Adler 669 questions

[EastIDBruin]

I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on a Durkopp Adler 669 but have some setup questions.  For starters, does anyone know if the Classic Silverline or Goldline can be purchased or modified with a speed reducer?  If not, I would definitely opt for the ECO version.  I just like the idea of having a pneumatic foot lift.  Can the pneumatic foot lift and LED lights be added to an ECO?  Also, is there anything I need to consider if I want to sew bindings?  Thank you.

[shoepatcher]

ok  I have a 669eco.  The 669 is the best machine in its class in the world.  Only Seiko makes a copy of it and it is not as good for about the same price.  i can tell you who has the best price on it. 

You can add a air foot lift to the 669 eco.  I have done it and I can walk you thru setting it up.    You can use a speed reducer on a 669 eco with a servo motor but cannot add needle positioner because the speed reducer screws with the needle positioner sensors.   You can add LED lights to it.  I have 2 different lights on the machine.

You can sewing bindings with the machine but that means new feet, throat plate and feed dog plus the binder.  You can make it a symmetrical feed binder.  contact me.

glenn

Edited April 27 by shoepatcher
grammar

[EastIDBruin]

@shoepatcher, PM sent

[Uwe]

It would be nice to share these upgrades, modifications, and tips for all to see. 

[HeckBerry]

Hi,

Is there a way to alter the setup of the 669 eco to use it for clothes instead leather?

Thanks in advance.

[Wizcrafts]

21 hours ago, HeckBerry said:

Hi,

Is there a way to alter the setup of the 669 eco to use it for clothes instead leather?

Thanks in advance.

Yes. A dealer can do it for you. Here are the operating instructions at D.A. Or, somebody who owns one and has done the mods may chime in and tell you what must be done to sew fabrics.

The main problem is that the 669 is a triple/compound feed walking foot machine. Due to the way the feet alternate and the inside foot actually presses directly on the moving feed dog, light fabrics may be forced into the feed dog hole, ruining the job. I speculate that unless the hole in the feed dog is very small, only clearing a #22 needle, this is likely to happen. However, if you are going to sew cloth that has some body, like denim, it could resist being pushed into the hole, or the large rectangular slot it rides in.

To add some experience to this point, I was sewing garment leather belts and straps at a friend's shop, about a decade ago. The machine was a Cobra Class 4, which is an extremely heavy duty leather stitcher. I was using #138 bonded nylon thread and a #23 leather point needle. It was very difficult to keep the sides from getting pushed into the rectangular slot during edge stitching, especially when it came to the tips. They were constantly getting pushed into the gap, or the wide oblong hole in the feed dog, ruining the stitch line and wasting a lot of time. To solve this problem my friend had a machinist cut down a spare feed dog to 1/4" wide, then he made a new throat plate with a narrower slot. Nowadays, owners of the big Cowboy, Cobra and Techsew 441 clones can buy ready made narrow feed dog and.throat plate sets that allow them to sew thin and floppy work. Some of these aftermarket feed dogs have much smaller needle holes that the material wouldn't get shoved into as easily.

I have to ask, do you really want a compound feed walking foot machine if your primary use is sewing fabrics? Wouldn't a flat foot bottom feed machine be better suited? Most garments are made and repaired on bottom feeders. Every tailor shop uses bottom feed straight stitch machines for alterations. My Dad had a Singer 31-15 in his tailor shop. I learned to sew on it.