Sewing machines

[Hayden Sias]

I am doing my own Isinglass. I am looking to purchase a sewing machine figuring after hours of videos,tons of reading it really doesn't look difficult considering i am very handy.
That said, i am stuck on a couple machines. I know i need heavy duty,and industrial is ideal, along with needing a walking foot since the materials are kinda thick especially with 30mil glass.
If I get proficient I want to do my own camper top side curtains and back wall. Then maybe move on to reupholstering the downstairs and cockpit.if possible,maybe sell a few jobs i can do over the winter months.
Ok.....the machines i am considering are the Sailrites or the REX 607/Z machines. The Sailright has the reputation but the REX's are clones of the Sailrite for roughly eh...half the
price. I ama ," you get what you pay for" kinda guy.
Does Nyone have experience with these machines for what I am looking to do? Any advice is helpful.

 

[kvduff]

I’ve just ordered the sailrite ls-1 machine and it is arriving on Tuesday. I have been playing around with seat vinyl on an ol singer 15-91 with varying amounts of success. Can’t recommend one versus the other , but the walking foot will be a much needed upgrade. Lots of reading on the iBoats forums if you search...

 

[Hayden Sias]

Sweet!! Thank you.

 

[Mike sandor]

I purchased the sail rite two years ago. All the supplies from them as well. The intent was to build a camper canvas for our 320. About 2 grand for materials. They do not supply the same zippers however.
I will say this about the sail rite, the tension setting was a real pain to set up. Once I got that figured out,
I haven’t had any problems. There videos are great, we are very happy with the results. The camper canvas in great. I installed removable glass on the side panels. When we cruise with the canvas up, I can fold up the side glass and this eliminates the fumes rolling in at slow speeds. One word of caution, don’t set up the machine in the boat as every single person walking by will ask you to do work on there boat!

 

[CaptRonn]

I am doing my own Isinglass. I am looking to purchase a sewing machine figuring after hours of videos,tons of reading it really doesn't look difficult considering i am very handy.
That said, i am stuck on a couple machines. I know i need heavy duty,and industrial is ideal, along with needing a walking foot since the materials are kinda thick especially with 30mil glass.
If I get proficient I want to do my own camper top side curtains and back wall. Then maybe move on to reupholstering the downstairs and cockpit.if possible,maybe sell a few jobs i can do over the winter months.
Ok.....the machines i am considering are the Sailrites or the REX 607/Z machines. The Sailright has the reputation but the REX's are clones of the Sailrite for roughly eh...half the
price. I ama ," you get what you pay for" kinda guy.
Does Nyone have experience with these machines for what I am looking to do? Any advice is helpful.

The Sailrite machines are good. However, they are really nothing more than the Chinese machines with a few parts that have been refined.

This is what I bought https://www.ebay.com/itm/232059984708?ul_noapp=true

When I bought mine is was about $75 less than that one, so I got a great deal. The seller is excellent and highly recommended.

Plus, most sailrite parts and accessories will fit it.

If you are like me and not using it commercially, the machine works just fine and will give you years of service. They are rather heavily built. I bought this model because of the longer arm of 9 inches, and it already had the monster wheel included.

 

[Espos4]

The Sailrite machines are good. However, they are really nothing more than the Chinese machines with a few parts that have been refined.

This is what I bought https://www.ebay.com/itm/232059984708?ul_noapp=true

When I bought mine is was about $75 less than that one, so I got a great deal. The seller is excellent and highly recommended.

Plus, most sailrite parts and accessories will fit it.

If you are like me and not using it commercially, the machine works just fine and will give you years of service. They are rather heavily built. I bought this model because of the longer arm of 9 inches, and it already had the monster wheel included.

I bought the is same Omega machine 2 years ago. So far it’s been great.
I used it to reupholster my entire boat as well as another 30 assorted boat cushions for individual projects.

It too is a near clone to the sail rite.

I wound highly recommend getting one with the Zig Zag feature. I haven’t needed to do zig zag stitching, but those models allow you to move the needle left or right of center which makes for a much better stitch when attaching piping.

 

[CaptRonn]

I bought the is same Omega machine 2 years ago. So far it’s been great.
I used it to reupholster my entire boat as well as another 30 assorted boat cushions for individual projects.

It too is a near clone to the sail rite.

I wound highly recommend getting one with the Zig Zag feature. I haven’t needed to do zig zag stitching, but those models allow you to move the needle left or right of center which makes for a much better stitch when attaching piping.

Yes, mine will do zig zag and left/right offset. The offset is great for zipper sewing.

 

[Stee6043]

When you buy a Sailrite you're helping fund their exceedingly helpful videos. Worth the premium in my opinion...

 

[CaptRonn]

When you buy a Sailrite you're helping fund their exceedingly helpful videos. Worth the premium in my opinion...

I buy material from sailrite, because they offer some great prices. Not on everything, but on a lot.

I decided against their machine because of price point, and after doing research it simply wasn't worth the extra expense for my purposes. Singerman on ebay made a more convincing deal for me.

 

[kvduff]

When you buy a Sailrite you're helping fund their exceedingly helpful videos. Worth the premium in my opinion...

The selling point for me was the Customer service, I understand they are friendly and will help customers after the purchase with issues and advice. Those videos inspire confidence!

 

[ttmott]

The Sailrite LSZ-1 Ultrafeed Premium Package; I like mine but I'm a novice. That package has most of the attachments you would need plus the "monster wheel" flywheel which is desirable if pushing the needle through any thickness or plastics at all.
Secondly get the Tenera threads and needles for that thread if considering anything exposed.
Extra, like ten, bobbins as it is these that get changed the most and to stop unthread the machine wind a bobbin then rethread the machine is a pain....
As stated setting the thread tension is the hardest to figure out but once done not a problem. Each different thread and needle requires a different tension adjustment...
I have made a bow cushion cover (Sunbrella) , windshield cover (Phifertex), Window (Stratoglass / Sunbrella), and a couple of other things....

 

[ocgrant]

I have been considering jumping into this arena at some point and buying a machine. I have done ton of upholstery over the years but never any of the sewing. Took sewing in Highschool when home ed was required but don't remember a thing. Just don't know if I have the time to mess with it now.

 

[Hayden Sias]

I purchased the sail rite two years ago. All the supplies from them as well. The intent was to build a camper canvas for our 320. About 2 grand for materials. They do not supply the same zippers however.
I will say this about the sail rite, the tension setting was a real pain to set up. Once I got that figured out,
I haven’t had any problems. There videos are great, we are very happy with the results. The camper canvas in great. I installed removable glass on the side panels. When we cruise with the canvas up, I can fold up the side glass and this eliminates the fumes rolling in at slow speeds. One word of caution, don’t set up the machine in the boat as every single person walking by will ask you to do work on there boat!

 

[Hayden Sias]

I purchased the sail rite two years ago. All the supplies from them as well. The intent was to build a camper canvas for our 320. About 2 grand for materials. They do not supply the same zippers however.
I will say this about the sail rite, the tension setting was a real pain to set up. Once I got that figured out,
I haven’t had any problems. There videos are great, we are very happy with the results. The camper canvas in great. I installed removable glass on the side panels. When we cruise with the canvas up, I can fold up the side glass and this eliminates the fumes rolling in at slow speeds. One word of caution, don’t set up the machine in the boat as every single person walking by will ask you to do work on there boat!

Lol...i figured. I want to do work for others but not till winter.

 

[Hayden Sias]

Amazing replies!!! Thank you all!. I plan on purchasing all accessories and materials through sailrite as I know they fund their great videos. Right now I can't justify the expense until i know its something I enjoy. I think I qill.

 

[Stee6043]

Amazing replies!!! Thank you all!. I plan on purchasing all accessories and materials through sailrite as I know they fund their great videos. Right now I can't justify the expense until i know its something I enjoy. I think I qill.

I know this will depend a lot on the person but man alive...sewing requires a LOT more time than I ever could have imagined before owning a machine. It shocks me how much time I've put into super simple things like a rug, a step-cover.

It's not as easy as those videos make it look. I've owned a sailrite for two years now and still wish it would run at half the lowest speed setting

 

[Mike sandor]

One thing I found out doing the 320 camper canvas..... you need a huge table. The bigger the better. Trying to roll it up, setting on your shoulder, having the wife hold the other end was a recipe for disaster.

 

[Jeepers]

I know this will depend a lot on the person but man alive...sewing requires a LOT more time than I ever could have imagined before owning a machine. It shocks me how much time I've put into super simple things like a rug, a step-cover.

It's not as easy as those videos make it look. I've owned a sailrite for two years now and still wish it would run at half the lowest speed setting

Look at their servo motor. It's a game changer!

 

[ZZ13]

I bought the Juki 1541s several years ago intending to do my own canvas and upholstery. My wife uses it to make leather purses and jackets. Me, well, still thinking about starting to do my own canvas.

 

[Chris-380]

I bought the Juki 1541s several years ago intending to do my own canvas and upholstery. My wife uses it to make leather purses and jackets. Me, well, still thinking about starting to do my own canvas.

Sounds like you need to partner with your wife on this project for the boat