Entry level machine

[MikeF]

Should state the real case / question...I have a limited budget as well...straight forward stitching issue for my biz...I would like to stitch two chunks of 10 oz HO veg tan strap together...mile after mile after mile...and I am DEFINITELY getting tired of doing it hand. Would that Reliable do that?  Folks are too proud of their old industrials in the used market around here ...want too much.

[kgg]

28 minutes ago, MikeF said:

I took a look at that at HD site but couldn't find much on spec...do you know what the motor HP rating is?  Any speed control? 

As the Reliable Barracuda comes it only has a small domestic motor and speed controller like the Sailrite LSZ-1 but a lot cheaper cost wise. What Tandy done was take a Sailrite LS portable (no zig zag) and mounted it in a table with a Sailrite workhorse servo motor strapped to it. If a Sailrite portable could sew through two layers of 10 oz veg tan leather then I would expect the Barracuda should be able to do the same. If you tricked out the Barracuda like the Tandy machine you could save a fair bit of cash. But you still would only have a light duty table mounted portable walking foot machine. I think you would be far better off getting a brand name walking foot machine like a Juki du-1181n for about the same cost or 1541S which are made to work day in day out.

kgg

 

[Gunnarsson]

Sailrite made a video showing some of the differences between their machines, and the lookalikes and earlier versions of their own machine. They are speaking of products they sell, so obviously they will say their own stuff is what you should buy, but it is clear that there ARE differences between the expensive and the cheap machines with other names. I wouldn't buy a cheap one and expect something equal to the expensive one.

As I see it the portable sailrite machine it in many ways seems very similar to a domestic machine - similar thickness capacity, similar thread size, just add the walking foot. It fits in the gap between a domestic machine and a proper industrial, unfortunately at a price that often makes it more sensible to buy a proper industrial machine.
The sailrite lookalikes may be more worth the money as they're much cheaper, but lacking some of the upgrades and updates they may not be as good.

 

 

[kgg]

I have owned a Reliable Barracuda as well as used the Sailrite. I would again have no problems in choosing the Barracuda again. Maybe I got a good one but if you put the two of them side by side in a blind test I think it would be hard to tell what you were paying extra for. For someone who occasionally needs the walking foot feature, who whats to wet their feet first in the hobby or dollars are a major factor before buying a more robust machine the portable walking foot machines maybe a good option, regardless of the name on the machine. The problem is that for the price of a portable walking foot Sailrite LSZ-1 (~$1095) there are so many other options available like the Consew p1206rb (~$1095) that is a compound feed machine as an example.

kgg

[DonInReno]

If you don’t mind a little trouble shooting and learning adjustments and whatnot, you can get a very nice used setup for $400 that will last a lifetime.  Many costume makers have a simple sewer or needle feed machine for light to medium weight material and a second walking foot machine for heavier items.  
A used Juki 870 in very good shape pops up once in a while for $200 ($300 is more common) and a good Juki 562 is a bargain at $300-$400, but once in a while a $200 machine pops up.

I usually recommend focusing on getting the walking foot machine first since lightweight domestic machines out of the 60’s and 70’s are tough and almost free for lightweight sewing.

[jfak7670]

Check out a Consew CP206RL portable walking foot machine https://www.amazon.com/Consew-CP206RL-Portable-Walking-Machine/dp/B07G8FY9DF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Consew+CP206RL&qid=1579160776&sr=8-1 Consew is a brand that produces good quality machines and accessories for years. So, you shouldn't worry about it's reliability and versatility. For any beginner this one has enough for first designs. 

[Constabulary]

8 minutes ago, jfak7670 said:

Consew is a brand that produces good quality machines and accessories for years. So, you shouldn't worry about it's reliability and versatility. For any beginner this one has enough for first designs. 

It´s not a secret that they do not produce the machines they sell, they buy em overseas and put their brand sticker on them. Consew is in business for a long time but afaik they never produced their own machines. Afaik they always have sold foreign made machines (made in Japan, China ...) and relabeled them. But that does not mean the machines are bad.