Looking For An Upholstery Sewing Machine

[Vinnie]

Hello everyone,

I'm Vincent from Belgium. I'm 15 years old and just bought a car (Volkswagen t2b). Me and my dad are going to restore it together, but I want do do the interior myself to save money and do it exactly how I like it. I already went to big leather shop to buy a smal piece of leather to practice to recover a steering wheel from our other VW bus. So far it is working out really good, but the handsewing is a real pain if you think it could be so much easier with a good machine, so now I'm looking for one.

I already knew that I must look for a walking foot model with triple feed, but many people don't but the type of the machine or a good picture of the foot with their add. So could you help me?

Here are 7 ones that are probably within my budget. (If I know the type I will put it above the picture). Witch one(s) do you think that are suitable for me?

Pfaff 142-6/2B

Global wf 955

Singer type 211 G156

I also have another question. Could you us a double needle machine with just one needle?

Thank you very much!!

Greets,

Vincent

Edited August 8, 2011 by Vinnie

[sandyt]

Hi Vincent,

If I were you I would go for a triple feed. Not al the machines in the pictures are triple feed. Don't think you will be needing zigzag or double needle. But yes, you could use just one needle. You only need double needle for French seems but with one needle you will do a fine job too. Since you are not common withe these machines look for a machine with proper sewingspeedcontrol!! I think that is the most important (comfortable) thing for someone beginning upholstering.

Don't get me wrong. You can do the job with a single or double feed machine too! But if you are using vissible stiches the triple feed is the best I think because of the most consistant stitchlength.

Only the last foto (maybe the singer to?) has triple feed I think. Or Global too? I can not see it in the picture. But it will sew pretty fast I think. Look for the rpm of the motor and the pulley sizes.

A big bobbin will also be preferable since you will be needing lots of thread.

Good luck!

PS: Mocht je Nederlandstalig zijn mag je me een PM sturen. Dan kan ik het wat makkelijker uitleggen.

(If you speak Dutch you can PM me so I can explain more easy).

Sandy.

[CowboyBob]

The Adler & the single needle Pfaff would work the best for you as they have walking feet & you can get cording feet for them.You can't get one for the double needle & it is only needle feed & won't do the job as good as a walking foot.

Bob

[Trox]

Hi Vincent,

The three last ones has walking foot, the Adler have not. I would look at the Global machine; it is a modern new machine with a long stitch length (10 mm) and a big bobbin. Global makes good machines; they make machines for Dürkopp Adler to. And like Sandy says; slow it down with a speed reducer or buy a Chinese servomotor.

http://www.imca.net/Sites/Imca/files/wf950.pdf

Trox

[Vinnie]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies, but I have two other questions .

- Where can I buy a speed reducer or a servo motor for a good price?

- Wich other affordable (= maximum 300 EUR or 420 USD ) sewing machines with triple feed and walking foot ( preferably Adler or Pfaff ) do you recommend?

Thanks again!

Vincent

Edited August 9, 2011 by Vinnie

[busted]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies, but I have two other questions .

- Where can I buy a speed reducer or a servo motor for a good price?

- Wich other affordable (= maximum 300 EUR or 420 USD ) sewing machines with triple feed and walking foot ( preferably Adler or Pfaff ) do you recommend?

Thanks again!

Vincent

First of all how are you going to get the steering wheel under the machine to sew the cover? I apologize I couldn't resist.

You can make your own speed reducer. I used an 8 inch and a 2 1\2 inch pulley your father should be able to help with this one.

If you use the speed reducer you will not need the servo motor.

Sewmun and Trox are right in their suggestions of either the Adler or the Pfaff with a walking foot or the Global with a walking foot too you definitely don't want the high speed Singer or anything that zig zags.

Leather has to be sewn slowly 800 stitches per minute or slower or the needle will heat up and burn the thread. Have fun rebuilding the VW.

[Vinnie]

First of all how are you going to get the steering wheel under the machine to sew the cover? I apologize I couldn't resist.

Well it won't have to go under the sewing machine. Here you can see how they do it.

[CowboyBob]

Great Video, He sure makes it look easy.

Bob

[Vinnie]

Great Video, He sure makes it look easy.

Bob

Well, it is feasable, but only the templates are hard to make. Today I also made some progress on the steering wheel I'm working on. It went fairly well, but the thread I'm using (from a leather shop) isn't strong enough. The thread broke about 5 times while I was handsewing . The 2 seems are also misaligned due to the tension on the leather, but I'm really happy (and also a bit proud) so far with my first steering wheel.

[Trox]

Hi Vincent,

You can buy servo motors and speed reducers from our member dealers. Or from Sieck.de in Germany. Maybe Sewmun have a 220 volts servo motor for sale. You can order from Cobra Steve 220 v, I did. http://www.leathermachineco.com/catalog.php?category=22.

What is the price of that Global machine?, if the price is good buy it! (But try it first)

The Adler and Pfaff are good machines but they are 40 year older than the Global.. I have Adlers machines myself and love them. But you are looking for the best machine for the money, are you not?

Here is a easy way to stitch those stering wheels . http://www.youtube.com/user/Cechaflo#p/u/16/c1q84ew-Blc.

Trox

[sandyt]

That checaflo guy gave me the convidence to upholster my car wit leather. You can come pretty far only watching his videos. He's doing a great job. I hope he leaves his videos on youtube when he finishes his online coarse.

Sandy.