Singer 292 Or Walking Foot Machine?

[sproggy]

I live in Thailand and am about to buy my first sewing machine. I've been advised to buy a used Singer 292. I have read about the benefits of a walking foot machine and am quite intrigued to use this for sewing leather bags mostly from chrome tanned leathers. However, I would like to have the ability to make some non-leather items from materials such as canvas or even light weight cotton (such as a packaging bag for the leather bags) and I am told that a walking foot machine will not be able to sew the lighter weight material which is why the Singer has been nominated. Understanding my dilemma, does anyone have a recommendation? I'm not sure what kind of walking foot machines they have available but I'm pretty sure they have some Mitsubishis in their warehouse. Is my only real option two machines?

The other question with the machine is the clutch motor or a used Panasonic servo (I don't know the model). The price for the Singer with the clutch motor is about $300 and the same machine with the used Panasonic servo is about $500.

Thanks in advance for any help and happy sewing all!

Sproggy

[Wizcrafts]

There are ways to "dumb down" a walking foot machine, to allow it to sew thinner cloth. It will never be as smooth at it as a bottom feed only garment machine. But, a garment machine cannot be smartened up enough to sew real leather. In reality, you may need two different machines: one for leather; one for cloth.

Try a walking foot first and see if it can sew your cloth bags.

[sproggy]

Thanks, Wiz, you're amazing at helping folks. I'll do what you say and try to sew the light material with the walking foot. I'm going back on Monday; they've got to pull the machines out of storage. This shop even has some Pffafs (sp?) and Adlers kicking about.

Is the Singer 292 a nice machine? I couldn't find amy info on the site here using the search function so I'm assuming it's not used much in the States...or else it's dog...?

[Wizcrafts]

I think that the Singer 292 is just another high speed, straight stitch, garment factory machine. Expect to sew at 5000 stitches per minute (83/second) to keep the oil circulating to the extremities. The stitch length will be about 8 to the inch, using #46 bonded, or T50 cotton thread. It is meant for flat work cloth.

[sproggy]

That just sounds scary! I think when I mention to these people that I would like the ability to sew light fabric that I'm skewing the argument the wrong way. My main focus is making bags, leather with cotton lining (some veg, mostly chrome tanned) and from canvas or other similarly thick fabric. I will give them a call and in my best Thai ask them to prep a triple-feed walking foot for Monday (the #1 on your list of walking foot machines) so I can take a look. It seems to me I would be better off spending my money for a good walking foot machine and maybe later on getting a lesser single foot for the light material if needed. I'm not planning on making thousands of items of anything so I don't need the best machine ever made with the highest price take. I think middle of the road is adequate.

Thanks so much Wiz. I'll report back on what transpires.

Cheers, sproggy

[Wizcrafts]

What I would do in your situation is buy a walking foot machine to sew the leather parts together. Then buy a good quality domestic sewing machine, new or used, to sew the linings and cloth interiors together. Join the already sewn interiors to the leather edges on the w.f. machine. You may be able to do the interiors with a straight stitch machine, which could be an old iron Singer with the motor on the back. I have three domestic machines at home that are only used for light duty flatwork cloth sewing. When business picks up you can buy an industrial straight stitch machine.

[sproggy]

Wiz, that's sort of exactly what my brain had reasoned in the last 24 hours and your post confirms it. I'm assuming tomorrow they're going to show me a Mitsubishi w.f. machine as that's what seem to be prevalent at their shop. I have looked at your pics of your National so I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to tell if it's a compound triple feed or not. I haven't been able to get that translated into Thai so it might be tough to communicate what exactly I want. I would think I can get a used Juki or Chinese brand straight stitch pretty cheaply.

On to the servo motor. I saw the Techsew 550 servo motor sells new for only $149 (I had assumed it would be far more expensive...but of course I'm in Thailand not in Canada or US and the voltage here is 220, anyhow). They are asking more than twice that for this used Panasonic servo (as of yet I know nothing about it other than the brand and price). But seeing that the Techsew is so cheap it's making me confused as to what to do and why the high price (though since Panasonic is Japanese it's got a higher import price to Thailand). They do mention that I could get a new Chinese made servo for about $140 but they didn't seem too keen on the quality. As I mentioned, I'm pretty inexperienced with sewing and don't want to be cursing all the time as I ruin another piece of leather due to too much speed.

[Wizcrafts]

Sproggy;

You can see my National 300N walking foot machine in close up action, on YouTube (link). All real walking foot machines work like this one. The feed dog on the bottom (not shown) works in concert with the moving needle and inside "vibrating foot" to move the material, as the outside presser foot lifts to let it go.

When you go to the dealer to look at machines, this is the action you want. They may try to steer you towards a less expensive machine that has dual feed: feed dog on bottom and claw teeth on outside presser foot. Avoid it like the plague if you intend to sew leather that would be ruined by tooth marks on top.

Edited June 8, 2014 by Wizcrafts

[Wizcrafts]

As for the motors, try out various machines that are equipped with different motors. When you find happiness, ask how much that motor will be with the machine head you are going to buy. The whole package will be assembled for you and setup. You should ask for basic starter instructions, so you don't jam the machine or sew your fingers together.

It may turn out that the motor you like best costs more than the one they normally sell on out the door machines. Pay the extra money to get the better motor.

[sproggy]

Awesome Wiz! I'm going to show them that video tomorrow and tell them that's what I need. I'll let you know what happens with the motors. I get the feeling servo's are not so popular here...

You have my gratitude, thanks so much, Sproggy