Compound feed vs walking foot

[LomaeArts]

I my search for a wlking foot sewing machine I have noticed the Following terms:

• Walking foot,
• Compound feed
• Compound walking foot

For Example  Singer operational manual describes the 111W112 as an "compound feed and alternating pressers"

My local shop describes the 411U as a medium- heavy duty Compound feed

The same shop describes the Singer 132k6 as a heavy duty Walking foot.

Are these all the same thing?

[chrisash]

The walking feet are just as they say 

The compound has the walking feet and also the needle also helps drag the material backwards to you get a much better stitch especially on material with a slippery surface

Under the sewing machine section Wiz does a first class post on the benefits of the compound and a breakdown of sewing machine requirements for leather work

 

[Constabulary]

AFAIK "the original Singer" compound feed is drop feed + needle feed only (commonly called needle feed).  And the addition of the alternating presser feet makes it the so called triple feed. But Singer had no term for this combination - in manuals and parts lists usually you read "compound feed with alternating presser" or similar.

Let me check my files....

I think certain terms sometimes got mixed up. A walking foot can mean everything where a foot is feeding the material. Some say 29K are walking toot, some say a jump foot machine (like 132K6) is walking foot.... and so forth.

I think triple feed is the more accurate term for top, bottom and needle feed machines.

EDIT:

This is what I meant

Singer 111w Class Machine Brochure_compressed.pdf

Edited November 19, 2021 by Constabulary

[Wizcrafts]

Yes, there are various types of walking foot machines. The earliest made by Singer had a spring loaded presser foot that followed the top layer as the feed dog pulled from the bottom. I have one like that; a Singer 42-5. It is quite effective considering its age (100). The same feed was used in one of the 31 class and in the 132 class machines and probably several others. The only negative with this feed is that the outer foot can slip, or get hung up on a new upper layer if it doesn't get lifted high enough to clear that layer. I think of this as a "follow foot."

Another type of walking foot has a mechanically driven top foot that syncs with the feed dog; aka: dual feed. It has an alternating inside foot too, but that foot remains static. The throat plate would only have a round needle hole and the feeder teeth would be on either side. The presser foot has teeth on these machines and will tear up veg tan, or soft chrome tan leather. They are meant for webbing, synthetics, cloth, tow straps, parachute straps, vinyl signs, tarps, etc.

The walking foot mechanism preferred by leather sewers is triple feed, with the feed dog, needle and inside foot moving in sync as the outer presser foot lifts and lowers. The feet are usually smooth. I call this compound feed. The Singer 111w155 is one of the most sought after used compound feed machines. The Juki LU-562 is a clone, as is the Consew 206 series. Almost any top loading triple feed sewing machine traces its design back to the 111 series. You can adjust and tweak the feed on these machines for lower or higher lift, up to the point where the cranks hit unmovable shafts or the feet hit the needle bar. They usually sew up to 3/8 inch maximum.

[Putts]

I'm so new to this I haven't even plugged my "new used" Singer 31-15 that's sitting next to my modified "pool table work bench", and I have already bid on a Singer 111W151 . My motivation is the vinyl seats in my boat. I guess I sort of got things backwards and upside down. Although I have heard reverse is what I have missing, I figure I'm not in a hurry to mass produce anything and if I move forward, I will end up with a more modern machine, and end up doing leather also. Sewing seems pretty cool..  I guess some of the advice I'm looking for is needle and thread size for marine vinyl. I have ordered the following needles for the 31-15. But should I hold off and use the 111W151? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 140/22

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 130/21

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 125/20

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 120/19

 

[AlZilla]

10 hours ago, Putts said:

I'm so new to this I haven't even plugged my "new used" Singer 31-15 that's sitting next to my modified "pool table work bench", and I have already bid on a Singer 111W151 . My motivation is the vinyl seats in my boat. I guess I sort of got things backwards and upside down. Although I have heard reverse is what I have missing, I figure I'm not in a hurry to mass produce anything and if I move forward, I will end up with a more modern machine, and end up doing leather also. Sewing seems pretty cool..  I guess some of the advice I'm looking for is needle and thread size for marine vinyl. I have ordered the following needles for the 31-15. But should I hold off and use the 111W151? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 140/22

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 130/21

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 125/20

10pk Schmetz 134(R) Industrial Lockstitch Needle 120/19

 

I have both of those machines but have never sewn vinyl. I'd see no reason either one wouldn't do the job as long as the material to be sewn fits under the presser foot. Personally, among my particular machines, I'd use my 111W153 but the 151 should do as well in most cases.

If you haven't read the post linked above (in post #2 of this thread), you really should.  Finish it and you'll have a Masters Degree in leather sewing machines.

As always, a new post about your specific question might get better replies than resurrecting a zombie thread.

Welcome to the obsession!