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Sewing Machine Deals for the DIY Guys

Lots of guys like me looking for a good starter sewing machine...that know nothing about what machine they should be looking for. Instead of us continually asking if XXXX is a good machine, it might be more helpful if you and a few others on this thread that actually know something about sewing would offer your list of machines that you would be looking for as a good starter machine and a few others that are higher tier that you would jump on if one popped up at a decent price. This would be really helpful.

For starting out and learning, I think any domestic machine would work well. Keep it simple. Once you start to figure out how to make things, you'll start to push the machine and learn its limitations. That's when it's time to start upgrading. You'll still want the domestic running along side an industrial. I switch back and forth on a lot of projects. Sometimes parts of what you're making don't require a heavy, bonded thread.

Personally, I wouldn't start with an industrial machine. Just a regular old domestic is fine. Between new and vintage, I'd go vintage because you can find a Singer 66 or a 15 for around $100 or less. They only do one stitch and once you clean it up, it'll run as good as it did 80 years ago. Great to learn on and they'll run without a lot of fiddling around like industrials sometimes require.

Or find a used, late model that someone is dumping off on craigslist/marketplace/ebay. These will give you multiple stitch options and if it was well cared for or lightly used, will lay down a really nice seam. If it was abused, it'll be a pain in the butt. Tension settings will be all screwed up or plastic gears worn down. You'll know right away because it'll give you problems from the get-go.

As far as which one specifically... there are so many that it's hard to say. Just make sure you don't get a machine designed for specific things like a serger or embroidery machine. Look at the dial. If it has one dial, it's probably a good choice. If it has a LCD display that's as big as an iPad, probably not. Those will be stoopid expensive too which should throw up a flag. I'd also recommend watching a lot of "how to sew" videos on YouTube. I think that'll help you narrow down what you want.
 
For starting out and learning, I think any domestic machine would work well. Keep it simple. Once you start to figure out how to make things, you'll start to push the machine and learn its limitations. That's when it's time to start upgrading. You'll still want the domestic running along side an industrial. I switch back and forth on a lot of projects. Sometimes parts of what you're making don't require a heavy, bonded thread.

Personally, I wouldn't start with an industrial machine. Just a regular old domestic is fine. Between new and vintage, I'd go vintage because you can find a Singer 66 or a 15 for around $100 or less. They only do one stitch and once you clean it up, it'll run as good as it did 80 years ago. Great to learn on and they'll run without a lot of fiddling around like industrials sometimes require.

Or find a used, late model that someone is dumping off on craigslist/marketplace/ebay. These will give you multiple stitch options and if it was well cared for or lightly used, will lay down a really nice seam. If it was abused, it'll be a pain in the butt. Tension settings will be all screwed up or plastic gears worn down. You'll know right away because it'll give you problems from the get-go.

As far as which one specifically... there are so many that it's hard to say. Just make sure you don't get a machine designed for specific things like a serger or embroidery machine. Look at the dial. If it has one dial, it's probably a good choice. If it has a LCD display that's as big as an iPad, probably not. Those will be stoopid expensive too which should throw up a flag. I'd also recommend watching a lot of "how to sew" videos on YouTube. I think that'll help you narrow down what you want.

Good points here, and I think they hold up generally.

I didn't start this thread as the intention of starting the be-all end-all sewing machine information thread, rather as a place to point out deals and get information on--primarily industrial--machines that fill our needs for heavy duty sewing. If one has zero sewing experience, a heavy industrial machine may not be the best place to start out (but if they're handy, not a bad place either). I wish I had just gone straight for a compound feed machine and not messed around with domestics at all, since I had very specific projects in mind when I started, and they all involved work with heavy materials. If you KNOW you are committed to sewing a saddle and seeing it and a few other projects through, plus have the space and money for an industrial machine, I wouldn't buy anything else.

I am happy to answer "will X machine work for Y project" questions here all day, as long as the thread is active. I don't have the experience to answer for every single machine, but with enough of us here, we should all be able to steer one another in a roughly educated direction.
 
Good points here, and I think they hold up generally.

I didn't start this thread as the intention of starting the be-all end-all sewing machine information thread, rather as a place to point out deals and get information on--primarily industrial--machines that fill our needs for heavy duty sewing. If one has zero sewing experience, a heavy industrial machine may not be the best place to start out (but if they're handy, not a bad place either). I wish I had just gone straight for a compound feed machine and not messed around with domestics at all, since I had very specific projects in mind when I started, and they all involved work with heavy materials. If you KNOW you are committed to sewing a saddle and seeing it and a few other projects through, plus have the space and money for an industrial machine, I wouldn't buy anything else.

I am happy to answer "will X machine work for Y project" questions here all day, as long as the thread is active. I don't have the experience to answer for every single machine, but with enough of us here, we should all be able to steer one another in a roughly educated direction.

I tend to agree with this comment. I wish I would have went straight to a compound feed machine as well. It’s just my opinion but I’d argue a industrial machine set up with a servo and a small pulley is easier to sew with than any domestic I’ve used. I bought a few old domestic machines and never even really tried to make any saddles with them as I realized they might work for one here or there but if I was really interested in making several then I’d be way further ahead by getting a machine that’s designed to handle it. However, if the plan is to make pouches and other accessories I believe one could get by with just a domestic.
This thread is a great resource. There’s lots of capable industrial machines that get posted here for great prices. Anyone looking should watch their local Facebook marketplace and Craigslist for deals as well as this thread. They are out there to be had, you just have to be ready to act quick to scoop up some of these as they go fast. For example I’ve picked up a singer 111g156 for $125, a tacsew t111-155 for $200 and a juki dnu-1541 for $400 locally. These are all compound feed machines with reverse and I’d consider them all great deals. They all included tables and clutch motors and worked. The singer took some cleaning to get running smoothly and the tacsew I had to reset the timing but that really isn’t hard at all.
My advice if your new to sewing and going down the industrial route is if it includes a clutch motor to figure the price of a servo into your budget as well. The exception would be if it had a speed reducer on it. Servos are very reasonably priced and a fairly simple swap for the clutch motor. Most certainly any clutch motor will be too fast for most beginners and possibly even those with lots of domestic sewing experience. They really can be scary fast.
I’m certainly not as knowledgeable as some on this thread when it comes to these machines but I’m more than happy to answer any questions or offer my opinion on what I do know about them.


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Good points here, and I think they hold up generally.

I didn't start this thread as the intention of starting the be-all end-all sewing machine information thread, rather as a place to point out deals and get information on--primarily industrial--machines that fill our needs for heavy duty sewing.

I am happy to answer "will X machine work for Y project" questions here all day, as long as the thread is active. I don't have the experience to answer for every single machine, but with enough of us here, we should all be able to steer one another in a roughly educated direction.

Good point. Maybe we need a beginner sewing thread.

It's actually pretty cool. I've done a lot of different sports and been on a lot of different forums. Never have I seen a DIY thread in which sewing is a big topic of discussion.
 
Good point. Maybe we need a beginner sewing thread.

It's actually pretty cool. I've done a lot of different sports and been on a lot of different forums. Never have I seen a DIY thread in which sewing is a big topic of discussion.

Only forum I’m on that sewing is a big part of as well. Have a guy at work giving me a hard time about sewing who then decided he wanted to buy a wallet from me that I had recently made. I even made a few bags for my daughter for her birthday. Making these bags definitely gave me some ideas that I think could be implemented into pouch designs and other accessories.
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@andy0689 Thanks, I appreciate your taking the time to provide the feedback. I would buy and industrial, but I am having a hard time finding one and the ones I find are all $400+ and a few states away. I was just looking to pick up a cheap machine so I could determine is this is something that I want to do in the long term without sinking a ton of money into a machine. I have no problem spending a little bit of money on a first machine and then upgrading to something nicer if I want to keep doing it. I’ll keep looking and maybe something will turn up. Patience had never been one of my virtues....I generally like to dive right in!
 
@andy0689 Thanks, I appreciate your taking the time to provide the feedback. I would buy and industrial, but I am having a hard time finding one and the ones I find are all $400+ and a few states away. I was just looking to pick up a cheap machine so I could determine is this is something that I want to do in the long term without sinking a ton of money into a machine. I have no problem spending a little bit of money on a first machine and then upgrading to something nicer if I want to keep doing it. I’ll keep looking and maybe something will turn up. Patience had never been one of my virtues....I generally like to dive right in!

I lack patience as well. Im sure the machines that pop up locally for sale are really dependent on your location. I’m not far from Chicago and milwaukee and a decent number seem to pop up here. It still takes patience and luck to find a great deal and be the first one to be able to jump on it. I’ve purchased five industrials over the last year and three have been what I would consider great deals and two were fair deals.


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I lack patience as well. Im sure the machines that pop up locally for sale are really dependent on your location. I’m not far from Chicago and milwaukee and a decent number seem to pop up here. It still takes patience and luck to find a great deal and be the first one to be able to jump on it. I’ve purchased five industrials over the last year and three have been what I would consider great deals and two were fair deals.


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Yeah, I did see you guys talking about that Singer 111 for $150. I was just sitting here gritting my teeth, Ha! Ha! I could have a 111W155 if I’m willing to drive to MD and pay $400 for it. Really want something with reverse. Wish I could go back 6 years, I was stationed just North of Chicago....
 
Yeah, I did see you guys talking about that Singer 111 for $150. I was just sitting here gritting my teeth, Ha! Ha! I could have a 111W155 if I’m willing to drive to MD and pay $400 for it. Really want something with reverse. Wish I could go back 6 years, I was stationed just North of Chicago....

Reverse was always an option I required but for $150 if I didn’t already have a couple machines I’d be all over it. Two of the great deals I got on machines were from northern Illinois.


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I just scanned some listings on Craigslist for northern Illinois. People ask too much up there.

$1400 for a 111w155? Sounds like a lot to me. But, kinda cool that it's about 10 mins from where I used to live in Chicago when I was a kid.
 
Reverse was always an option I required but for $150 if I didn’t already have a couple machines I’d be all over it. Two of the great deals I got on machines were from northern Illinois.


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If I bought a 111W155 would I need to put a servo motor in it?
 
If I bought a 111W155 would I need to put a servo motor in it?

It’s not needed but it would make it more manageable. I don’t have a ton of experience with clutch motors. Many say that if it’s properly adjusted that a clutch motor is manageable. My pfaff 545 is the most manageable clutch motor I’ve used. I’d consider it useable but I’ve still ordered a servo for it. Every other clutch motor I’ve tried went from zero to way too fast almost instantly. You can always add a speed reducer instead of a servo but you’ll likely spend nearly as much on the reducer as you would a servo and still have the noise from the clutch motor.


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@sdoyle1 OK. Looking a 111W155 a guy wants $400 for. Maybe could get it for $300 if I whine about the 6 hr drive through DC and Baltimore that I would have to do to get it. HA! HA! What do you think? Or should I hold off for something better?
 
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@sdoyle1 OK. Looking a 111W155 a guy wants $400 for. Maybe could get it for $300 if I whine about the 6 hr drive through DC and Baltimore that I would have to do to get it. HA! HA! What do you think? Or should I hold off for something better?

They are capable machines. No reverse. I found my mother a 111g156 which is similar with reverse. It’s a nice machine. I’m far from an expert on what to look for as to what could be wrong with them. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in. I personally wouldn’t spend $400 on it unless it was in great condition and recently serviced by a reputable place. $300 might be an acceptable price in your area but I’m not sure on that either. Given my circumstances where I’m at I’d hold out for something else but many machines in this class pop up for sale in my area so I have plenty of options. It’s definitely a machine that’ll handle whatever you’d need it to do for making saddles.


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@sdoyle1 OK. Looking a 111W155 a guy wants $400 for. Maybe could get it for $300 if I whine about the 6 hr drive through DC and Baltimore that I would have to do to get it. HA! HA! What do you think? Or should I hold off for something better?

Hold out for a better price that is hopefully closer to you.
 
One thing I noticed and have been meaning to post about is this:

The tension release on a Singer 15-91 is not dependent on the foot height. It is dependent on the lift lever only. If you jam fabric under a 15-91 you can sew as long as the needle bar does not hit the foot. The tension disks remain tight so tension remains consistent. You may have to turn it by hand to get through thick fabric.

With an industrial machine, if the foot height is high due to fabric thickness, the tension disks are released no matter the position of the lift lever.
If you jam fabric under and sew, the tension is released and you get a birds nest of thread under the fabric. I have reset the foot height to sew thicker and got around this concern but then you can't sew thinner fabric without resetting the zero height again. Resetting this is much easier on an industrial than a domestic machine but it still takes 5 to 10 minutes.
 
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