Nov 5, 2012, 3:14 PM
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Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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So, I am a self described gear whore and like to know how things work. So it would only make sense to start learning a bit about rigging.
So I went out and got a little household sewing machine to be able to get some experience on pushing a needle into fabric. Well, once you start, you start to realize that a household machine just doesn't like taking a big needle and trying to push it through several layers of webbing.
So I asked for some suggestions on a good starter machine. Maybe a straight/zigzag machine. Life is good. But then you realize that having to adjust tension and stitch length from straight to zigzag after you get the machine dialed in for straight stitch sux.
So you look for a second machine so you can have one for straight and one for zigzag. Ok, now you are cooking.
But then you start getting fed up with how the bottom feed machines cause the slippery fabric to get pulled through unevenly and you get bunching.
So you look for a walking foot machine. Man, remarkable how nice those patches are when the fabric gets pulled through sooo smoooothly.
But then it hits you how much a double needle walking foot with a 3/16" gauge spacing would be the cat's meow for all things holy and unholy.
So, are you sure you want to buy that household machine?
Nov 5, 2012, 3:26 PM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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Do you know when things really start to suck ?
When as much as you tell yourself that your mechanical 42 stitch bartacker does most of the jobs ok-ish, you know perfectly well that you are about to dump some ungodly amount of $$$ into buying a Juki 1900 :(
Nov 5, 2012, 3:30 PM
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Yup. A friend's daughter was complaining that she needed a new backpack. Her old one had blown a seam and she didn't want to give it up. It had a lot of pockets and she had a place for everything.
I asked to take a look, and it was just the thread in the seam, the fabric was fine.
When I said that it would take me longer to set up the sewing machine than it would to actually fix it, she looked at me in shock - "You have a sewing machine?"
I replied, of course - "No, I have three sewing machines."
Nov 5, 2012, 4:18 PM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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I will never forget the loft that the Master Rigger who taught me to sew had. His loft was in the barn at his home. It had ELEVEN sewing machines, all set up, all ready to use. They ranged from two simple straight stitch machines, to a harness machine, with a bartacker in the middle. It was a magical place.
Unfortunately, before we finished my work with him he lost his mind (acute psychosis) and died.
I always wondered what happened to those machines.
Nov 5, 2012, 4:25 PM
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Re: [GLIDEANGLE] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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I will never forget the loft that the Master Rigger who taught me to sew had. His loft was in the barn at his home. It had ELEVEN sewing machines, all set up, all ready to use. They ranged from two simple straight stitch machines, to a harness machine, with a bartacker in the middle. It was a magical place.
Unfortunately, before we finished my work with him he lost his mind (acute psychosis) and died.
I always wondered what happened to those machines.
If this guy's loft was magical, you would lose your mind when you walk into the loft of PeteS.
Nov 5, 2012, 5:09 PM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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I'm just jealous. I'd love to own a 20U, a double needle walking foot, and everything in between
PhreeZone (D License)
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Nov 5, 2012, 5:21 PM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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I'm trying ot justify a Juki 1900 but once I get out of my current house I am getting a few more machines for sure. I have the straight, a 20u and a light harness machine. I have my eye out for a Class 7 Singer and a bartacker next. Highest on my list is a Double needle with a binding attachment.
(This post was edited by PhreeZone on Nov 6, 2012, 8:37 AM)
Nov 6, 2012, 6:39 AM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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I hear ya. It was only a year or so ago that I had a home machine and a nice room to sew in. And now the room has two home machines, a serger, a zigzag and a harness machine - and no room to sew.
Nov 6, 2012, 7:35 AM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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When you have a Class 7, an electronic bar tacker, a 308 zig zag (maybe that was in there), 3 walking foot machine along with a needle feed, and a 31-15 just because it's on a real nice wooden table, along with the regular zig-zag, double needle and straight stitch machine. THEN we'll talk. Other than upgrading the double needle to a split bar version I'm actually done for now.
The most machines I've seen outside of a manufacturer is MEL's shop. When I was there 2 Juki 1900's, 3 mechanical (maybe 4) bar tackers, 2 Consew class 7's, and 10 or 15 other machines set up ready to go. Then he talked about his warehouse of machines.
Nov 6, 2012, 8:06 AM
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Re: [councilman24] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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Other than... I'm actually done for now. angelic]
Yea... you keep telling yourself that...
I'm not alowed any more until I find a new place for them... no basement, barn, shed or other... the 301 and double are in one bed room, the class 6 and bartacker are in the dining room (another bar-tacker in the garage) and the new embroidery machine on the kitchen table (which, btw, does a light-weight 308 stitch!! )
Nov 6, 2012, 9:43 AM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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May I came over and sew the main bottom corner of a rig? The task should take only a minute or two. The manufacturer kinda forget to sew one side back up after replacing the riser covers.
Nov 6, 2012, 11:54 AM
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Re: [hookitt] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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May I came over and sew the main bottom corner of a rig? The task should take only a minute or two. The manufacturer kinda forget to sew one side back up after replacing the riser covers.
Nov 6, 2012, 1:47 PM
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Re: [theonlyski] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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Indeed he did. He's a smart dog. Small badger hound beagle mix that likes to burrow into places for proper inspection ... and show his true nature by killing the occasional ground squirrel
My current zig zag sucks. I'm looking to replace it otherwise the rig would already be fixed. I may pick up one of monkey's if it sews well.
Nov 7, 2012, 9:24 AM
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Re: [monkycndo] Aspiring riglets, be careful what you ask for
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Sewing machines? Ask my wife about those! I got interested in them after taking the rigger course. Started buying used domestics for too much money.
Then I saw that I could pick up good used pre 1970 machines for cheap because everyone has one in the house, but since grandma can't see anymore, and we throw our worn clothes away now, no one uses them any more.
So I started refurbishing these old beauties and then ebaying them. Now I have about 3 dozen old Singer 401's and 15-90s and 15-91s and 319s and 306s and a couple Pfaffs and Elnas all waiting for my work bench. I've sold about 50 of them in the last couple years. I ship them all over North America, as far away as Puerto Rico.
For my own sewing, I only keep a 20u and a 312t141 two needle, because I don't have room for any more tables. I don't sell industrial machines at all, mostly because they are too expensive to ship.
This is the sort of thing machine addiction can lead to!
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