How Not To Respond To Advice

[TinkerTailor]

My initial knowledge of sewing came from an ex girlfriend who has been sewing from the age of 15. She started out on a factory floor churning out garments but taught herself patternmaking and eventually developed her own clothing range.

Somewhere in that mix she spend time doing custom work for one of the biggest bondage wear suppliers in Australia. While it is not the most pleasant industry she did learn a lot about sewing odd materials and many is the time she has provided the right answer to difficult questions. It is good to have a partner who can sew and knows about odd materials

Ironically, that was totally on topic......How not to respond to advice: Erroneously publicly state the person giving advice is a specialist in bdsm scene gear......

[Wizcrafts]

Ironically, that was totally on topic......How not to respond to advice: Erroneously publicly state the person giving advice is a specialist in bdsm scene gear......

Funny thing is my partner and I, as a custom shop, do occasionally make strange items from time to time. It's not my specialty, but if it needs to be sewn, I can do it. How much weight it takes before it slips off the boys; that's another matter.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Wizcrafts

[okiwen]

Most certainly meant as a joke and I am sure taken as such. Also, was not asking advice. None the less, Good group of guys...in public and on PM. Back to machines......

A wealth of knowledge to be found through very generous list members.

[Darren Brosowski]

Hey,

We are all a bit mad here.

Must be something that they add to sewng machine oil

Most certainly meant as a joke and I am sure taken as such. Also, was not asking advice. None the less, Good group of guys...in public and on PM. Back to machines......

A wealth of knowledge to be found through very generous list members.

[Constabulary]

I have heard the Chinese tread their thread with "certain" substances but could be the oil as well....

[dikman]

Hey,

We are all a bit mad here.

Must be something that they add to sewng machine oil

Not to mention the glue for sticking leather......wheeee.......

[gottaknow]

I go to the same 35k sq. ft. box everyday and try to make machines sew smoothly at 3800 spm while you guys all get to sew very slow, the slower the better! You all appear very sane to me. Except Uwe, he seems a bit obsessed. 😀

Regards, Eric

[TinkerTailor]

Not to mention the glue for sticking leather......wheeee.......

An old timer told me after you let the contact cement cure for 15 mins, lick both sides and then stick it, it works better.

[okiwen]

I vote for Tinker too. He now seems a bit obsessed with the glue and licking thing. I'm not ok with this anymore. Strangely I feel a bit dirty and I can't place why.....

[Kat Sue]

I'm in Australia and had the local industrial sewing machine shop service two of my second hand singer sewing machines I've been lucky to stumble across. He has strong loyalty to his own brands of sewing machines but as someone in the very early stages of learning and a stay-at-home-mum I can't afford a new one yet. However he got my goat a bit when he tried to tell me my 45k did not have reverse 😳. He was so adamant and I honestly had no idea how to respond without fearing I would sound rude. As green as I am I know how to lift the stitch lever to reverse.

I feel for you getting lumped with so much. Sadly more people need some life education on taking responsibility for their own problems and accepting that rule number 1 is that the problem was their on creation.

[Darren Brosowski]

Kat, we Aussies are generally a relaxed lot and as a seller I respect that. If a customer is happy with their 45k or whatever with no reverse then I am not going to try and sell them a different machine or dump poo on the one that they have.

My only question; Why would you pay someone to service a 45k?

I'm in Australia and had the local industrial sewing machine shop service two of my second hand singer sewing machines I've been lucky to stumble across. He has strong loyalty to his own brands of sewing machines but as someone in the very early stages of learning and a stay-at-home-mum I can't afford a new one yet. However he got my goat a bit when he tried to tell me my 45k did not have reverse . He was so adamant and I honestly had no idea how to respond without fearing I would sound rude. As green as I am I know how to lift the stitch lever to reverse.

I feel for you getting lumped with so much. Sadly more people need some life education on taking responsibility for their own problems and accepting that rule number 1 is that the problem was their on creation.

[Kat Sue]

That's easy Darren. Because I'd never owned anything except a domestic sewing machine. When you don't have someone knowledgable to help you for free then you go and get help from someone who does even if that assistance comes at a small price. The service included me asking 101 questions about the machine set up and maintenance. Better to maintain then repair and quite simply at that stage I had no access to a manual either so was unsure if it was complete (which it wasn't). Why do you find it unusual to have a sewing machine serviced? Don't you seek help when you are learning a new skill or machine? Maybe it's just me. I'm on my 4th industrial/harness sewing machine now and I'm confident in finding manuals and servicing myself now. Plus this site is a great resource when I get lost or need help.

[LumpenDoodle2]

I quite agree with you. When you're starting from scratch it's better to know that the machine does actually work first. That way, at least if thing don't work right, you know it's something you're doing wrong, not a timing fault with the machine.

First industrial machine I owned, someone had really had a go at the camshaft timing, it was miles out, but still stitched (after a fashion). It took me a couple of weeks to realise what the problem was, and it was so frustrating, the sewing machine nearly ended up through the window a couple of times. :-)

[Kat Sue]

That must have been most frustrating. I had enough to deal with learning to use a roller foot for the first time. The last thing any newbie needs is a machine with timing or tension issues. Glad you finally got it sorted and before it went flying out of the window 😊😁.

[Darren Brosowski]

Sorry but the question is pretty much a reflex reaction.

I deal with a lot of 45k's and other older machines. Due to the distances involved between mechanics I usually walk people through what to do with them.

Learning to sort out the minor issues over the phone or by email can teach you exactly how that beast works. The 45k is very simple as you can only adjust the timing by adjusting the needle bar. Sorting the tension starts by pulling it apart and cleaning everything. Cleaning is most of the work!

That's easy Darren. Because I'd never owned anything except a domestic sewing machine. When you don't have someone knowledgable to help you for free then you go and get help from someone who does even if that assistance comes at a small price. The service included me asking 101 questions about the machine set up and maintenance. Better to maintain then repair and quite simply at that stage I had no access to a manual either so was unsure if it was complete (which it wasn't). Why do you find it unusual to have a sewing machine serviced? Don't you seek help when you are learning a new skill or machine? Maybe it's just me. I'm on my 4th industrial/harness sewing machine now and I'm confident in finding manuals and servicing myself now. Plus this site is a great resource when I get lost or need help.

I doubt that there is anyone here - including dealers - who has not come close to having a sewing machine shaped hole though the nearest window at some stage.