Best machine for non leather application

[stickandtin]

As the title implies, this is a non leather sewing question. However this site is the best on the net to get help. I'm looking for suggestions on what machine would be best to sew up to medium weight fabric. For heavy fabric, marine vinyl, some leather etc we have a Juki 1541S which we absolutely love. Appreciate any help.

[gottaknow]

I'm a big fan of the Juki 9010 series. Needle feed with several sub-classes. The differences between them is really just the feed dogs and throat plate. The "A" sub-class is the heaviest. 

Regards, Eric 

[brmax]

Eric if you will, can you give some insight with the new 9010 Juki briefly and possibly the older models I sometimes see with interest the 550 or 5550 series. This is really part of the interest in the last month with the Singer 157, appreciated this early morn as coffee is not done : )

Thanks and good day

Floyd 

[gottaknow]

The 9010's were the follow up to the 5000 series needle feeds. We're still using the 5410's, which are still a good machine. Like most garment machines of that age, they require running at high speed to pump oil to the top shaft. A few bobbin windings at speed accomplish this. The new 9010's have Juki's new dry head system which is a series of small reservoirs for a lightweight grease. This is to reduce the oil spotting on textiles. My 9010's have top shaft mounted DC motors which are very strong. No belts, no table mounted motors.  I don't know if they offer the machine without this, using a conventional motor setup. The control box is their 920 series which has every feature known to man with more than 100 programmable options. Low speed is decent, and even new operators have no trouble getting used to it. We sew 26oz. heavy wool, (Pendleton) and with a size 21 needle will easily sew 6-7 ply. We have the A series, which is the heaviest, but with a feed dog change (finer tooth) and matching throat plate you could easily sew two ply of nylon. They will tension T90 bonded easily, down to T35. They use standard presser feet so the options are many. The needle class is 135x7. We use size 14 thru 22. I like Juki's for the simple reason that parts are so available and cheap. My Japan made 5410's have endured 15 years of heavy factory use. They use a sump reservoir for oil, where the 9010's have a closed oil system for the lower shaft and feeds. 

Regards, Eric 

[stickandtin]

Eric, thanks for the recommendation. We don't do full time production work so the 9010 is way more machine than we need. Currently we do upholstery part time. The 1541S is perfect for that. However we are looking into getting a different machine for non upholstery projects using light to medium weight materials. We have been at this 14 months so still new and trying to educate ourselves on the best machines(new or used)for the right applications. 

[gottaknow]

55 minutes ago, stickandtin said:

Eric, thanks for the recommendation. We don't do full time production work so the 9010 is way more machine than we need. Currently we do upholstery part time. The 1541S is perfect for that. However we are looking into getting a different machine for non upholstery projects using light to medium weight materials. We have been at this 14 months so still new and trying to educate ourselves on the best machines(new or used)for the right applications. 

There are some older Singers which you may want to check into. The 211G151 and the 281-22. Both are needle feed, the 211 has a vertical hook and the 281's have a horizontal hook. The 211 will handle more thickness. The 281 series has several other subclasses that are drop feed, so stick with the -22 subclass. These machines are widely available because so many factories used them. They also run forever and parts are available and cheap. The 281's use an oil sump, the 211's have a small oil reservoir in the top arm and the hook saddle. There is some hand oiling required, but nothing major.   The heads of both models are worth $200-400 depending on condition. The 211's are easier to find.  

Regards, Eric 

[stickandtin]

Eric, thanks for the recommendation. I looked up the specs on the 211G and see it doesn't have reverse. Did singer make a 211 model with reverse? What's your opinion of the juki DDL5550N set up with a servo?

[gottaknow]

The 211G157 has reverse and is a needle feed. It's standard needle class is 135x17.

The Juki DDL550N is a drop feed that is certainly a nice machine. It won't sew the thickness of the 211G157 because of the needle length and not being a needle feed. In light to medium weight woven material it will sew really nice.

Regards, Eric

[brmax]

Thanks Eric I will keep my eye out for this model as well, it seems a younger relative to my 212g144, I would think.  And with that I would like to get an extra pressure foot, though for using only a single needle for some occasions. If one has a part number handy at a breakpoint that would be cool, would most definitely deserve a pat on the back and! a "you Rock!"

Appreciate your help there, have a good day

Floyd

[stickandtin]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of needle feed and drop feed? Not finding any information comparing the two. What's the presser foot lift on the 211G157?