walking foot sewing mach''

[terrahyd]

Could some one explain the advantage of walking foot sewing machine????and perhaps bottom feed and top feed????these are novice questons, but I am a novice with sewing machines ......thank you ..Doc...........

[Wizcrafts]

Could some one explain the advantage of walking foot sewing machine????and perhaps bottom feed and top feed????these are novice questons, but I am a novice with sewing machines ......thank you ..Doc...........

Certainly! A Walking Foot machine can actually describe several different types of feed systems, but all have commonalities. Basically, the usual, or typical description refers to a compound feed system, where the feed dog (a device under a slotted cover plate with teeth, that raises and lowers as it moves the material forward or backward), an inside pressor (aka pressure) foot and the needle all move together to move the material without slippage or drag. An outside pressor foot is lowered to hold the material as the needle goes up to form the stitch, then is raised as the needle penetrates and begins to move the work the set stitch length. The inner pressor foot lifts and lowers with the needle and helps stabilize the work and prevent it from puckering as the needle begins to raise up. This alternation of the inner foot raising with the needle up and outer foot raising with the needle down allows the machine to literally walk over higher or lower levels of material, without getting hung up on seams, or multiple layers.

Often, sticky types of leather will drag against a plain upper pressor foot. Multiple layers can separate from the drag. A walking foot compound feed system ensures that the needle pulls all layers together as it moves forward or backward. This is the best system for sewing vinyl and garment/chap leather.

Some harness machines are modified to not use a feed dog at all. The needle does all the feeding. This is a needle feed machine. The pressor foot lifts straight up on these machines as the needle begins to penetrate the material. This takes all upper pressure off of the work, allowing the needle to easily push or pull it the stitch length you have set. Then it comes straight down to secure the work. The lifting pressor foot will clear added layers, just like its compound feed cousins. These are sometimes referred to as jumping foot machines.

The are certain brands of walking foot machine that have the outer foot driven, to push or pull the work in time with the feed dog. These machines have needles that only move up and down. The inner pressor foot also moves with the needle, but does not aid in moving the work. The pressor foot moving in time with the feed dog assures that multiple layers move together. These machines have teeth on the outer foot.

Some older designs have a stationary vertical operating needle and inner lifting foot, with a spring loaded moving outer pressor foot, that gets dragged backward as the feed dog pulls the work back. When the feed dog reached the end of its travel, and the needle starts to penetrate the work, the outer foot lifts and snaps forward. The old Singer 132K6 works like that.

These are the basic types of walking foot machine. Details will vary regarding capabilities, depending on the brand, model and modifications.

To answer the last part of your question, top feed means that a pressor foot does the pulling of the work. The shoe patchers are all top feed machines, all without any feed dogs at all.

Bottom feed means that teeth on a little rack known as a feed dog do the pulling or pushing of the material. The feed dog comes up through slots in the cover plate, under the needle and pressor foot, in time with the machine. They push up and move the work against the pressor foot, which should have just enough pressure to keep the material from slipping, or from lifting with the needle as it makes its way up to form a stitch. Most home sewing machines work on this principle. They also usually have a means of dropping the feed dogs down so they don't make any contact with the material. This allows one to darn or embroider by hand or with special cams. Machines with this addition are called "drop-feed" machines.

Edited January 2, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[Cobra Steve]

Certainly! A Walking Foot machine can actually describe several different types of feed systems, but all have commonalities. Basically, the usual, or typical description refers to a compound feed system, where the feed dog (a device under a slotted cover plate with teeth, that raises and lowers as it moves the material forward or backward), an inside pressor (aka pressure) foot and the needle all move together to move the material without slippage or drag. An outside pressor foot is lowered to hold the material as the needle goes up to form the stitch, then is raised as the needle penetrates and begins to move the work the set stitch length. The inner pressor foot lifts and lowers with the needle and helps stabilize the work and prevent it from puckering as the needle begins to raise up. This alternation of the inner foot raising with the needle up and outer foot raising with the needle down allows the machine to literally walk over higher or lower levels of material, without getting hung up on seams, or multiple layers.

Often, sticky types of leather will drag against a plain upper pressor foot. Multiple layers can separate from the drag. A walking foot compound feed system ensures that the needle pulls all layers together as it moves forward or backward. This is the best system for sewing vinyl and garment/chap leather.

Some harness machines are modified to not use a feed dog at all. The needle does all the feeding. This is a needle feed machine. The pressor foot lifts straight up on these machines as the needle begins to penetrate the material. This takes all upper pressure off of the work, allowing the needle to easily push or pull it the stitch length you have set. Then it comes straight down to secure the work. The lifting pressor foot will clear added layers, just like its compound feed cousins. These are sometimes referred to as jumping foot machines.

The are certain brands of walking foot machine that have the outer foot driven, to push or pull the work in time with the feed dog. These machines have needles that only move up and down. The inner pressor foot also moves with the needle, but does not aid in moving the work. The pressor foot moving in time with the feed dog assures that multiple layers move together. These machines have teeth on the outer foot.

Some older designs have a stationary vertical operating needle and inner lifting foot, with a spring loaded moving outer pressor foot, that gets dragged backward as the feed dog pulls the work back. When the feed dog reached the end of its travel, and the needle starts to penetrate the work, the outer foot lifts and snaps forward. The old Singer 132K6 works like that.

These are the basic types of walking foot machine. Details will vary regarding capabilities, depending on the brand, model and modifications.

To answer the last part of your question, top feed means that a pressor foot does the pulling of the work. The shoe patchers are all top feed machines, all without any feed dogs at all.

Bottom feed means that teeth on a little rack known as a feed dog do the pulling or pushing of the material. The feed dog comes up through slots in the cover plate, under the needle and pressor foot, in time with the machine. They push up and move the work against the pressor foot, which should have just enough pressure to keep the material from slipping, or from lifting with the needle as it makes its way up to form a stitch. Most home sewing machines work on this principle. They also usually have a means of dropping the feed dogs down so they don't make any contact with the material. This allows one to darn or embroider by hand or with special cams. Machines with this addition are called "drop-feed" machines.

Hi terrahyd, I couldn't have said it better. Nice post Wizcrafts! Steve

[terrahyd]

thank you very much for taking the time for such a detailed and complete answer ...I am sure others will gain from it also ..Doc.. I felt the walking foot would be ok for tooled work (less chance of the foot maring the tooled surface) again THANK YOU ....

[Wizcrafts]

thank you very much for taking the time for such a detailed and complete answer ...I am sure others will gain from it also ..Doc.. I felt the walking foot would be ok for tooled work (less chance of the foot maring the tooled surface) again THANK YOU ....

Try to buy a machine with smooth pressor feet, so as to not mark the tooled top grain side. Stay away from spring loaded pressor foot machines, as the foot may slip on the polished top edges of a tooled belt (it happened to me on a Singer 132k6). Look for either a triple feed walking foot, or a needle feed jumping foot machine. Once you decide how much you can afford you can call the various dealers who frequent and advertise on this forum. You will get excellent value for your money and unmatched support and servicing.

In fact, Cobra Steve is one of those dealers. I'm sure he has a machine for you! He wishes he had my Singer 29K172!