mixmkr

http://www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-Ultrafeed-LSZ-1-BASIC-Walking-Foot-Sewing-Machine Treat yourself to the holidays. Yeah..it's $750, but their service is stellar and used ones on Ebay ALWAYS sell ...and typically over $600, even for ones several years old. Is it a true leather making beast?? No...but a good all around that will work out of the box. Make your wife new curtains, upholster that chair, wallets for yourself and friends and new dog collars for Fido. Make marine canvas for your boating friends, patio awnings and new seat cushions and fix the leather in the ole T-Bird. Oh.... hem those new bluejeans too and make that cowboy vest you always wanted... And lastly...guitar straps for all your guitars, that are custom length.

Spectre....I think you might just be on the edge of bumping heads. Going back to my guitar analogy, I would say get a GOOD guitar... Lousy guitars can't be played easily. As a suggestion, I'd at least purchase a machine or two, that IS good...not a lousy knockoff or in bad repair. PIck one....Just get a flatbed JUKI, Consew, Singer or whatever in the $500+ range AND a Servo motor. Figure on at least 138 size thread and # 22 needles. Then you'll have an overall "basic" machine. I might go out on a limb and suggest the Sailrite LSZ1, as the resale is basically about 100% for those machines, should you want to get rid of it. But it is a scaled down walking foot that is small and portable, good for basic upholstery and light duty leather work like belts and wallets. This way you have SOMETHING and can figure out what you might want in addition (an acoustic, whammy bar, locking tuners, single coil pickups, 12 string...??.) You get the picture and good luck shopping. BTW, if you can afford $2k and that's more in line with your budget...get something better. Otherwise buy used or get the little Sailrite.

I will offer one bit of advice. I started out knowing basically nothing...and still have lots to learn. Rather than analyze things to death, just start. Buy a machine. If it doesn't suit your needs, sell it and get another. I got lucky and bought out a marine canvas shop, which is the type of sewing I do, which allowed me to obtain the tools and machines I needed, without really having to spend much time learning about WHAT to get. The previous owner had already done that. Look at what other people are doing and see what tools they use. To "analyze" HOW to buy a machine is really not the right approach. You just gotta jump in and if you're totally clueless, ask like has been suggested. I'm very new here, but totally impressed with the knowledge base and I don't think you're going to get steering down the wrong path. One man's perfect machine is going to be another's "hassle"...even if they're doing the same thing. BTW, I've played guitar now for 50 years. Same thing... If you want to learn how to play guitar, just buy one and jump in both feet. Maybe ask some initial questions, but just do it. (Then you might keep that useless piece of plastic, because you need to make pillow cases.... who knows... Maybe your kids will want to sew to and need to learn on something besides a clutch motor and a 75lb beast).

:-D ....can anyone help me get my bobber off the electrical wires overhead??

I think the query was viewed from a favorite position in some aged, over upholstered seating arrangement, trying to sum up which fishing pole catches what fish and why it separates in just buying fish in the frozen food section.... IOW, forming a knowledge base to decide if bottom feeders might taste better than pan fish and if a fly rod can do it all.....and/or why not....eh?

My backup is a a JUKI LU562. I have no need for a non walking foot also. My Craig's list has not had an industrial machine in the last two years....reaching out in a 200 mile radius, that was a "deal" even worth investigating.. I live in western KY. Basically it's the plastic stuff or the old Singer stuff for home use. The occasional Bernina of Pfaff or quilt making machines ...again for light duty material and/or the home use.

6 mm has been fine. Sometimes I see longer but I'm not getting any pucker or anything. Sometimes I just think the longer stitch length just looks better. I just see that on factory or high quality work

this is interesting to me....first because of the price but also because of the stitch length. My LU562 only does about 6mm (right??) and this extends out to 8mm.

looks nice and new! congrats!

Again...not sure if "Sailrite" is "allowed" around here.... but this seems like almost an impulse buy for the holiday pricing now on just the head. Tempted for a backup. Does 8mm straight and at $499 seems like a deal. Wish this guy was a zig zag... http://www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-111-Head-With-Accessories

thanks Gregg and Trash... The Alder is out of the budget for sure, as I don't do enough zigging to warrant the purchase. Plus I'm not sure it would grunt thru some of the sail corners I'm currently hand stitching, which were obviously machined when new. I"d also have to wire in some 220 into my work area, not that that is s show stopper...but.... The Pfaff looks nice too. The deal with my Singer is that it sews just fine, but I'm trying to educate (and maybe purchase!) what the next level is. Seems it's the long arm, but still a walking foot and needle feed with enough presser foot lift for my sail corners. The Singer zips along in the sail middle areas and along the seams, but for some reason I can't get it to like Tenara thread, which my JUKI does just fine with. And the throat is a little challenging with some of the really stiff reinforced sail corners. No biggie I guess as some 138 UVR Dacron works fine and the sails aren't left out in the sun, unlike the rest of the boat canvas work and I just grunt the sail around to get to where I need to be. Reverse is in the list for the next machine though.. Sailrite has one (hope that's not a curse word around here), that by changing the cam, goes from two to four point zig and it's in the $2k price for the head. I was just looking for some used, dependable warriors that were Sailrite's competition at that level. Obviously, you look at truly pro sail lofts and they've got the good stuff, but I'm repairing and not making new and getting up around $5k opens up a new world of choices, but I'd rather get a new JUKI straight or a long arm straight stitch AND the Sailrite zig...if I were spending that kind of money.......I think! Sailrite pro... http://www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-Professional-Walking-Foot-ZigZag-Commercial-Sewing-Machine

Singer Tanks!! What size stitch will those do? When you say "expensive"... how many happy meals do I need to pass on??

the Cowboy (hightex?) 9366-12 would be great, but have no idea of the pricing and where to get and even see. I NEVER see a used one of those or similar (in that brand) it seems.

thx brmax... larger throat area and yes...a 3 point zig would be great. I'm finding repairing larger sails, the 107 just barely fits the need and like it's on the edge. Higher presser foot... you know...all the "wants" It seems like the jump after the 107 is in the $2k range (for used). But I'm not sure if that's correct. Be nice to stay under that. Crazy that I see 107 going for close to $800 much of the time. edit... oh yeah...reverse would be a dream, as I'm not flipping these 40ft sails around like a blanket. I just generally lift the presser foot and go back an inch....or hold the material and do some "embroidery"

As title suggests, without breaking the bank...looking for the next step up. Obviously used would be nice to try and locate, but I'm "researched out" as far as models to look for. I also have a JUKI LU562 which is running great for my straight stitches. No leather work ( but I really enjoy this forum), but marine canvas and sail work. edit...btw I just need the head as I have tables, motors, etc. But of course would be interested in the whole shootin' match, if that's how one becomes available.