jack2stitch

Hi, I'm just a beginner on a small budget. I looked hard and wanted the juki1541s while getting a machine. I want to do Motorcycle seat covers also. I couldn't afford the juki and was warned away from the TYPICAL knock-off of it. I opted for the CHANDLER 406 rb-1. New, in my price range. Chinese (gamble) and now the Consew is built there I heard. Don't know much about sewing, I've been working on setting it up. Has a 10mm stitch and a safety clutch. I jammed it also. It seems to work well even with #135 thread. There are many used ones on e bay.

I can identify with you. Have been lurking for months, saving for and buying a sewing machine. Hope my first product looks 1/2 as good as yours. keep enjoying the craft. Like the art, very unique.

Thanks Kustom that's a great idea. I'll check around here.

Thanks DavidL, Yes I've been looking on craigslist and e bay. Just missed a nice consew for $300. By the time I got to the computer it was sold. I just started moving tonight out of my unsuccessful (nightjob shop) doing paintwork. I'll be free of that overhead to save more. My big dilemma is, do I buy an older machine or a newer less expensive one? Worn out or Quality wise? I don't plan on doing a lot of sewing on it, starting with my own products, but who knows? I already had a request from a guy I work with, to do a custom seat for his bike.

Thanks robertmeco Cobra looks like a real Pro machine. I'm trying to keep lower than $8-900. Will be another month until I've saved that much.

Hello to everyome from an old guy, I have been wanting to sew leather and vinyl for some time. I bought a Kenmore about 12 years ago and found out very quick it was not meant for sewing leather. I want to do motorcycle seat covers and jacket alterations and mods if possible. Now that I found this forum, there are lots of other possibilities. I have been shopping for a sewing machine, for a month, mostly e bay. I have an old JUKI industrial I got cheap (and not the right one). It does light weight material and not a walking foot. I worked on the JUKI for a week to get it to sew. I'm thinking of a used head unit I can mount on the JUKI table. Either pulley down the clutch motor or go with a servo motor. Mostly I will be doing my own things or some small jobs. no real heavy material. I recently did a seat cover and sewed some trim on a car's door panels. On the Kenmore (not too good!) Being on a (SS) limited budget, I've been saving. I'm looking at several machines. The questions are: Buy an older (consew 255) or a newer (tacsew, sewline, etc.) I can buy the Consew the cheapest (rebuilt no reverse). Don't know if I can trust the newer ones? Was going to get a portable, but want a longer stitch and more room for work. I keep saving slowly. Thanks, Jack Any suggestions welcome.