$100 Sewing Machine, opinions please

[Bert03241]

Has anyone tried one of these, whats your opinion. Do they work OK . I realize these are just for now and then use.

[chuck123wapati]

couple threads at least in the last month lol.

[Bert03241]

probably me asking about these machines getting no answers 

[chuck123wapati]

Just now, Bert03241 said:

probably me asking about these machines getting no answers 

If you search you can find at the least two recent threads. That may be the reason no one is responding, or it could be a holiday.  I think the overall impression is, at least what i got out of them, that they take some work to get to sew well if at all. they have small bobbins and there is a Fakebook page about them somewhere that can help you get them running.  At least two people on this forum have made them work. Search for Chinese shoe patcher or  shoe patcher the threads aren't to old. 

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!!

[chrisash]

From what I have read, most need adjustment when first put together and the metal work needs cleaning up rough edges, apart from that they work and sew medium thick leather

At £120 or there is you don't expect them to sew such a nice stitch as machines costing from £300 second hand to £3000 new, but that;s to be expected, but the stitch quality can be improved by tinkering with them and the feet teeth softened

For many Hobby people they seem a good first machine to learn on without great expense 

Edited December 24, 2021 by chrisash

[CowboyBob]

There's a page on Facebook(Chinese Shoe Patcher)for them too you might want to check out & you can read all the work that's involved to get one sewing,I've heard of a few that no matter what they do they won't sew.But for the price you can't get anything cheaper.

[kgg]

3 hours ago, Bert03241 said:

Has anyone tried one of these, whats your opinion.

Yes you can get them to sew but that can be a frustrating process for some people. I do have one and they are a true tinkers delight providing hours of entertainment. The quality of fit and finish to say the least is generally poor at best. They do have their place but the quality is nowhere comparable to that of a old Singer 29K or a new clone patcher. There is a fair number of mods that will be needed to make constant decent stitches such as resetting the height of the needle to accept 135 x 16 needles, polishing / replacing the pressor foot to reduce marks, polishing parts to get it to run sort of smoothly and retiming are just a few. If this is all someone can afford and has the time to invest it maybe a starting point until they could afford something better.

If someone could stretch their budget to $565 US maybe what Walmart is selling which appears to be a clone of Singer 29k72 ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/TFCFL-Hand-Crank-Patch-Leather-Sewing-Machine-Cobbler-Shoe-Sewing-Repair-Machine/975331286?athbdg=L1700 ) or in Canada for $769 CA ( https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/INTBUYING-Leather-Sewing-Machine-Sewing-Mending-Machine-Shoe-Repair-Industrial-without-Table-Motor/PRD442E8MWFN5KN ). 

I think better options out there in the new machine market for about the $500 US price range for a first new machine.

kgg

 

[DocReaper]

Being a penny pincher, i gave it thought. using 2 hands to sew is far better than using one to sew and one to crank. I would be sacrificing quality, then wasting the time to screw with a cheap china made machine. A different machine with a motor is also a time saver. if this is all you can afford, id say save up and keep looking for a decent sewing machine. get to know the product before you buy. Becoming frustrated will make that $100 machine will become a $100 paperweight.

[Dwight]

The first thing I noticed about it is the corrugated presser foot is up on top . . . denting and scratching the top surface of the item you are sewing.  

So unless you want to sew everything upside down (bottom stitches never look as good as top stitches) . . . you are just buying a a project scratcher.

Wouldn't buy one if it was $10.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Bert03241]

Great thanx for all the replies now to think a bit more.