truenorth Report post Posted October 23, 2014 I know that the ddls are not for leather sewing but i need a straight stich machine for general sewing I found a couple localy ones a DDL 5550 and the other is a DDL 5530 they seem the same any body know whats the difference?There are some other DDL's that have a N at the end is this the safety clutch?Juki has so many subclasses it seems very confusing, can any body shine some light?thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truenorth Report post Posted October 24, 2014 Theres gotta be a Juki specialist here! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truenorth Report post Posted October 24, 2014 Ok narrowed it down to ddl 5550 and the 555 whats the difference? one is rounded and one is square?thanks for any help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truenorth Report post Posted October 25, 2014 Anybody? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted October 26, 2014 I guess what you are finding is that being a leather sewing forum, nobody here uses those garment machines. You would be better off contacting an industrial sewing machine dealer who carries Juki machines. I know that Raphael/Techsew is a Juki dealer, located in Montreal. They are also an advertiser here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biglew Report post Posted October 26, 2014 you know its kinda funny but I have a couple machines that are walking foot machines for leatherwork at home.. but then I get a job working in a professional leather environment and they use smaller machines with a needle feed... or unison feed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted October 26, 2014 I have a Singer 31-15 at home that I use for garments and flat work sewing. It has a wide range of presser feet available, including a full roller foot conversion. Although it's manually oiled, the machine is still capable of spinning at over 30 stitches per second, into denim. A Juki DDL-8500 would be nicer, but I have no commercial need for such a machine in my situation. Still, the thought of controlling a sewing machine capable of sewing 90 stitches per second stirs my imagination. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tejas Report post Posted October 26, 2014 Here is a link to an instruction manual for the 5550 and 5530. On page 7 there is a specification page that shows differences. http://www.allbrands.com/images2/common/DDL-5550DDL-553InstructionManual.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gottaknow Report post Posted October 27, 2014 The main thing to note on both of these models is they are drop-feed machines. With a drop feed machine, only the feed dogs move the fabric. The needle simply moves up and down. A needle-feed machines needle bar moves in unison with the feed dogs, giving a more positive feed. There are plenty of uses in a factory and other sewing tasks for a drop feed machine. We don't use them much because a needle feed offers a lot more versatility in a factory setting where the machine is used on multiple styles and operations. Drop feed machines will normally cost less than a needle feed. I personally like a drop feed machine on very flimsy materials. Nylon, rayon, polyester, mesh, most knits. With a very fine tooth feed dog and a Teflon foot, I can get silk to sew flat as a pancake. The tension units can also be run very light. Regards, Eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truenorth Report post Posted October 27, 2014 Ok guys this is what I was after, Eric you just made up my mind not to get this type of machine I was looking to get something to use for thinner leather a machine that i can put a roller foot on, just for decorative stitching do you recomend any pariticular machine?Thanks for everyones input just a great bunch of folks here! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pcox Report post Posted October 27, 2014 The gospel according to Eric. Thanks Eric, Been missing your post. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gottaknow Report post Posted October 27, 2014 I do keep up on my reading here daily, but my time at the moment is scarce. Since going to work for Filson, I have been apprenticing a full time mechanic and adding additional equipment like crazy. I'm loving it though. I'm hoping to get more time to post this winter, I still love this forum! My favorite needle feed machine for light to medium weight goods is the Singer 281-22. They are readily available used for just a few hundred dollars and with a servo retrofit, well worth it. We still use these 60's era workhorses in the factory. Make sure if you find a 281, it's subclass is 22. The other 281's are drop feed. They will handle a very wide variety of materials that don't require a walking foot machine. Our newer needle feeds are the Juki 5410's. I've recently ordered 10 more of the Juki 9000 series heavy needle feeds for sewing heavy wool. And thanks for the kind words. Regards, Eric Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
