Can you help me understand the difference between the juki LS 1341 and the juki DSC 246?

[alpine luddite]

I need some help distinguishing the main differences of the 2 juki cylinder arm machines. i prefer the bobbin arrangement of the 246. I sew backpacks, so need this machine for sewing in bottoms, doing some repairs, binging round bottoms and items with tight corners, sewing collars ect. I used a 246-7 earlier this year and was impressed, and the swing away binder attachment worked well, though i have no need for -7 version. i do not want a dedicated binder for this machine. 

Advanced sewing has both models available used and trying to make the most informed decision i can. on the pictured 246-6 they offered to set it up as a manual machine, new motoor with needle positioning.

my work is at alpineluddites.com if you want to see exactly what i build. i did buy a Pfaff 355 a few years ago and it didn't have pull i needed and kept breaking needles. i sold it to a leather worker.

 

thank you

[toxo]

I'm no expert but at first glance it looks like the 246 has a moving plate on the arm which is usually found on binding machines. possibly the feed dog movement is side to side rather than an oval movement which gives more control over more types of material.

[kgg]

1 hour ago, alpine luddite said:

i did buy a Pfaff 355 a few years ago and it didn't have pull i needed and kept breaking needles. i sold it to a leather worker.

The Juki DSC-246:

i) dsc-246 hand lift is 9mm and by knee is 15mm vs Juki LS-1341 hand lift is 9mm and by knee is 16mm

ii) the thread ranges on the dsc-246 uses needles sized from 90 to 160 (#14 to #23) so that means it should handle V46 to V138 in thinner items vs Juki L-1341 needle size of 100 to 180 (#16 to #24) which means it can handle V69 to V138 in heavier stuff or V207 in thin. 

iii) the max stitch length is 6mm for both machines

iv) use a "M" style bobbin for both machines  dsc-246 loads from the cylinder arm front vs ls-1341 loads from the cylinder arm top

v) cylinder arm diameter is smaller on the dsc-246 then the LS-1341

vi) Since we all jam up a machine at some point in time the LS-1341 has a safety clutch while I don't think the DSC-246 has one.

In a nut shell if you need / want to use with thicker thread and with heavier / thicker items or seams buy a LS-1341. If you want a binding machine buy the DSC-246. Parts / accessories for the DSC-246 are not as common as for the LS-1341. I sort think of the LS-1341 as the cylinder bed version of the DNU-1541S flatbed.

How much are they asking for the machines??

Keep in mind you may want to consider a new LS-1341 clone for about $2700. I would like to know if these machines were used in a commercial environment or by a hobbyist. If they were used in a commercial environment then I would be very wary as they would more then likely have been rode hard and put away wet.

kgg

 

 

[alpine luddite]

5 minutes ago, kgg said:

The Juki DSC-246:

i) dsc-246 hand lift is 9mm and by knee is 15mm vs Juki LS-1341 hand lift is 9mm and by knee is 16mm

ii) the thread ranges on the dsc-246 uses needles sized from 90 to 160 (#14 to #23) so that means it should handle V46 to V138 in thinner items vs Juki L-1341 needle size of 100 to 180 (#16 to #24) which means it can handle V69 to V138 in heavier stuff or V207 in thin. 

iii) the max stitch length is 6mm for both machines

iv) use a "M" style bobbin for both machines  dsc-246 loads from the cylinder arm front vs ls-1341 loads from the cylinder arm top

v) cylinder arm diameter is smaller on the dsc-246 then the LS-1341

vi) Since we all jam up a machine at some point in time the LS-1341 has a safety clutch while I don't think the DSC-246 has one.

In a nut shell if you need / want to use with thicker thread and with heavier / thicker items or seams buy a LS-1341. If you want a binding machine buy the DSC-246. Parts / accessories for the DSC-246 are not as common as for the LS-1341. I sort think of the LS-1341 as the cylinder bed version of the DNU-1541S flatbed.

How much are they asking for the machines??

Keep in mind you may want to consider a new LS-1341 clone for about $2700. I would like to know if these machines were used in a commercial environment or by a hobbyist. If they were used in a commercial environment then I would be very wary as they would more then likely have been rode hard and put away wet.

kgg

 

 

the 1341 is $1600, the 246 is $2600. new motors. both used in production. new 246 is around $6000.

[alpine luddite]

7 minutes ago, kgg said:

 

Keep in mind you may want to consider a new LS-1341 clone for about $2700.

 

 

i bought a clone 1341 from techsew and it was not great. it had little flaws, like the half length bobbin spring lever that i could never open without a tool. the binder attachment didn't fit well. didn't sew well compared my flatbed juki machines, 2810, 1541s, 1540. i used a new juki 246-7 this spring and was blown away by the difference in sewing quality and ease of use compared to my techsew clone. i am not knocking techsew, many people seem to love them but mine wasn't what i expected.

[kgg]

3 minutes ago, alpine luddite said:

both used in production.

For me since both were used in a production environment I would pass as I have see a couple that looked in very good shape exterior wise but the internals were on there last legs needing almost a complete rebuild.  

I find that Juki machines built in Japan have a better build quality then those that are made in China. If you are going to get the use out of a machine take some of your stuff to a Juki dealer. Test ride the LS-1341 and the DSC-246. That said you really can't compare a used machine against a new one, just to many possible variables. 

When it comes to binding I am presently using a Techsew 2750 Pro and previous to that a KOBE 1341. I stupidly sold the KOBE but the Techsew does work. However I 3D printed table tops that allow me to use standard inline attachments so I can use all flatbeds attachments on my cylinder arm machines (class 314/1341 and 441).

kgg

[WoVo]

The DSC -246 is basically a Pfaff 335 clone with very similar capabilities. 

So if the 335 didn't fit your type of work, you should expect the same for the 246...

[alpine luddite]

5 hours ago, WoVo said:

The DSC -246 is basically a Pfaff 335 clone with very similar capabilities. 

So if the 335 didn't fit your type of work, you should expect the same for the 246...

interesting. the Juki 246 I used was bear of a machine. we used it to bind seams on 10 packs during a class and had much stronger pull than i remember the pfaff having.

[eblanche]

Hi John, I also make backpacks and use a 246. To start, for perspective, I paid ~$2500 for my machine with table, servo w/ needle positioner, and a couple other items towards the beginning of 2025. This was with a local guy. These are not too common, Unft. I did not pay for shipping but the fella who found the machine for me in PA did replace a few parts including the hook with Genuine Juki parts. This was a newer style 246, not the older style as is the one you are currently looking at.

 

I can confirm it can easily handle 14 needle and v46 thread. With the fabric you tend to use, you will have no problems even with just two layers but IMO two layers of ~150-210d is about the min I think it could easily handle unless you spend the BIG BUCKS for the extra small needle hole JUKI feed dogs. 

The 246, when not setup as synchronized binder, uses an elliptical style feed dog (NOT just back and forth) but more an oval shape. As synchronized binder it is simple back and forth motion of the feed dog. I believe the 1341 has the advantage of using a "four-motion" rectangular feed dog for slightly better control of bottom fabric though the needle cycle.

On the 246, if you wanted to switch between regular sewing and synchronized binder, it is only a matter of 10min to swap all parts. If you use non-genuine juki parts, the swap is very much a reasonable cost.

 

The pictured 246-6 is missing an item or two at first glance and top cover of cylinder arm appears misaligned or bent upwards compared to the throat plate. Both parts are easily replaced. As mentioned, the pfaff 335 is similar but both the pfaff and the juki have many different sub classes of those 335/244/245/246 models.

 

Last year, Gary at Forsewing had a number of used 245/246's. Nothing listed on his site right now but might be worth inquiring with him. LA based but it was only $300 for freight at the time of quote.

Edited January 21 by eblanche

[alpine luddite]

12 minutes ago, eblanche said:

Hi John, I also make backpacks and use a 246. To start, for perspective, I paid ~$2500 for my machine with table, servo w/ needle positioner, and a couple other items towards the beginning of 2025. This was with a local guy. These are not too common, Unft. I did not pay for shipping but the fella who found the machine for me in PA did replace a few parts including the hook with Genuine Juki parts. This was a newer style 246, not the older style as is the one you are currently looking at.

 

I can confirm it can easily handle 14 needle and v46 thread. With the fabric you tend to use, you will have no problems even with just two layers but IMO two layers of ~150-210d is about the min I think it could easily handle unless you spend the BIG BUCKS for the extra small needle hole JUKI feed dogs. 

The 246, when not used as a dedicated synchronized binder, uses an elliptical style feed dog (NOT just back and forth) but more an oval shape. As synchronized binder it is simple back and forth motion of the feed dog. I believe the 1341 has the advantage of using a "four-motion" rectangular feed dog for slightly better control of bottom fabric though the needle cycle.

On the 246, if you wanted to switch between regular sewing and synchronized binder, it is only a matter of 10min to swap all parts. If you use non=genuine juki parts, the swap is very much reasonable cost.

 

The pictured 246-6 is missing an item or two at first glance and top cover of cylinder arm appears misaligned or bent upwards compared to the throat plate. Both parts are easily replaced. As mentioned, the pfaff 335 is similar but both the pfaff and the juki have many different sub classes of those 335/244/245/246 models.

 

Last year, Gary at Forsewing had a number of used 245/246's. Nothing listed on his site right now but might be worth inquiring with him. LA based but it was only $300 for freight at the time of quote.

thanks for the reply. the 246 I recently used was a -7 model and brand spanking new. I will check with foresewing. these two are at advanced sewing in pittsburg. 

 

I use heavier fabrics, ultra 400tx, all weights of cordura, 16 oz ballistics, ultra 800tx as well as light dyneema, so have different machines for different weight fabrics. whatever cylinder arm I end up with won't be a full time binder nor used on the lighter fabrics.