Advice About 2 Different Machines Please

[mendedbowl]

I need a machine to sew wallets and belts and maybe a small bag now and then. I'm considering a Pfaff 463 or a Singer 111G walking foot. I know nothing about sewing machines, so I was hoping someone familiar with these machines would share with me the pros and cons of each. Are they suitable for my needs? or should I be considering a new/different machine?

Thanks for any help,

ken

[Wizcrafts]

I need a machine to sew wallets and belts and maybe a small bag now and then. I'm considering a Pfaff 463 or a Singer 111G walking foot. I know nothing about sewing machines, so I was hoping someone familiar with these machines would share with me the pros and cons of each. Are they suitable for my needs? or should I be considering a new/different machine?

Thanks for any help,

ken

That Pfaff 463 is a very high speed, flat foot, bottom feed, garment machine. It can be used for sewing soft, but not sticky leather with thin thread. You would need a roller foot conversion to sew sticky leather, and would need to slow it way down. But, it will probably not be the right machine for belts. The Singer 111 with a walking foot will sew everything you mentioned. You can buy a small 2" pulley if it runs to fast for you.

[mendedbowl]

Thanks Wizcrafts,

I'll scratch the Pfaff from my list and go kick the tires on the Singer. Is there anything I need to check out on a used 111G? what's an appropriate price range?

thanks again,

ken

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks Wizcrafts,

I'll scratch the Pfaff from my list and go kick the tires on the Singer. Is there anything I need to check out on a used 111G? what's an appropriate price range?

thanks again,

ken

A Singer 111G in good condition should not sell for much more than $300 to $350. If it is in mint condition, maybe $500. If poor condition, $200. These are now very old machines, but parts are plentiful and not too expensive.

Do kick its tires, with your leather and the thickest thread they or you have. It should be able to sew with #138 thread, with a #22 or #23 needle, through 5/16" of belt leather.

All of those machines shipped with clutch motors, usually 1/2 horsepower. If the machine was sold to an upholstery shop, it probably has a 3.5 or 4 inch motor pulley. This will not be easy to control at slower speeds required for sewing leather. You can buy a 2" or 2 1/4" replacement pulley and a shorter v-belt online, or from our dealers, for about $20 shipped (for both). A dealer can help you decide what size belt you'll need, after you tell him what is on the motor now.

Or, you can save a lot of hassles and buy a SewPro 500GR like I use and have perfect speed control from zero to 1500 rpm.

Edited March 3, 2011 by Wizcrafts

[Art]

Hi Ken,

the Singer 111G is essentially the same as the Consew 226, both are unison feed (needle feed walking foot) and use the same feet (there are 100s of different feet for those machines). These machines are used all over the industry, also a Singer 211 is pretty good. Make sure that the machine is tight, needle bar and other reciprocating parts, and neat (not sloppy or have a lot of "take up" in the drive mechanism). Figure on replacing the motor with a reduction unit to slow it down. If you need a cylinder arm, the Singer 153w102 or 103 is good for cheap. Should be able to get any of these in great shape for under $500, but right now (economy) I would imagine considerably less.

Art

Thanks Wizcrafts,

I'll scratch the Pfaff from my list and go kick the tires on the Singer. Is there anything I need to check out on a used 111G? what's an appropriate price range?

thanks again,

ken

[mendedbowl]

Wow! thanks Art and Wizcrafts,

great info. now i know the Singer is priced way too high for me to bother driving to see it.

I'll keep everything you both have said in mind as I continue to look around. Maybe I should save and get something new. I still have lots to learn.

Thanks for the help,

ken