Mercury 280L/nakajima 280L/juki 241

[mncarpenter]

I'm thinking about answering an ad for a Mercury 280l, which I understand is a clone of a Nakajima 280l and a basically tyhe same machine as a Juki 241.Does anyone have any experience with these machines, I'm thinking of using it for pancake holsters, belts, mag pouches. I would like to be able to sew with a minumum of 207 wt thread. I'd appreciate any input, info on the Innernet is sparse on these machines, I spose because they are kind of out dated? thanks in advance for any inout.

[CowboyBob]

We used to sell them years ago & people would break gears in them just trying to sew with #138 thread as a matter of fact it really didn't matter what size thread just sewing with the machine caused them to break.The gears are almost impossible to find.

Get Juki , Nakajima or Consew if you want to avoid problems.

Bob

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Get Juki , Nakajima or Consew if you want to avoid problems.

Bob

Like Bob says, Mercury is one of the very worst branded machines I've ever seen, and that's saying somthing these days at this point. RUN!

Edited November 15, 2011 by Gregg From Keystone Sewing

[Wizcrafts]

As for thread handling capacity, I have a National 300N, which is similar to the Nakajima 280. It maxes out at #207 thread, but sews better with #138 thread. The maximum sewing thickness of the stock machine is 3/8 inch.

[mncarpenter]

I'm runnung away from this one, I've been reading the threads in this forum and you folks know what you're talking about. glad I asked first, Thank you , gentlemen