suzelle

You are the Dragon Lady! Great job so far!

Oh boy, I like all greens. Green is my favorite color. That's s nice green too! But I like the Volkswagon much better. Just kiddin! Seriously though, you could paint that machine neon green and I'd still like it! In fact, I have a Neon green and Ultramarine Blue carousel printer (for tee shirt printing) in my shop. Haha!

No, red might be weird on a sewing machine, I think it would make me sew too fast, like driving a red sports car. LOL. I have a pic or two of the old VWd floating around, I'll post when I find it! Yes, tangerine would be nice for a sewing machine. I agree with that! A little warm in a peaceful sort of way.

That's great Stewart! Nice work as usual.

FatDuck, You have Pfaffitis too? Can't wait to see when you post about setting up your Pfaff 335! Congrats to you. Yes, this is a great thread, really enjoying it!

Okay, I am loving that bug!!!!! She is a beautiful old lady, classy for sure! Great color!!!!!! Wow you are good.... I used to have a 1967 VW bug, I think it was the year they converted from 6 to 12 volt? Anyhow, drove it for many years. I totally refurbed it. Used to be owned by a local mailman and it had these mailbag sized faded paint squares on each door. He drove it on his route. It was very clean and staight though, so I total repainted it the original VW Red. The seats were black. I recovered those. It was totally re-wired, new everything. I just loved that car! But my Husband called it the death trap. I eventually let him buy me a brand new vehicle. Much safer, but oh how I missed my bug! Oops, I am so sidetracked by the Volkswagon - memories. Okay, Woehlk, so this is the shade of green you want to paint your Pfaff? Love love love it!

Vinito, I really enjoyed reading this thread on how you took an old machine, changed it out to the larger bobbin and repainted and restored this beautiful machine. I know this is not a new thread, but great documentation. It will help others who enjoy restoring machines. Thank you!

Lovely work! It's expertly made. Thank you for showing us!

Oh that is great news! So glad you got the tension fixed too. Was it pretty easy putting the check splring in? I'm glad it's all coming together for you!

Both needles were Measured with Micrometer. You had mentioned something about a measurement, so here you go! The needle on the bottom is the System I am now using in my Pfaff 545-H4. What I have used reguarly in my machine are the sizes I've shown in the first photo, which include 110/18, 120/19, 125/20. The thickeset needle I own for this machine is 22. I included a 135x17 System Needle for comparison, because that is what my Consew 255 takes, and other machines I've owned used that System too. My new Juki 1541s will also take the 135x17 needle.

VIIXCIV, Exciting, you got a box of Soma thread. I just love thread, almost as much as I love paper. LOL. (Watercolor Artist in me). Yes, you for sure have to pay attentionn to tension. So, do ask away!!!! I'm sure everyone is waiting to answer questions, very helpful bunch here on this forum. I love it! Okay, gonna tell you what I use for needles on Pfaff 545-H4, with pics! Keep in mind though, I'm not saying your machine will take these needles, but mine does.

Well good then, you deserve it! I think we are generally better students later in life than we were when we were younger. I started out in life speaking both English and Spanish, just wish I had more opportunity to speak Spanish on a daily basis now, but always love it when I get the chance to speak Spanish to a person who does not understand English. I'm rusty but it is sure fun! Good way to bond with someone too, just trying.

Woehlk, great of you to share the steps you go through. I think this is not too much work at all to do for Sweet Karen! LOL. She will feel pretty and that always makes a girl have a better day. Your day will be better cause her day is better. Hehe. What a great way to start your life together making harnesses and collars!!!

Spyros, you are a good writer!

VIIXCIV, Forgive me, I assumed your Meisi thread might be similar to my Madeira Poly Neon 40 thread, but it appears it's not even close. I did look that up and I'll admit to you that I am totally unfamiliar with that brand of thread. However, it looks like lovely thread, and when I looked it up, says it is suitable for both hand & machine sewing.M40=0.45 mm?? Says it is for leather, shoes, saddle, deinim, auto interior... Then I looked up your Soma Bonded Nylon that you said you got from Konsew.com. That one says "Good for High Speed Industrial Sewing, Leather, Shoes, Belt, Car Seats & more... This also looks like a nice heavier weight thread. Again though, I've no experience with it. But this one does say what needle size to use with it and it comes in two sizes from what I read. I'm sure you already know this. Your question to me was really about needles. So.... let me find exactly what needles I have for the Pfaff and report back to you only on that. Okay, off to the shop and I will give you that info later today or early tomorrow. Have a wonderful day!

Exactly! Much easier to find as well! Now if I could paint my glasses a certain color so it would work for me when I am searching searching searching, only to find a pair on top of my head where they really don't work. LOL. You made me chuckle!

Tequila, Oh gee, that sounds horrible. Nice of you to point out it's not the fault of the Sewing Machine Dealer and I'm glad that person is involved in helping your sort out just where your machine is. I think I'd be pretty upset myself. I'm waiting for the delivery of a new Juki 1541S. Hoping all will be well, but it started out a little weird, I must admit. I was told just 3-4 days to get it to my address, which will be a Commercial address. No lift gate needed. So we will see. It's supposed to be here Monday for delivery now, which turns out to be more than twice the time they quoted, but it's nowhere near the length of time you have been waiting. Keeping fingers crossed for you!!! Hopefully if you cannot get your machine very very soon, you will be fully compensated and will be able to move forward in another direction. Good luck to you!

Woehlk, the decals are Soooooo Coooool !!!!!!!! Gotta get me some of them one day, when I repaint my Pfaff 138-6. Her decals are more brown and gold, I think. However, I'd go for those Gold ones if I couldn't find the original colors. Bling bling! Great job so far on your machine! I love that you changed that color scheme too. So you are doing the painting yourself. I must say, you are as bold as that paint scheme you chose! Please keep us posted, what paint are you using? Can it be picked up at local hardware store or did you plan to use something else for paint? Enamel? Rustoleum? Other? Are you sure you are going to want to sew on it when you are done? Might be too pretty!

Hello again VIIXCIV! Oh boy, now I may be confused too! LOL. Someboddy with some more experience with your model Pfaff will hopefully chime in. As I mentioned, my machine is a Pfaff 545-H4. The "H 4" is the highest lift machine Pfaff manufactured, so I have read. I'm not sure if your machine is a High Lift, but your model is different. The thing I know that is same as mine is that it takes the same feet mine takes. That's all I know because I do not own the model you have. To answer your question about needle length though, I learned that I had the choice of setting the machine up for the longest needle it would take, or the more standard length needle. At the time I had the mechanic set it up for me with the longest needle. I was doing lots of layers of vinyl material and had to stuff alot of material to be sewn under the foot. So that is why I made that choice. After 10 years of sewing on it with that set up, I can tell you that there are some disadvantages. First disadvantage (my experience only) is that the longer lenth needle tends to deflect and break more often than a standard length needle. The other disadvantage is that with all that deflecting and bending, you may end up hitting the needle hole in the plate every now and then. So I always seem to be checking for burrs or issues from that happening. So I think I would probably try using the more standard length needle in the future. If this limits me for lift/height, I don't know that yet until I switch over to a standard length needle. However, if it does limit me, I think I'd be fine with that as I'm no longer sewing those multi-layer vinyl banners any longer. I just love my Pfaff, love to sew on it and it's sturdy and smooth. Oh, and I should also mention about sewing the vinyl banners on my Pfaff 545 - I made a lot of 20-25 ft. banners, which meant I was sewing pretty fast and also very long stretches of vinyl material thought the machine, this also caused my needle to get so hot that things could get smoking under my needle! Smoking hot! LOL. I didn't dare touch the needle when it got that hot, but I did have to slow down because it could melt things, snap my thread, probably break my needle too. Not sure, but it could have been a contributing factor to the needles breaking. A more reasonable sewing speed helped that situation. My neighbors downstairs used to comment that it sounded like a jackhammer upstairs, what is that? Haha. Were you sewing or what were you doing? About the thread you are using (Meisi Super Fine Linen M40).... I have no experience with that thread, but it sounds like about the same weight and possibly the same feel as the Commercial Embroidery threads I use in my Big Embroidery machines, my thread is Madeira Poly Neon 40. It is a pretty standard weight thread as far as availability of needles and such. However, I'm not sure what your Pfaff machine is set up for. My machine is set up to sew with threads of a heavier weight, #69 on up to #92, that is about it. I know it can take up to a #138, but have not set it up for the heavy a thread. One of the other things you may want to read about regarding thread is "S" Twist and "Z" twist, since you are going from hand sewing to machine sewing. Here is an on-line article to start you out, https://www.servicethread.com/blog/left-twist-vs.-right-twist-industrial-sewing-thread-differences-and-applications but find out what the twist of the thread is that you are now using and if it would be suitable for machine sewing. It may or not be. Anyhow, now I undertand why the needles you were using were too big, as you had mentioned. I hope that helps some. I've got to get ready to go to the shop, but interested to hear what you learn. Good luck to you today! Don't be embarassed, this Industrial machine thing is sort of a big deal when you are new to it and there is always more to learn whatever stage you are at!

Yes, I have that Food Fet-ish thing going on! LOL. You are so funny!!!! Sometimes though, I am Foot- Fed UP! Today though, I'm tickled pink... See my feet. You ask why? Why? Well you see...I am the only woman in a shop of Guys. Since we sometimes share feet (mainly me borrowing lately until I'm fully set up) I thought if I marked all my newly purchased feet special, I would always know which ones do not belong to me. LOL. Because feet are like pens. I tend to steal them. Keeps me out of hot water if you know what I mean!

You are right, it can be frustrating at first. But once you know what needle length you are going to use in your Pfaff, you can keep buying same. Pfaff 545-H4 (at least mine does) takes two different needle lengths. It depends on how much lift you need, you would have the option of using the longer needle. You would adjust the machine for whichever you choose. I'm sure you figured that part out already. For what size of needle to use, you'd have to know what thread you were going to use. What thread? I think I have needles that go from size 18 to 23 for my Pfaff. If you want, I can share more detail on that later. But let us know what thread you plan to use. Nylon? Poly? #92, #138, thicker? Thinner? Hang in there, it will all become pretty normal after a while and you will be so happy to save all that hand sewing time. At least I am guessing you might.

Trash Treasure, Great idea about Fastenal! Yes, we do have one of those places nearby where I can just go in and ask them for some help. I think I'll do that for sure! I'll bring in the screws/bolts I want to match threads to, then see if they can hunt for a hex head option for me. I'll be sure to come back and document (for others) if I find something that works. Much appreciated are your thoughts!!! Side note: I did head to Lowes first thing yesterday morning with the screws for the inside feet with me. They have a Thread Measureing Gauge mounted on racks where screws and bolts are on display that is always a place I head to first when I can't find something. The little part I was trying to match fit into the smallest holes on the gauge, but neither the Standard nor the Metric thread fit. So my guess is it may be EST (British Standard thread) I am looking for?? Also, I asked my Husband to bring home his thread pitch gauge, so I'll be ready when I have the correct screw(s) in hand. I'm being very careful as I only have one that is made of a nicer quality steel and don't want to lose it. Also, found this site which I'll use to enter Bob's dimensions that he gave for screw. https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/screw_threads Again, thank you all!

Thanks so much Bob! I did order some more of those screws through Ebay, but they have not arrived yet. There were no dimensions, so I appreciate you providing them for me!

Oh good Dana! thanks so much for that - always good to have resources, especially lately. I'll say I'd thought of telling you about Zipper Stop too, but declined because it had been so long ago since I ordered from them. What I remember ordering was a very wide tooth (teeth?) plastic zipper in a roll, I ordered as many yards as I wanted, and also the zipper pull, which I believe was metal. It was a great zipper and I think what I was doing at the time was some sort of a cloth dog house made of sunbrella fabric that was collapsible. Also, I think I used the same zipper for a machine quilting frame. Anyhow, Zipperstop at that time was very affordable and their goods were high quality. Another one I'd though of was WAWAK.com. This one I don't remember how I came acroos, but probably a friend who does Commercial sewing. They have lots of options for zippers too, lots of other stuff as well! Great Company and I have no complaints at all. They have a nice catalog they mail out every year or semi-annually.

Love those ideas Constulary! I have to admit, I do love machines. I sort of collect them. LOL. When I was shopping for a machine for doing lots of Auto Upholstery work, my first goal was to get a machine that had at least an M sized bobbin that could sew at least #138 poly bonded on top. Also, how much room under the foot was a huge consideration. Unfortunately, my Consew 255RB "Big Barb" that I recently purchased used for just $400 really doesn't lift high enough to sew over all the layers I have to sandwich together. I have to move to other machines in the shop that have a higher lift and they are Juki machines. So.... I'm selling Big Barb. A Co-Worker wants her and I'll get back what I put in. He understands her limitations but wants to do some sewing in his home shop. So, My Pfaff 545 machine will be sharing a table with my Pfaff 138-6 at my home shop. I was happy to find they both fit same table. I just have to noodle around with the foot lifter when I swap out machines. As far as table for my Consew 255 - that goes with the machine when I sell it. So I got an entire new table, servo motor and machine for the Juki 1541S. The Juki will live at my friend's shop where I'm doing the Upholstery work. I bet the Consew 255RB and the Juki 1541S would fit in same table, but I figured I'd get all new for the Juki since the dealer only takes off $200 from the total when you want just the machine head. But we all now it costs over $400 or more if you want that stuff separate. So I'm going all new. Even added wheels so I can wheel her around since I won't be a full time employee. LOL.