Any insight on this one?View attachment 44452View attachment 44453
Looks like a Singer 306W. I've never used one.
Any insight on this one?View attachment 44452View attachment 44453
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.
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.
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.
Maybe we need a beginner sewing thread
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.
@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!
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....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....
If I bought a 111W155 would I need to put a servo motor in it?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?
@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?
@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?
The price seems high. Check out your local thrift stores. The 15-91 I have was listed at $100 but the thrift store had reductions depending on how long they had it so I paid $25 with cabinet.I found this 15-91 . Good deal? @bj139 View attachment 44507