Beginning to look for a sewing machine.

[mcmuck]

Has anyone dealt with Mo at Dixie Tailoring in Toronto? They have machines called JapanFuji I'm looking at a JF 341, very attractive price and appears to be in the 18 to 23 needle size and up to 210 thread which as I learn more seems to be the range I'd be in, I'm not doing saddlery and don't see myself using material much over 6 to 7 oz and that rarely. One thing I have learned is that everything seems to be a clone and some times a clone of a clone : ) kind of confusing for a beginner. So here's what I think I want, please tell me how wrong I am : ).

I think I need: cylinder arm with flat bed attachment, servo motor 550 or 750W (110 volt must have) 10 to 13mm capacity stitch length? I think 10mm but I could use advice here.

speed Reducer. large bobbin, end load the top load bobbins look fiddly for my old fingers : )  Needle positioning would be nice but not a deal breaker.

When I price out a new TechSew 2600Pro with freight and reducer I'm really close to 4000.00Cdn as is the cobra 26 and most other comparable machines.  This JF 341 is on sale for 2100.00 Cdn and 150.00 freight but I can't find much info so I'm asking here. Thanks for your help please comment if you have info or suggestions. 

[kgg]

I would also check out Japan Sewing Machine and Company who are also in Toronto. Their clones are called the "Kobe". Ask for Chris, great to deal with. I have purchased three new machines from him.Two flatbed machines, Juki 1541S, Juki 1181N and one cylinder bed machine a Kobe 1341. The casing on the JapanFuji seems a little rougher then the Kobe. They call theirs a LS-1341 but in reality it is 341 clone. I was pleasantly surprised as I went to buy a Juki LS-1341, decided to give the Kobe a try. The price was right and like yourself some of the other clones were in the ball park of a true Juki.

If I don't like it after six months I'll sell it and get a true Juki LS-1341. So far it has handled everything I have thrown at it. It came with table, servo motor, both a knee lift and foot lift for raising the pressor foot as well as thread holder (which I never even took out of the box, I use my own). It can handle V138 top and bobbin out of the box but I think I could easily use 207 as the top thread.  Some people like the needle positioner and others not so much, depends on what you need/like/want. a needle positioner can be installed later should you need/like/want one.  For my needs I didn't need the speed reducer.Once again if you find that you need/like/want one it can easily be purchased and installed later. A nice thing is I can use and interchange bobbins between all three of those machines. I do recommend you get additional true Juki bobbins as they seem like they have much better manufacturing tolerances.

In the picture I have it setup for binding with a mini 8" x 8" flatbed, which maybe a little difficult to see in the photo.

Which ever machine you decide on all the best of luck.

Stay Safe,

kgg

[mcmuck]

I have a couple of questions : ) Am I better to buy a good used Juki LS-1341 or the new clone. the fellow selling the JapanFuji's has some used Juki's so it too is an option. from reading here the Juki has an excellent reputation so what say you all? : )

Kgg: Thanks for your help with this, where did you get your small flatbed? I did an amazon and Google search and came up empty or I'm searching for the wrong name. 

Thanks to everyone that has contributed to my education! It is greatly appreciated. I'm waaay less confused than I was (yeah right) : )

 

 

[Wizcrafts]

1 hour ago, mcmuck said:

I have a couple of questions : ) Am I better to buy a good used Juki LS-1341 or the new clone. the fellow selling the JapanFuji's has some used Juki's so it too is an option. from reading here the Juki has an excellent reputation so what say you all? : )

Juki makes some of the most reliable industrial sewing machines in the World. They still produce the TSC-441 from which the Cowboy, Cobra and Techsew (our supporting advertisers) harness and holster stitchers are cloned. Sewing factories and garment producers have buildings full of working Juki machines. They are not the only top name, but are among those. Proof of this is that most of the Juki line is cloned by lower price manufacturers.

As for buying a used Juki, make sure you know up front what condition it is in and what, if anything was wrong when it was traded in. Any sewing machine can be worked hard and need some new parts or at least a good going over and adjustments. Sometimes a dealer leaves those tuneups until the machine is about to be sold. It would be wise to see the machine sewing. Bring in your material and ask them to sew it with the type of thread you plan to use.

Be aware that new Juki machines can sometimes cost twice as much as their clones. Some of this has to do with the duty charged on Japanese imports. If a particular model is built in China, a different duty rate may apply. These charges can ramp up the prices unexpectedly.

[kgg]

Buying a used anything you really need to see and hear it in operation as Wiz has suggested. Which in this case is going to be impossible as you are 3000km away from that particular dealer in Toronto. Juki's tend to be costly on the used market. While Juki's privately owned do occasionally come available most have been used in an industrial/commercial setting.  If you can find one from a dealer within a reasonable drive, in good shape and for about the same price, probably a little more, then a new clone I would choose the Juki over the clone. In your area they maybe as scarce as hens teeth.

 

9 hours ago, mcmuck said:

Kgg: Thanks for your help with this, where did you get your small flatbed? I did an amazon and Google search and came up empty or I'm searching for the wrong name. 

Probably not going find them as all the accessories in the photo are some of my designs and 3d printed. Slip on mini table (takes under 2 minutes to attach/ release), holders for scissors/needles/bobbins (at the top of the machine), bobbin holder (over the bed), the binding guides and binding tape platter, the accessories holder for needles / bobbins (to the right of the machine) and the 3 spool thread holder (at the rear of the machine)

kgg

[mcmuck]

Hi Folks! So in the end I found and bought a used Juki LS-1341 with a servo motor which needs some help (the machine not the motor it's new : ). I've found and downloaded the parts manual. owners manual and the Engineers manual Have I missed one? I see nothing in any of these about replacing the timing belt which I will need to do. I may have a service shop do it but I'd like to read up on it. from looking at the machine I think I know how it would be done but I'm new to sewing machines but not machinery and so far it's been pretty straight forward to disassemble things for cleaning and oiling and make the repairs I've made so far. Like any used piece of equipment it is suffering from the various inept people syndrome Kgg has been an enormous help coaching me on all the things of which I have no knowledge. Needles, thread etc etc. Steep learning curve for a beginner! Does anyone know of a site that has the length of time models were made or production run times? like when the 341's were started and stopped and I mean the Juki's not the copies that would be impossible to do. Stay Safe!

 

[kgg]

6 hours ago, mcmuck said:

I see nothing in any of these about replacing the timing belt which I will need to do.

This link even though it is for a Juki LS-341 it may offer some insight.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/917750/Juki-Ls-341n.html?page=11#manual

kgg