Yamata Gc 8500 High Speed Lock Stitch 3400 Rpm 5500 Stitches/minute 5/16 Max Thickness

[benlilly1]

Anyone know much about these machines? Thanks

[Wizcrafts]

That is a super-high-speed, bottom fed garment sewing machine. It could be useful in a dress shop, for making gowns and formal wear, or for hemming pants in 5 seconds. It sews a maximum of 6 stitches per inch and uses the standard garment machine needle system DBx1. The largest needle it takes is a #18, which is best used with #69 bonded nylon thread. It may possibly take and tension #92 thread, but that is pushing it. I has an automatic oiler system, which works best at higher speeds only.

Are you planning on making cloth garments with this machine?

[benlilly1]

Nope, thought it might work for leather. It was posted on my local Craigslist for $300. Thanks Wizcrafts!

[gottaknow]

I'd avoid Yamata's all together. Sure, they're ok for putt putt operations but the first thing to go are the needle bar bushings. After that happens, the hook gets taken out and it's downhill from there. They simply don't put enough graphite in their bushings. A lot of the early Japanese machines and the current Chinese machines have the same issues. I have Singers from the 50's and 60's that have been used hard and their bushings are tighter than 5 year old Yamatas. Just because a manufacturer says a machine will sew 5000 spm, doesn't mean they will for very long. I run my Juki 5410's (a Singer 211 clone) at 3800 spm. They run wide open, 8 hours a day. Even at that speed, the hook oiler throws so much oil I've made guards to keep the operators legs dry. Turn the oilers down and the hooks get too warm. I would hesitate to buy anything you can't sit down and sew on first. 30 some years ago, you could find a mechanic from a factory who worked on the side. I still do that after 33 years. Factories are few and far between now. Techs that work on home machines simply haven't been exposed to enough industrials. If you have an experienced leather worker (don't forget about shoe repair shops) or upholstery shop nearby, those folks get pretty good because their living depends on it. Best of luck.

Regards, Eric