The shorter the stitch length, the more pucker-one reason to get a Sailrite. The long stitch, especially the zigzag, allows for stretch so the stitch doesn’t break. Need a bigger stitch than this Sailrite for making sails other than for a dinghy. Get a walking foot attachment for your Singer to help feed heavier and stretchy fabric thru. I use my Singer HD for everything but canvas. I think they’re a good combination if you sew more than just canvas and repair sails.
I agree. Its just a very capable machine. I havent had the chance to make anything new recently but I am hoping to make my outside window snap covers for the Trawler soon.
i use a carbon pile footpedal on my 9" (instead of a sailrite's 7")arm. same machine just a longer arm. sewline made it. comes in a very standard paint. but i had to upgrade the stichlegnth adjustment plate and thread tensioner to sailrite's to get it working like it should. there is a little black arm that moves the needle bar left and right. this little arm i speak about is in the arm of the machine, its a pushrod. anywho, how deep it is mounted in the right side(looking at the machine) junction it has can cause the zigzag to be limited to how far it really can go; with it properly buried deeply into its not-needle-bar junction/rightside(i have the manual and shematics two rooms over but im not getting up for it sorry) you can fill the inside/needle presserfoot with as much zigzag as it can allow. in fact theres a little stopper plate screwed into the far-end of the zigzag width adjustment lever's throw-area; if you move the stopper plate too far left then some bad things can happen so handwheel it. the thompson walking foot machine is nice, you can reverse with two hands on your work, put the machine on the floor, use cheap bobbins, it doesnt break. with feet mods and tuning the timing and height and foot pressure/spring itll sewdelicate things. i have mine setup with left feedog only being used with a zipper foot but its horses for courses. carbon pile foot pedal is a must, mine poped and hissed alot when i first got it and used it at very lowspeeds but works Great. real control. oh there's a plastic case that needs holes for handwheel and motor to poke out to haul it. lol its a beast of a portable machine ready to do lots of stuff. i havent really tried comparing it to dropfeed for delicate stuff but for straight stiches on muslin its consistant, its fine. the zigzag doesnt have built-in repeatability but it could get finagled by an ingenious mind easily.
@@tomsiegler8413s.e.w. line is the name of the seller/company on ebay. you want to search for their store and then find the machine by looking for 'mini walking foot'. i placed an order with sailrite for he stitch length plate and a carbon pile pedal from them but there is no reason why you cant get the pedal for cheaper on ebay or something. when you get the machine and the carbon pile pedal you should open the [so called] 'electronic' pedal and remove the wire's plug on the jacket that keeps the wire anchored rather than cutting the wire off because it can be installed in the new carbon pedal and also there was a medal clip if i recall correctly i also took from the 'electronic' pedal and put onto the carbon. and i also wired on a LED light (the common magnetic type sold everywhere) onto the power cord. i like the sewline because the paint looks nice. if you buy one tell the dude Chris Price who you sent free hardware to reffered you. i broke a set screw and he sent me 4 additional setscrews and the pulley wheel with the stuck grub/setscrew. i still have that repair to complete :/ if you skip stiches and need to adjust gib hook spacing or have questions about centering and tuning the zigzag let me know.
I saw those. But it looked like they didnt have enough lift on each step to fit many layers. Plus the Singer lacked a bit of power for some of the thicker stuff I am sewing...like many layers of Sunbrella. But overall the little Singer is a great machine as well.
ok so, the thompson walking foot is,, not a REAL unison feed/needle feed walking foot. but it Does do top and bottom feed and will sew rugs and thick drapes. thompson walking foot(sailrite's machine) is a walking foot. others are made that use the outside foot to advance, its fairly legit and handy. ok now what you are talking about is a 50% plastic attachment that goes on a domestic machine. domestic machines that have neat cylinderarm beds and usefull stiches like overcast ones, thread cutter, reverse buttons are cool but the standard stuff sold is such low value really. of all sewing machines to be purchased what is popularly sold is the worst. worst to work on or repair, last less than ten years, function worse.
Actually, the needle does not move with the outer presser foot, it stays stationary, along with the middle presser foot, only the outer foot and the feed dog move the fabric through the machine. That's called a top-and-bottom walking fooot feed. The next step up is a triple, or compound, walking foot feed where the needle does move with the outer foot and feed dog, making it nearly impossible for the fabric to slip. Also, the Sailrite does not sound like an industrial machine, it sounds like a noisy, clunky Sailrite. Industrial machines don't sound like that, they are much smoother and quieter because they are high precision machines.
I agree on all counts. Since this video i sold the sailrite and purchased the Seiko machine from NC machines. Its amazing. And as you say..precision. i also added a servo motor. That video is on my channel too.
@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101 Only problem owning this machine is not being able to walk down the docks without being asked to repair something. Most canvasmakers will not touch small jobs. just saying
@@jimmorris8158 I already had that problem several times...lol. I have another video where I made my interior cushions. Save me several thousand over the quotes I was getting. Sewing many times is just so labor intensive its tough to get something done at low cost, or as you said for a pro to even take on a small job. Thats why I knew it was time for me to learn.
The zig-zag stitch is stronger for sails because it avoids the straight line of needle hole "perforations" that tear easier than the staggered needle holes of a zig-zag stitch.
I'm fixing to buy a heavy duty singer machine. Going to use it to recover my boat. I have a really old singer but it's about had it. Of course I'll buy a walking foot for it.
Unless it is one with metal gears you may be disappointed. Id go for a Janome HD 3000 at least. High lift can sew thru 2 pieces of leather belt material at once aprox $400.
I dont know what camper canvas is really. The main issue is feeding and how many layers will be folded. The Singer really is quite capable. If your patient and help it feed, it can do more than than you think. But if you have to fold it too many times like sewing where multiple corners come together its really difficult.
Thanks a bunch Lydia. In many ways the Singer was fantastic. I am sure I am not doing it justice since I dont know about many of its features and capabilities. But I do know that soon I will be making a canvas or sunbrella top for the boat which is the main reason for the Sailrite. If I were to make more interior cushions I might still use the Singer. Thats why I have not sold it. It really is amazing to me what these machines can do.
Used a jeans needle with longer stitches on my Singer. If my neighbors didn’t call the police due to hearing loud cursing and yelling I’d been surprised. That’s the answer to that. The walking feet for these machines are clunky and bulky. It doesn’t have much clearance as it is. Don’t get my wrong. Sewing a boat top didn’t kill the Singer but just might have lead to a divorce from the husband who asked me to sew it! His father dropped my heavy duty Singer industrial off a fork lift and he had finally worked up the courage to tell me soooo...I was in a time crunch to get the top done. I’ve been thinking about getting one of these machines. I’m used to having walking feet machines (most of my home machines are built in). So a bit spoiled! The singer does sew denim pretty well but not crazy amounts of layers and not a fan of the straight stitch foot that is weirdly designed and you can get hung up on things. Other than that it’s not a bad machine for the price. You can see chiffon one minute, change the needle/stitch length and sew some denim the next. It’s the only new singer I recommend cause they aren’t like they used to be!
I dont know. If it was one layer of isenglass to 1 layer of Sunbrella..probably. if you had to fold that and go through 4 layers..doubtfull. im selling the Sailrite if you're anywhere near Tampa.
Possibly. The Singer is a very capable machine and actually much more refined than the Sailrite. Its really just the fact of the walking foot that lifts and pulls multiple layers through. If that material is fairly think but doesnt overlap 4 or 8 times it may be able to. But I am not an expert. Research more on the singer.
@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101 it's an engine cover that is really only one layer except if I want to sew in a few stripes for style. The cover on it now has just had the stitching deteriorated. If I felt comfortable with edge welts that would be the thickest part. It's the rear of a 2007 stingray 180rx
Thanks. Ill take all the tips I can get. After several more sewing projects its clear there are many levels to this skill. I think im still on level 1..lol
@@yoshiodoom The singer doesn't have the punch power or take the larger needles that the Sailrite does. Depends on your job. I just purchased a Sailrite...now I have 32 machines. LOL
@@chrystalhenthorne8209 I just used my hd to reupholster my auto seats with marine vinyl. The walking foot from singer was less than optimal, but my Teflon foot worked great. I did bend one needle sewing through a plastic j hook and I can understand the desire to use bigger ones.
Its not a piece of junk at all. I still have the Singer, i still have the Sailrite but I also just got a Seiko walking foot that I put a servo motor on. Each machine has its place. The Singer is one smooth machine. The Seiko is a smooth powerful walking foot that will handle nearly anything. But it weight 50 lbs without the motor. The Sailrite is portable, walking foot and handles many jobs. They all have thier place.
Been sewing on my Sailrite over 10 yrs and the only issues Ive ever had with it was my own fault not the machines. Even then I shot an email with a pic to them they sent me a list of what I needed to replace and a video on how to do it. Im was clueless on how to work on one ! By now I have reset timing I screwedup replaced parts and like I said the ONLY thing I broke was broken because of operator error..all me@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101
The shorter the stitch length, the more pucker-one reason to get a Sailrite. The long stitch, especially the zigzag, allows for stretch so the stitch doesn’t break. Need a bigger stitch than this Sailrite for making sails other than for a dinghy. Get a walking foot attachment for your Singer to help feed heavier and stretchy fabric thru. I use my Singer HD for everything but canvas. I think they’re a good combination if you sew more than just canvas and repair sails.
I still have the Singer. But I traded the Sailrite for a Seiko walking foot. I love the Seiko. Each one has its positive attributes for sure.
Ive been using my Sailrite for 5 yrs & you cant beat it.
I agree. Its just a very capable machine. I havent had the chance to make anything new recently but I am hoping to make my outside window snap covers for the Trawler soon.
i use a carbon pile footpedal on my 9" (instead of a sailrite's 7")arm. same machine just a longer arm. sewline made it. comes in a very standard paint. but i had to upgrade the stichlegnth adjustment plate and thread tensioner to sailrite's to get it working like it should. there is a little black arm that moves the needle bar left and right. this little arm i speak about is in the arm of the machine, its a pushrod. anywho, how deep it is mounted in the right side(looking at the machine) junction it has can cause the zigzag to be limited to how far it really can go; with it properly buried deeply into its not-needle-bar junction/rightside(i have the manual and shematics two rooms over but im not getting up for it sorry) you can fill the inside/needle presserfoot with as much zigzag as it can allow. in fact theres a little stopper plate screwed into the far-end of the zigzag width adjustment lever's throw-area; if you move the stopper plate too far left then some bad things can happen so handwheel it. the thompson walking foot machine is nice, you can reverse with two hands on your work, put the machine on the floor, use cheap bobbins, it doesnt break. with feet mods and tuning the timing and height and foot pressure/spring itll sewdelicate things. i have mine setup with left feedog only being used with a zipper foot but its horses for courses.
carbon pile foot pedal is a must, mine poped and hissed alot when i first got it and used it at very lowspeeds but works Great. real control. oh there's a plastic case that needs holes for handwheel and motor to poke out to haul it. lol its a beast of a portable machine ready to do lots of stuff. i havent really tried comparing it to dropfeed for delicate stuff but for straight stiches on muslin its consistant, its fine. the zigzag doesnt have built-in repeatability but it could get finagled by an ingenious mind easily.
@@chrisprice5806 where did you get the 9” and carbon pile pedal?
@@tomsiegler8413s.e.w. line is the name of the seller/company on ebay. you want to search for their store and then find the machine by looking for 'mini walking foot'.
i placed an order with sailrite for he stitch length plate and a carbon pile pedal from them but there is no reason why you cant get the pedal for cheaper on ebay or something.
when you get the machine and the carbon pile pedal you should open the [so called] 'electronic' pedal and remove the wire's plug on the jacket that keeps the wire anchored rather than cutting the wire off because it can be installed in the new carbon pedal and also there was a medal clip if i recall correctly i also took from the 'electronic' pedal and put onto the carbon. and i also wired on a LED light (the common magnetic type sold everywhere) onto the power cord.
i like the sewline because the paint looks nice. if you buy one tell the dude Chris Price who you sent free hardware to reffered you. i broke a set screw and he sent me 4 additional setscrews and the pulley wheel with the stuck grub/setscrew. i still have that repair to complete :/
if you skip stiches and need to adjust gib hook spacing or have questions about centering and tuning the zigzag let me know.
@@chrisprice5806 unfortunately looks like the seller is not on ebay any longer
Thanks for the video. The teeth are called feed dogs, and joints are called seams, btw. Happy sewing!
Thanks Zane. Im slowly learning the lingo. It helps when discussing these things with someone who knows what they are doing..lol
Very Informative
Thanks
You could attach a walking foot to your Singer too. They cost about $12-15
I saw those. But it looked like they didnt have enough lift on each step to fit many layers. Plus the Singer lacked a bit of power for some of the thicker stuff I am sewing...like many layers of Sunbrella. But overall the little Singer is a great machine as well.
ok so, the thompson walking foot is,, not a REAL unison feed/needle feed walking foot. but it Does do top and bottom feed and will sew rugs and thick drapes.
thompson walking foot(sailrite's machine) is a walking foot. others are made that use the outside foot to advance, its fairly legit and handy.
ok now what you are talking about is a 50% plastic attachment that goes on a domestic machine. domestic machines that have neat cylinderarm beds and usefull stiches like overcast ones, thread cutter, reverse buttons are cool but the standard stuff sold is such low value really. of all sewing machines to be purchased what is popularly sold is the worst. worst to work on or repair, last less than ten years, function worse.
Buy cheap buy twice
Actually, the needle does not move with the outer presser foot, it stays stationary, along with the middle presser foot, only the outer foot and the feed dog move the fabric through the machine. That's called a top-and-bottom walking fooot feed. The next step up is a triple, or compound, walking foot feed where the needle does move with the outer foot and feed dog, making it nearly impossible for the fabric to slip. Also, the Sailrite does not sound like an industrial machine, it sounds like a noisy, clunky Sailrite. Industrial machines don't sound like that, they are much smoother and quieter because they are high precision machines.
I agree on all counts. Since this video i sold the sailrite and purchased the Seiko machine from NC machines. Its amazing. And as you say..precision. i also added a servo motor. That video is on my channel too.
Zig Zag is used primarily for sails. I've had the same machine since 2004. Made fair amount of change doing small jobs around the marina. Good choice
Thats what everyone said...lol. So I figured that many people could not be wrong.
@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101 Only problem owning this machine is not being able to walk down the docks without being asked to repair something. Most canvasmakers will not touch small jobs. just saying
@@jimmorris8158 I already had that problem several times...lol. I have another video where I made my interior cushions. Save me several thousand over the quotes I was getting. Sewing many times is just so labor intensive its tough to get something done at low cost, or as you said for a pro to even take on a small job. Thats why I knew it was time for me to learn.
The zig-zag stitch is stronger for sails because it avoids the straight line of needle hole "perforations" that tear easier than the staggered needle holes of a zig-zag stitch.
I'm fixing to buy a heavy duty singer machine. Going to use it to recover my boat. I have a really old singer but it's about had it. Of course I'll buy a walking foot for it.
I’ve got the singer 4423 and it’s a jamming needle breaking hook out of Time pos. I will throw money at anything at this point if it will just run.
Unless it is one with metal gears you may be disappointed. Id go for a Janome HD 3000 at least. High lift can sew thru 2 pieces of leather belt material at once aprox $400.
Do you think that the singer could do camper canvases?
I dont know what camper canvas is really. The main issue is feeding and how many layers will be folded. The Singer really is quite capable. If your patient and help it feed, it can do more than than you think. But if you have to fold it too many times like sewing where multiple corners come together its really difficult.
If you use a jeans needle and a walking foot and make your stitches bigger it should work great and not struggle.
Thanks a bunch Lydia. In many ways the Singer was fantastic. I am sure I am not doing it justice since I dont know about many of its features and capabilities. But I do know that soon I will be making a canvas or sunbrella top for the boat which is the main reason for the Sailrite. If I were to make more interior cushions I might still use the Singer. Thats why I have not sold it. It really is amazing to me what these machines can do.
Used a jeans needle with longer stitches on my Singer. If my neighbors didn’t call the police due to hearing loud cursing and yelling I’d been surprised. That’s the answer to that. The walking feet for these machines are clunky and bulky. It doesn’t have much clearance as it is. Don’t get my wrong. Sewing a boat top didn’t kill the Singer but just might have lead to a divorce from the husband who asked me to sew it! His father dropped my heavy duty Singer industrial off a fork lift and he had finally worked up the courage to tell me soooo...I was in a time crunch to get the top done. I’ve been thinking about getting one of these machines. I’m used to having walking feet machines (most of my home machines are built in). So a bit spoiled!
The singer does sew denim pretty well but not crazy amounts of layers and not a fan of the straight stitch foot that is weirdly designed and you can get hung up on things. Other than that it’s not a bad machine for the price. You can see chiffon one minute, change the needle/stitch length and sew some denim the next. It’s the only new singer I recommend cause they aren’t like they used to be!
@@pjpeace 😆 thanks for the laugh. And thanks for the insight.
@@pjpeace what about the 4432 model??
That's funny, I have both these machine.
Both are good in their own way.
Do you think the singer would work on sewing isenglass?
I dont know. If it was one layer of isenglass to 1 layer of Sunbrella..probably. if you had to fold that and go through 4 layers..doubtfull. im selling the Sailrite if you're anywhere near Tampa.
What can the Singer do? I would like to do some vinyl rework on my rear engine cover. Can a unit like this do it?
Possibly. The Singer is a very capable machine and actually much more refined than the Sailrite. Its really just the fact of the walking foot that lifts and pulls multiple layers through. If that material is fairly think but doesnt overlap 4 or 8 times it may be able to. But I am not an expert. Research more on the singer.
@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101 it's an engine cover that is really only one layer except if I want to sew in a few stripes for style. The cover on it now has just had the stitching deteriorated. If I felt comfortable with edge welts that would be the thickest part. It's the rear of a 2007 stingray 180rx
@@agmc4me It would probably do it with the right needle. Its a very good machine.
Offsets help with zippers
Thanks. Ill take all the tips I can get. After several more sewing projects its clear there are many levels to this skill. I think im still on level 1..lol
Why not just buy the walking foot?
You mean the attachment for the singer?
@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101 Yeah, I have one it's amazing. It works great for thick materials like marine vinyl
@@yoshiodoom The singer doesn't have the punch power or take the larger needles that the Sailrite does. Depends on your job. I just purchased a Sailrite...now I have 32 machines. LOL
@@chrystalhenthorne8209 I just used my hd to reupholster my auto seats with marine vinyl. The walking foot from singer was less than optimal, but my Teflon foot worked great. I did bend one needle sewing through a plastic j hook and I can understand the desire to use bigger ones.
About $500.
Sailrite is a piece of junk! Don't waste your money!
Its not a piece of junk at all. I still have the Singer, i still have the Sailrite but I also just got a Seiko walking foot that I put a servo motor on. Each machine has its place. The Singer is one smooth machine. The Seiko is a smooth powerful walking foot that will handle nearly anything. But it weight 50 lbs without the motor. The Sailrite is portable, walking foot and handles many jobs. They all have thier place.
I wish you would be more specific. The triple feeds cost about twice as much and come with a table. Takes a lot of room
Been sewing on my Sailrite over 10 yrs and the only issues Ive ever had with it was my own fault not the machines. Even then I shot an email with a pic to them they sent me a list of what I needed to replace and a video on how to do it. Im was clueless on how to work on one ! By now I have reset timing I screwedup replaced parts and like I said the ONLY thing I broke was broken because of operator error..all me@@mvintrigue-trawlerdiy1101