartac

[Constabulary]

There are not many oft hem around. But in general, it is a standard industrial sewing machine with zig zag - its notching special it just works very nice and smooth. I think the 20U73 or any other zig zag machine could do the same job. But I don´t know if it will fork for your applications.

[Ken B]

So I recently saw a video for a video of the Hightex / Cowboy 9204ZZ, Zig Zap / Straight stitch, compound feed walking foot machine. This seems very ideal for me, depending on a few things. I do sew thicker materials, up to 1/2" rawhide, but for the most part I sew denim, and webbing, and sometimes marine grade vinyl.

1) Would this machine handle something thinner, like 092 thread with some medium weight denim, or lightweight marine upholstery?

2) Could I do all of the stitching with this one machine, the bartacking of high stress areas like pockets and belt loops, the button hole, and use the straight stitch to construct the rest of the garment?

3) Can I get different presser feet for this machine, so that I can run a straight stitch right right up next to a D-ring or buckle?

Thank you so much for all of your help. I'm doing the best I can to find answers, but it's difficult, and I'm stuck with a Juki LU563 with servo and gear reduction, that is awesome, but that I cant get timed and working correctly. I really need a good solid machine that does what I need day in and day out, that can straight stitch, is compound feed, and can zig zag, and can handle from lightweight denim, to 1/2" of rawhide leather.

Thanks again! Your input is invaluable. This isn't easy information to find and I want to make the correct purchase.

Edited December 24, 2014 by Ken B