john11139

I seen a LSZ ! advertised on Face book with case for $275. I called the fellow and tried everything in the world to get him to ship it, He was asking $275, a steal and I offered him $100 more. He said he was just not abale to box it up and find a place to ship it. (he lived in a rual area in Alabama and I live in Ohio) I got that much out of the Thompsons. I would love to have a LSZ1 and probably end up with one some day if the price is right. Most of them go for at least $700. One was on Facebook a few days ago for $475 in MD. Wrong time of year to drive in this weather. Probably $125 in gas and a hotel room. So taking the Sailrite out of the picture, do you think one China made machine is any bettr than the other?

Here is my report on China walking foot sewing machine like Sail Rite. I have had three Thompson walking foot machines over the years and got pretty good at setting them up. Two of them I picked up pretty cheap. One had the needle in backwards and they cold never get it to sew. One hat a bad foot controller. I used all them doing odd jobs, and sold them making a profit. I wanted one that would do zig-zag and a 9' arch. So that narrowed it down pretty quick to a China made walking foot.(in my price range) I have read quite alot about Sail Rite and every one likes them and they say they are the copy of the Thompsons. I have never personally seen one but for the Thompsons, they were well made and had goood metal in them. I figured if I got the Chkina made one, and if parts were not up to parr with Thompsons, I would canablize the Thompson and switch parts. There are a bushel basket of China made machines, Omega, tac sew, Barrcuda, Family sew, Tac Sew Con Sew , Chandler, New Tech. It would be interesting of you had them all together and see if there is really any differance in quality and workman ship, along with Sail Rite. I have heard horror stories about the China made machines, some said they were junk and could never be made to sew right. I ordered the New Tech from E Bay. No certain reason, just free shipping and it had the handle on top and had the 9" arch or throat. I would not consider the gurantee on any of them worth anything. as you would have to send it back. When I received my machine, the first thing I did was oil it good every where. I took the needle out and presser foot. Plugged it in and when I turned it on it sounded like the old hand crank corn grinder or a thrashing machine. I thought it was going to fly apart. I ran it for about 2 hours at medium speed, (oiling it) Then about two hours at higher speeds and about a hour varying the speeds. Filnally it quited down pretty good (still not as smooth as the Thompson) I then reinstalled the needle and foot. I found that the walking foot was not set right at all and would not sew. I finally got that set right following the experence I had from Thompsons. Then the thread tensioner flew off and I stepped on a part and broke it looking for it, (cheap made) I had a old tensioner from a Morse, put it on and worked great. The when sewing the motor had little power. I took the motor off the Thompson and was going to put it on and discovered it would not fit nor any other parts. You could see that the metal was not near as the Thompsons and screws in it were real soft and easyly stripped.. (Is the Sail Rite like this) Next I took the 1.5 amp motor off and mounted a 1.5 motor off the Morse. A big improvement. Then I ordered the 2.5 amp motor on E Bay and that really made it work fine and then I threw away the cheap foot controller and had a old one off a Huskyvarna. I wonder if the Sail Rite are really made to the quality of the Thompsons as I have never really saw one? I know I would be really disappointed if I got a Sail Rite and it was nothing more than a polished China made machine . Would I reccomend a China made machine? I can't say. Its a big gamble. I am pretty satisfied with the outcome of mine but you had better be prepared for some tinkering and up dating to get it to work. A Sail Rite with the 9 ' arch would probably cost around $1,700. No more than I do I could not justify that. So I would like someone who has a Sail Rite and owned a Thompson give me your opinion on the workmanship compared to each other and the China made and is there really any differance between the China brands? Everything on the Thompson was made heavier, including the walking foot part, rods, brackets, gears.

Most of the sewing I do is just nylon straps, canvas bags. ETC. Materials that a domestic machine will not sew.

I have a Thompson walking foot that I use sometimes and have someone interested in it but would like to replace it first. I would like a zig zag and would like to go to the 9" frame. I can't justify what sailrite wants for no more than I use it. There is one on Ebay for around $475. I think they are all the same, Sew Strong, Omega, Rex . But I also noticed that they have just the head listed for around $340. ,It says "walking foot" but from the picture I cant tell, I have a table with a Singer 20su that should fit in it. I sent the company a e mail asking if it was really had a walking foot but no answer. There is no name listed for the machine and shipped from Calif. (probably a ware house for China products.) I can't find anything on You tube about it. Any thoughts appreciated.

I feel your loss,. I had a stray cat show up, and showed up every day for 15 years to ride to work with me. When I went on a service call she rode with me. When at the shop and the church bell rang 12'oclock at noon, she would come and get me and tell me it was time to go eat. She was 18 and passed on about a month ago. Pets make the world a better place.

Is a Singer 20U powerful enough to make wallets on. What is the heaviest material you could sew on it? I have found several tow and truckers cargo straps over the years along the road. Most are chewed up on the ends. I have been taking them to a local upholstery shop to have a loop sewed in them but is sort of expensive. I use them on the farm . They are handy for tying down brush, wrapping around small trees and shrubs and pulling them out. Some of them need the ratchet sewed back on. I have had a few tow truck drivers ask me if I could patch up theirs. I ran on to a Singer 20U. (waiting for some needles to arrive) and just wondering if I could make a couple dollars with it sewing up things like that. It has the zig zag. Or would an old Thompson (about same as Sail Rite) be better. (no zig zag.) I know you don 't like multipliable questions on here but I am going to throw one more at you. I really admire the handy work and talent of many of you fellows on here and the time it takes to make an item. But my question is, how can you make any money on that when you can go to a flea market or Facebook and buy a nice wallet or belt for $7. How do you market your product? I am 81, self employed for 50 years, owned my own business but a few months ago I sold it on Doctor advice, as I was just too old to be doing manual labor. So I am just looking for something I can do till they plant me on boot hill.