Cletonius Report post Posted October 15, 2012 First post, sorry to go through this for the millionth time but I need some help. I am starting out in upholstery and will be working with leather for automotive applications. I am considering the consew 206rb, 226, 255, singer 111, chandler 406, and the tech sew 106. They all look to be roughly equivalent, and since there isn't a review website for industrial equipment... All of these machines say that they support thread sizes up to about 210. I would like to use a 270 bonded nylon for top stitching, will these machines handle it? They all state up to a size 24 needle so I'm thinking maybe, but I dont want to break anything. I have the thread and have been hand sewing with it because my commercial machine won't do it. I want to be sure the machine I buy will do what I need. I have about $1k to spend and have found a bunch of these machines within a 2 hour drive on Craigslist in the $500-$900 range. I'm in Chicago and have no preference dealer/private party. Sorry if this is long winded, I would really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks in advance! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Techsew Ron Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Simply put, flatbed walking foot machines designed for upholstery and leather work will not be able to use 270 thread. The highest you can go is #24 needle and 210 thread. There are machines that can use up to 415 thread and even higher (such as ga5 and 441 clones), however these are not really ideal for upholstery applications. Ron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Since you want to do uph type of work w/277 you need to look @ Singer 144w ,Consew 744 or Adler 220,221 type of machine. Anyone of the above will even use #346 if needed. HTH Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Sounds like I would be better off just using a smaller thread. Will 210 be suitable for topstitching details into seats? I don't want to get something suited for only large threads and limit the type of work I can do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted October 15, 2012 (edited) Edit: Of the choices I mentioned in the OP, is there a compelling reason to choose or not choose a specific machine? I would really like the consew 206 but have found numerous 226 and 255 models on Craigslist in the $500-700 range. What differences are there besides bobbin loading? Would the nakjima 280L be comparable? Sorry to ask so many questions, I feel like I'm going cross eyed reading all the specification lists. Edited October 15, 2012 by Cletonius Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Yes,if that's what you want to do is topstitch seats even 138 is plenty large enough.The Nakajima 280 isn't the best machine for large thread.Get a Singer 111w,211,Consew 225,226,255,206,Juki 562,563. There really isn't much difference between the above models except bobbin size & where it loads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Great, thanks! Anything I should be on the lookout for when checking these out? If I get one from a dealer I know it'll work but it would be nice to save a few bucks and go private party, I just don't want to get burned. I haven't ever used one of these so I don't known how to set it up or what to check. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted October 15, 2012 What about the Pfaff 145? I found one locally in working order with a clutch motor for $750. I have arranged to check it out because I've read that this is a good machine. However I have also read that parts are prohibitively expensive. Is this true? Should I avoid it or would this be preferable to any of the others mentioned? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Yes,parts are alittle more than the other machines,so are the feet,all the above machines I mentioned take the same feet so they are inexpensive Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted October 15, 2012 Ok, thank you. I may end up with a consew just based on parts cost/availability Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted October 15, 2012 That's probably your best choice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted November 5, 2012 I came across a gently used singer 211g166 with table, servo motor, and a big box of feet/bobbins for $1000 picked up. Was serviced before being put up for sale. I think its a pretty good deal, and was planning to offer somewhere around $800. Seems like most other machines in this range go for about $750 freshly refurbished. What's something like this worth? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbob Report post Posted November 9, 2012 Send me a PM, I have a nice Singer 211G155 for sale... Thanks James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted November 9, 2012 PM sent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletonius Report post Posted November 13, 2012 Picked up the 211g166, thanks everyone for the help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
