Good used sewing machine suggestions?

[BonnieB]

Well, like buying a gun, it depends on what you want to do. If you intend to sew denim or leather, a lightweight $100 machine won't do. If you can get a machine with metal, not plastic, gears and cams inside, that's the best.

Some small selection of zig zag is needed, but probably not over 10 combinations. A button hole maker is great for reinforcing existing button holes or adding one where needed.

The simplest thing is to walk into any JoAnn Fabric store (not on a Saturday afternoon) and, just like buying a gun, test drive several of their sewing machines. They always have about 10 models on display, and knowledgeable sales staff to help you. And they'll ask you what you intend to do, etc.

If you find one you like, note the model number, etc., thank the salesperson and then go dig around ebay or craigslist for a used one that is local. A good sewing machine lasts for 50 years, I've never heard of anyone wearing one out.

Just in passing, when you get one, DO NOT mess with the thread tension or bobbin tension. Ever! If it seems wrong, take it to a repair shop. If you mess with it, you'll never get it right again. (The voice of experience speaks !)

And don't get a complex. Guys sew too. One of the best I know is a former Special Forces Master Rigger, he sews like a dream.

[sdkevin]

The simplest thing is to walk into any JoAnn Fabric store (not on a Saturday afternoon) and, just like buying a gun, test drive several of their sewing machines.

You're killing me.. , me test driving a sewing machine would be like a 94lb guy walking into the weight room, hehehe.

I've told a couple of the guy friends that have razzed me, my first projects will be their VooDoo dolls.

I'm really looking forward to it Bonnie, located a place with several classic metal camed machines and I suspect a class or two will be in order.

DO NOT mess with the thread tension or bobbin tension. Ever! If it seems wrong, take it to a repair shop. If you mess with it, you'll never get it right again. (The voice of experience speaks !)

Got it! I've worked on some pretty impressive machinery and that sounds exactly like something I would "guy up".

Can't wait to see their faces when I bring in my "homework", VooDoo dolls.

I don't get caught up on the Manly factor. I see it like reloading, I'd rather buy the gear, learn how to use it and be able to use it without calling/running around town to get the work done.

Thanks Bonnie.

[movie zombie]

yes, seriously, test driving machines in the store is a great way to ascertain what your actual needs are going to be and if a machine can do it.

[BonnieB]

Speaking of button holes, here's a novel approach.

Like everyone else, I eat fast food in the car while driving. And drink coffee. So, my shirt-fronts often have spilled coffee and ketchup on them, which drives me nuts.

So, I stole an idea from an airline first-class section. I got an ordinary restaurant-type white cloth napkin and put a 3/4" button hole in one corner, using contrasting thread. When I need to, I put the napkin over my shirt front, put the top shirt button through the napkin button hole and voila! no more food spills on my nice white shirts!

(the 'car napkin' lives in the glove box of the car and gets laundered as needed. Sometimes it gets sprayed off at the car wash. But it works.)

[Garv]

My neighbor sews things for us at times and we trade off neighbor favors.
She is not a pro, but darn good.
She agrees with Glockman about older machines being better.

Good luck.

[BuckeyeResearcher]

This is the advice I received when I was asking similar questions:

As others say, go to a local Sewing Machine store, and buy an older, ALL METAL machine that can Zig-Zag. A Singer, a Kenmore, a Montgomery Ward, a Penncrest, a White, even an older Brother.

Do not buy a $100 plastic "Singer" from Mall-Wart, and I've heard modern Brothers are even worse.

I bought a 1976 White 690, and it has served me very well.

Beware though: Sewing machines can be addicting, I now collect old ones, and do repairs for other people - a dance brother brought his old Kenmore over to me just last nite. He's owned it since new, and I suspect nothing's ever been done to it so I'll disassemble and clean, then oil everything in sight and there's a 99% chance that it will sew like a champ after all that.

Yeah, we went through the great sewing machine chase a while ago and learned about how crappy the new singers and brothers have become. Kinda sad. We had good luck with a new Janome but i had to keep telling myself "buy once, cry once".

[sdkevin]

Watched a few vids last night, and of course watched a sager. I get the jist of it, and completely out of my league - but pretty awesome.

Damn, I have a whole new respect for anyone that can run that machine.

I can do a bunch - but I was quite humbled.

[Souske]

I bought a singer 99k off of Craigslist for $50
The cabinet look like crap, because the PO had let it sit on her porch for years, the mainshaft was also frozen up.

Put some penertrating oil and then ATF down the lube holes, and let it sit. Forced the mainshaft over the next day.

Still purrs like (who'da guessed it) a sewing machine.

Can go through 4 layers of marine vinyl, or about 50 sheets of paper

[sdkevin]

I sew and I have no idea what a sager is?

It cuts, sews, hems, usually with four giant spools, all in one pass.

It's very cool, well beyond what I expect to do, but a great machine to have.

[Zorba]

The word is Serger. They are very cool for what they do. They cannot replace a sewing machine for all applications (or vice-versa for that matter), but you'll love one once you're used to its peculiarities. Temperamental though, life is great when your serger is working correctly - but when it isn't, you're hating life! Ask me how I know this...

[sofbak]

no, you do not need the fancy-dancy stitch patterns.
you do want one with a good foot mechanism that will do thick seams should you decide to work with thicker fabric like denim.
button holer might be nice........you want to be able to do zippers.
you might even consider signing up for a class or two or three at sewing center and/or community center.
stay simple until you learn what it is you're really going to be doing and what you really want a machine for.
and as always it would be good to have a report re your progress and what you end up with!

Now THAT is some really good advice for a "bachelor" and for a number of reasons-beyond just learning to "sew".......

[movie zombie]

you betcha, sofbak!

[sofbak]

you betcha, sofbak!

If I had only known then, what I know now..............sigh

[movie zombie]

LOL, sofbak!

[BonnieB]

Back when, in the 50's, when my mother taught us to sew, sewing machines were industrial strength all steel MACHINES. I believe that was because women actually made clothes for the family, drapes, re-upholstered furniture, etc. My mother did. Most of my clothes were hand made, tailored to fit, not because we were rich, but because my family was thrifty and my mom was a stay-at-home mom, as most were in the 50's.

When women started to work outside the home, in the 70's and after, they mainly stopped making clothes for the family. They didn't have time and had money to buy store-bought clothes. So a really industrial-strength sewing machine started to look very expensive and sales dropped. Singer investigated and found that those few women who wanted a sewing machine anymore, mostly wanted them for mending, crafts and to tack up the occasional hem.

So Singer and Kenmore, the two major brands in those days, started making plastic, portable machines that could be kept in a closet most of the time, and carried to the dining room table when a project happened. Later, to further lighten them and to drive down the cost, they stopped using metal cams and gears and started using plastic ones. Later, Singer started overseas manufacturing and we wept. That was really then end of home clothes making.

So that's the history, that's why a good used sewing machine with metal innards is better than anything modern you can buy under $ 3K. (If you really want to spend money, a Pfaff is a great choice).

In passing, sergers are wonderful for quilting, crafts and light clothes-making. They basically stitch and auto-hem your work and it really speeds up the process. Look at the inside of the side seam of one of your shirts and you'll see what it is. But they are meant for finish work and really won't do for leather, suede, two thicknesses of denim, anything like that.

And you will know when you have arrived when you can do an invisible hem on a pair of pants using a sewing machine. It's counter-intuitive, inside out and upside down. But when you figure it out, you'll never hand hem anything ever again.