gottaknow

I’m good Ferg. Working for a company that keeps me busy with a factory in Seattle and LA. Turning less screws but teaching a lot. 

Well thank you!

It's been a week and still hasn't passed. Not looking forward to that, but I'm back at work. I have tons of needles. I'd be more than happy to send some your way. I'm thinking you probably did send some. I'll check in the morning. 

Nice! I haven't seen that exact model, but if it's like the 157, you're going to love it!! I am making progress on your machine, but I've been off work for a lousy kidney stone event. 

Regards, Eric

Yes, I got the hook.  Back from vacation and getting caught up.  I'll stay in touch!

Regards, Eric

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The habits we have the most trouble with are ones that hobbyist embrace the most. Very slow sewing speed and wanting everything perfect. They tend to argue more because "I've always done it this way at home!". Factory patterns are very different than home patterns. We use inexperienced people to make the small parts like pocket flaps, snap or button tabs, etc. Those all get turned inside out and then topstitched by someone else who is more skilled to handle the speed and do quality work. A lot of the beginners work never shows on a garment. We prefer speed to perfection. Make no mistake, we make amazing garments with high quality. As they gain experience, they learn to go faster and their quality improves with time so we can use them where it counts. It's a process.

Regards, Eric

• We have a training program in each of our factories. There has been over the years in the Seattle area and here in Idaho/Spokane a number of sewing factories. We always try to hire experienced people first, but we take anyone who we think has potential. In the years that I trained operators, I preferred folks that had never sewed. That way they had no bad habits. Home sewers tend to have bad habits that we have to correct.
• Regards, Eric

Honestly, I dropped out of college and answered an ad in a factory for a shipper/receiver and apprentice mechanic. I started at minimum wage. I was so intrigued with the machines, the mechanic let me take the heads home and I repeatedly took them apart and put them back together. Over and over. I studied parts manuals and worked late at the factory for no pay in order to learn. I taught myself how to sew, fast and straight so I could test the machines I repaired. I learned how to problem solve. It's been a journey to say the least, and I never lost sight of the goal to get better every day. I still do that after 36 years. 

Regards, Eric 

Yes. It's virtually impossible to become proficient enough for a factory job without someone passing on their knowledge. I worked for two different mechanics as an apprentice. The first had began his career in the late 60's, I started with him in 1980. After two  years, I moved to a larger factory for the same company and worked under a highly skilled mechanic who'd received his training in the Navy as a parachute rigger. He did that in the early 60's. In those days, the parachute riggers not only had to repair the parachutes, but also learn to repair machines. I still keep in touch with him. By the time I was 25, I was a head mechanic in a factory with 300 operators. A bit overwhelming for a 25 year old, but I had exceptional training. It's been a passion of mine since 1980. I was also a plant manager for 6 years where I apprenticed a mechanic at the same time. He went on to become a successful head mechanic for REI when they still produced goods in the US. Needless to say, I've been very fortunate.

Regards, Eric

You should be able to move between different fabrics with simple adjustments like foot pressure and feet height. My machines get minimal adjustment that normally take a few minutes. I can give you good advice when I've spent some time with your machine. Other adjustments will be feed dog height and tension. And yes, I currently have an apprentice. He's been with me 3 years and is doing really well. Over the years, I've apprenticed about 6 mechanics. It takes 5 years minimum, but they will be in high demand and never without a job. I am very well compensated which is why I don't charge a fee, especially given the education value to our forum. What good is everything I know if I don't pass it on. I can provide the shipping address whenever you're ready. It's important the head doesn't move around in your box. I have plenty of tables and belts. 

Regards, Eric 

No changing of parts anticipated, but there's a lot of adjustments that can be made to make  your waxed canvas lay nice and flat. I don't usually get into a lot of the complicated adjustments in the forum because it tends to really confuse people. Even the people that are pretty good on the forum are really just tinkerers. Of course I'd never say that, I don't like coming off as a know it all. We sew a lot of waxed canvas, we call it Tin Cloth. On operations that don't have a lot of heavy seams to cross, I love a needle feed machine, and I think you should still keep an eye out for one. That doesn't mean I can't make your Consew do what you need, but the depth of adjustments are just too much for the folks on the forum, so I leave a lot out or I'd end up writing a book. A few years back, I helped a guy fix his Singer 211W155. It took 12 pages, and a lot of time. Nothing compares to keeping an entire factory running smooth....all at high speed. I'd still start a thread for the benefit of everyone, I really do enjoy teaching.

Regards, Eric

It's about the same machine. You can certainly send my your Consew and I'll make it do what you need. Figure the same weight and zip code I gave you. I'd just need some of your fabric and thread. More than happy to do it, wouldn't be the first time.

Regards, Eric

That's a good price for a walking foot with reverse. Even if it's not working. He might scare a lot of people off because it's not working. It's worth double that in working condition. So here's a crazy thought. Buy the machine, ship just the head to me in Idaho. Send me some of your canvas and I'll fix it and make it sew flat as a pancake for you. No charge. I'll just share the process with the forum here. If you're even slightly interested, the shipping weight is about 80 lbs. and my zip code in Post Falls is 83854 so you can get an estimate. 

Regards, Eric

I'm going to call a couple of dealers I buy from. Stay tuned. 

That's a walking foot machine, which is like what you already have. The price is high even for a walking foot machine, but that depends on what people are willing to pay.

Regards, Eric

Odd that he didn't reply. 

Lol Sylvia. The fleece jackets I made were polar fleece, left over from some jackets we made for the US Army. And you'll see the wallets when they're done cj! heh