Juki DU-1181-N / Be a good choice?

[Rodzhobyz]

I can get this machine, which looks to be in show room condition, from the original owner for $650 with the servo motor / table.  

  I already have a CB-4500 to handle the heaviest material I may ever stitch, but am in the market for a flat bed to handle any light weight leathers and this looks to be a good deal, no?

Thanks for offering any opinions, Roger

Edited January 12, 2020 by Rodzhobyz
Typed wrong model # in the title

[kgg]

Nice, well built machine but a 1541 would be a better choice. The price is good as new one would be in the $1400 US price range. The 1182 is not a compound feed machine the material is feed by the movement of the outside and inside portion of the presser foot as well as the feed dog. If I am not mistaken it does not have a safety clutch. It can handle up to V138 thread and probably do a nice job on wallet type work. I guess it is going to come down to what thickness of leather you are planing on using it for.

kgg

[Rodzhobyz]

Thanks kgg. After more searching, I expect this machine probably isn't for me. I'd agree it's a good deal price wise, and having an almost  brand new -1/2 price Juki is tempting, but it seems like there are many other machines out there more suited to my purposes. Sounds like at a minimum I would need to modify the feed dogs to keep veg tan from being chewed up and then add a speed reducer or swap pulleys to have control & as you say, it will never have compound feed.  

Cheers

[Wizcrafts]

17 hours ago, Rodzhobyz said:

Sounds like at a minimum I would need to modify the feed dogs to keep veg tan from being chewed up

You'd also probably have to smooth the teeth on the feet to avoid marking leather. This machine claws cloth and vinyl through. Weakening the tooth pattern will impede the feeding.

[Rodzhobyz]

14 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

You'd also probably have to smooth the teeth on the feet to avoid marking leather. This machine claws cloth and vinyl through. Weakening the tooth pattern will impede the feeding.

Not surprisingly, the information provided in one of your replies to an old Post in the archives is where I learned about the drawbacks of the 1181with regards to sewing leather. 

  

[Wizcrafts]

Actually, if the foot pressure is backed off to the minimum needed, the tooth marks won't be much worse that those from a shoe patcher.

[Rodzhobyz]

I been diligently searching cl 2 & 3x daily hoping to find a good Consew 226R or possibly but not likely a 227 or similar in 1/2 decent shape that I can afford within at least a somewhat reasonable driving distance from me. 

It may have to wait a bit tho, my side project - expense budget took a huge hit with the recent 4500 purchase and even when I've seen the 226's listed they have asked $800-$1200 used and usually that's with the clutch motors, so throw in the costs of a servo motor + speed reducer & that's gettn way out of my wheelhouse for now anyway. 

 That's why the nearly brand new Juki 1181 including the servo motor / table for 40% of a new price looked so tempting to me. 

I've gotten so far in now tho, that I may as well either go ahead and spend the money for new  or wait until I can find an ideal used machine for my light stuff. 

 I could easily wait indefinitely on a bargain deal for my own needs, but, my wife works with her folks in a retail business & since I've started the leather working, she's jumped on board & is making a lot of delicate, jewelry - earrings - bracelets ect, to sell and wants lots of decorative stitching done that I am growing tired of due to the light thread set ups required to use the 4500. 

 I was hopeful that one of my old Singer 15's or a 201 would serve those needs but the Cowboy has now spoiled me from anything without a walking foot. 

Cheers 

 

[Pintodeluxe]

I think a Consew 226 is a good choice, so long as a small G style bobbin isn't a hindrance to you.  For small projects it would work fine.  Add a Juki LU-563 and a Pfaff 545 H4 to the search as well.  Old school big bobbin top loaders are the machines I like best.  

There's a ton of iron in these machines, especially the older Juki's.  They must have built to incredible tolerances because they sure are smooth.  

[Rodzhobyz]

10 hours ago, Pintodeluxe said:

I think a Consew 226 is a good choice, so long as a small G style bobbin isn't a hindrance to you.  For small projects it would work fine.  Add a Juki LU-563 and a Pfaff 545 H4 to the search as well.  Old school big bobbin top loaders are the machines I like best.  

There's a ton of iron in these machines, especially the older Juki's.  They must have built to incredible tolerances because they sure are smooth.  

These industrial sewing machines are for me, a prime example of "the more I learn the less I know". 

The bobbin size is an issue I keep forgetting to consider. So much really doesn't make practical since to me. I knew many of the old patchers are very limited by their bobbin capacity, but why on Earth, most of 100 years down the assembly lines, would engineers design a high production, nearly immortal industrial Sewing machine and then handicap it over some 0.02 sq in of real estate inside the machine?

I can't imagine the additional costs of the larger bobbins having anything to do with restricting the bobbin size on a production model and I sure wouldn't think there's any advantage in having to stop & change them more frequently, but, Im sure there is perfectly logical reasoning behind it that shows off my complete ignorance. 

I am just thankful for you all who pitch in to help get an old green horn where he's trying to go. 

Cheers, Roger. 

[kgg]

16 hours ago, Rodzhobyz said:

I've gotten so far in now tho, that I may as well either go ahead and spend the money for new

Since you are thinking on spending the money on a new machine why not make a road trip to a Juki dealer with some of your light stuff and thread (in the size you are planning on using). That way you can see what model and type ( flatbed or cylinder ) of machine would work best. They may also have a good used one. Remember buy once, cry once.

kgg