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MoMatt

Fixing Nickosew Patcher Clone

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My machine kept going out of time every time I got a tangle on the bobbin. Since I was playing with thread from 62 to 138 and trying to get the tensions right I had several. Turns out the Way it was made, a piece of 3/8 hex rod runs the shuttle rotation. The hex rod was in two pieces, drilled and tapped with a pot metal 1/8 inch stud right in the middle. It was bending and finally snapped. The screw wasn't even lined up with the hole in the casting. What a dumb modification to weaken the 29 original design. Rather than turn down a new piece of hex rod and recut the threads I cut the ends off and will weld in a section. I'm making sure the screw hole in the casting will line up with the hole in the casting. Should be back to sewing again tomorrow.

So if your 29 clone is a flopping out of time take a look underneath, at least it's an easy fix if you have a metal lathe or a mig welder.

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MoMatt,

Did you purchase this machine new? If so, I would be bitching like hell to Nick-O-Sew. Clone or not, a new machine should be set up and check even if it is not made great. To me, from you description, the machine was not set up properly to start. If you bought it used, that is another thing. You normally get machines as is when you purchase them used unless stated from the start.

There has been a few cases on the forum with used machines being sold as "reconditioned" or having been "gone thru" from Nick-O-Sew. We need to find out if these are isolated cases or the norm. If the norm, I would deal with them. I had a friend of mine a couple of years ago purchase an Adler 467-373 from them. Supposed to have been reconditioned. It was not and he had to go thru it himself after he got it plus it was almost 11 weeks late from the promised delivery time. He would have cancelled the order but already had money down and paid to them on the machine. Nick-O-Sews' reputation is starting to go down based on a few cases here in the forum.

glenn

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Glenn, to be fair to nicosew, I bought this off ebay. That said it was purchased in 2011 by a company that sews patches onto boots. Apparently it didn't work for them and they only attempted to use it once. I believe that because it came with the original paperwork and inventory and one needle was missing from the box and it was in the machine. The rod that runs the shuttle should be a one-piece solid rod, not the micky mouse construction as it was built. Maybe they had problems with their supplier, nicosew no longer has their own branded patcher, they sell someone else's. This machine also has a needle wobble imparted when you rotate the presser foot that I haven't solved yet. All in all I wish I didn't buy the machine. The steel stand is a beast and the servo motor is great and it seems to be well machined, for example I can't feel any play in the needle bar and I can usually feel 5/10,000ths or so if its there in a machined part. I think once I get it "blacksmithed" into shape and running good it will be ok. I have access to more tools than an average person however. This experience is one I learn over and over in life, you get what you pay for, buy good and it only hurts once. Since I'm in the Midwest, if I had it to do over again I'd just order a cowboy.

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There are Chinese and Taiwanese patchers and while the versions from Taiwan are better they are not always that good.

One of my suppliers sent me a free 29 from China and it now works ok after many modifications but would only ever suit a hobbyist, not a full time user.

There is a new 29 version being developed in China and the estimated price would suggest that it is going to be better but I will not know until I get my first sample - also coming for free.

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Funny - the Chinese are able to produce "high class clones" but are not able to copy a simple patcher which has been around for more than 100 years.

I´d rather buy a decades old Singer 29K and put $250 of parts in it before I buy any of these Chinese or far east patcher machines.

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I won't buy them because they are crap.

If the new model is good then it will be a hit.

If the machine is well built then I am going to fit a geared servo motor to the head and sell it as a lower priced option to the German machines BUT it will really need to be well built for me to take that step.

Funny - the Chinese are able to produce "high class clones" but are not able to copy a simple patcher which has been around for more than 100 years.

I´d rather buy a decades old Singer 29K and put $250 of parts in it before I buy any of these Chinese or far east patcher machines.

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I´m curious... :)

Have you heard of the guy who invented a rotary hook patcher based on the 29K?

The Video and music are a pain in TA but maybe something for you as an Engineer:

Edited by Constabulary

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The bid question is WHY?

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