Machine for part time sail repair business

[dikman]

I don't know how it compares in Canada (I'm in Australia) but when I looked at buying a 441 clone from China I found the prices were very good but by the time I added on all the other costs - shipping, duties, taxes, various handling costs, broker fees etc - there were no savings to be made, the cost was the same as buying one here. And shipping-wise we are closer to China than Canada is!

Plus any guarantee/warranty is also pretty useless, you'll be basically on your own.

[kgg]

2 hours ago, Jeff96 said:

I understand you get what you pay for, but I don't want to work all my time off to pay for a machine 

That's the catch 22 part of getting the right machine. Depending on much work you want to take on or how long you want to continue on doing those projects buying the right machine that will do the job better or faster I think is the way to go. If you don't have the proper equipment simple things can become major hassles. Buying clone equipment without dealer support can become a nightmare should you need parts or support down the road. Then it's the resale value to to consider. A relatively unknown clone machine will not command anywhere near the same price as a brand name machine. 

1 hour ago, dikman said:

I don't know how it compares in Canada (I'm in Australia) but when I looked at buying a 441 clone from China I found the prices were very good but by the time I added on all the other costs - shipping, duties, taxes, various handling costs, broker fees etc - there were no savings to be made, the cost was the same as buying one here.

Basically the same. The shipping cost depending on size and weight can run about the same cost as what you paid for the machine when you are just purchasing one of's. Then add in the duties and brokerage fees and the 13 percent tax on top of everything.

kgg

[MtlBiker]

15 hours ago, Jeff96 said:

I don't think I've seen a walking foot at a professional sail loft. We didn't have one at Sobstad Sailmakers and I didn't have one, and I made some pretty big sails. A feed roller is much more desirable for sails

Thanks for that.  I believe you but I would have never imagined that a compound walking foot wouldn't be really desired for the multiple layers of sail material.

 

[Jeff96]

4 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

Thanks for that.  I believe you but I would have never imagined that a compound walking foot wouldn't be really desired for the multiple layers of sail material.

 

The layers are taped together with basting tape, so it all goes through as a single piece