Trying To Choose Between Some Starter Machines

[summerfabian]

• REX 11-155R
• Adler 2670
• Juki DNU-1541S
• Consew 227: This is a cylinder arm machine but I could use it for garment leather right?
• Singer 31-15
• Singer 20-33

I'm trying to make a good choice!

Thanks for your help and advice on which would be the best choice.

Maybe rank them?

Cheers,

Summer

[earthling33]

I'll throw in my 2 cents worth, and that's probably all it's worth.

I bought a Juki DNU 1541s last spring and I can tell you it's built like a tank (in a good way). I haven't used it as much as I would like because my real job has kept me overly-busy, plus I am a complete newbie at sewing. So far I have sewed up a new vinyl motorcycle seat cover and I put a new zipper in my leather motorcycle jacket. It handled those jobs like they were nothing. I have done some practice sewing on scrap leather, and I have no doubt that it will handle any upholstery or purse leather or two or more layers of veg tan tooling leather. Those are the jobs I have in mind to use it for.

The safety feature is nice. I jambed a bobbin (my own fault because I didn't push it in far enough, doh.) and I thought I broke the machine. It made a bang and then the needle stopped moving even thought the motor was turning the wheel. I checked around to find someone who worked on industrial sewing machines and found a retired guy who came to my house. He only charged me $25, and also made some minor adjustments. Very reasonable. It turned out that the safety mechanisim kicked it out of gear. I learned that I had to depress a button and spin the wheel backwards and the drive engaged again. My little booboo might have cost me some big bucks if it hadn't been for the safety mechanism. That one incident justified my decision to go with the Juki.

The 1541s only does straight stitch. I saw that one of the Singers does a zig-zag. So if zig zag isn't important to you, then I would vote for the Juki. I know that it will do everything that I want it to. Speaking of the bobbin, the Juki bobbin inserts underneath. Some bobbins insert by popping up a plate on the sewing deck and inserting from the top. I don't know if the other machines you listed have that feature, but it might be a little handier. Still, I'm happy with the Juki.

<Edit>

I thought of a few more things. I looked up the Consew 227 and tried to imagine sewing the zipper into my motorcycle jacket on a cylindar arm. I don't see how I could do it. You probably know more about sewing than I do, but if you plan to sew garments, then I would stick with a flat bed machine. The cylindar arm would certainly be handy in some situations, (bags and purses?) but I wouldn't want it for regular garment sewing.

Accessories for the Juki are common and easy to find. I bought walking feet, bobbins and other stuff on Ebay and Amazon. I'm sure the other machines have easy to find parts, but I'm just saying that it's no problem with Juki. You might check to see which machines and brands you can get serviced in your area. Check with the local sewing shops that sell sewing machines and find out who works on industrial sewing machines. Tent and awning shops might give you advice about service.

If you happen to decide on the Juki, keep in touch and we can compare notes.

Edited August 31, 2014 by earthling33

[jack2stitch]

I'll throw in my 2 cents worth, and that's probably all it's worth.

I bought a Juki DNU 1541s last spring and I can tell you it's built like a tank (in a good way). I haven't used it as much as I would like because my real job has kept me overly-busy, plus I am a complete newbie at sewing. So far I have sewed up a new vinyl motorcycle seat cover and I put a new zipper in my leather motorcycle jacket. It handled those jobs like they were nothing. I have done some practice sewing on scrap leather, and I have no doubt that it will handle any upholstery or purse leather or two or more layers of veg tan tooling leather. Those are the jobs I have in mind to use it for.

The safety feature is nice. I jambed a bobbin (my own fault because I didn't push it in far enough, doh.) and I thought I broke the machine. It made a bang and then the needle stopped moving even thought the motor was turning the wheel. I checked around to find someone who worked on industrial sewing machines and found a retired guy who came to my house. He only charged me $25, and also made some minor adjustments. Very reasonable. It turned out that the safety mechanisim kicked it out of gear. I learned that I had to depress a button and spin the wheel backwards and the drive engaged again. My little booboo might have cost me some big bucks if it hadn't been for the safety mechanism. That one incident justified my decision to go with the Juki.

The 1541s only does straight stitch. I saw that one of the Singers does a zig-zag. So if zig zag isn't important to you, then I would vote for the Juki. I know that it will do everything that I want it to. Speaking of the bobbin, the Juki bobbin inserts underneath. Some bobbins insert by popping up a plate on the sewing deck and inserting from the top. I don't know if the other machines you listed have that feature, but it might be a little handier. Still, I'm happy with the Juki.

<Edit>

I thought of a few more things. I looked up the Consew 227 and tried to imagine sewing the zipper into my motorcycle jacket on a cylindar arm. I don't see how I could do it. You probably know more about sewing than I do, but if you plan to sew garments, then I would stick with a flat bed machine. The cylindar arm would certainly be handy in some situations, (bags and purses?) but I wouldn't want it for regular garment sewing.

Accessories for the Juki are common and easy to find. I bought walking feet, bobbins and other stuff on Ebay and Amazon. I'm sure the other machines have easy to find parts, but I'm just saying that it's no problem with Juki. You might check to see which machines and brands you can get serviced in your area. Check with the local sewing shops that sell sewing machines and find out who works on industrial sewing machines. Tent and awning shops might give you advice about service.

If you happen to decide on the Juki, keep in touch and we can compare notes.

Hi, I'm just a beginner on a small budget. I looked hard and wanted the juki1541s while getting a machine. I want to do Motorcycle seat covers also.

I couldn't afford the juki and was warned away from the TYPICAL knock-off of it.

I opted for the CHANDLER 406 rb-1. New, in my price range. Chinese (gamble) and now the Consew is built there I heard. Don't know much about sewing, I've been working on setting it up. Has a 10mm stitch and a safety clutch. I jammed it also. It seems to work well even with #135 thread.

There are many used ones on e bay.

[Northmount]

You can add a flat bed adapter to a cylinder arm machine to use it as a flat bed. But you can't convert a flatbed to a cylinder arm. Nice to be able to reach inside to do purses, bags, etc.

Domestics are just that. For leather, get an industrial machine that has been setup for leather.

Tom