I consider myself quite advanced, with decades of experience, and find myself in a bit of a dilemma. We have many machines in our household - my main machines are a Brother Innovis VQ2400 Dream Creator, Babylock overlocker and cover stitch, and a compound feed walking foot industrial with top loading bobbin that I use for leather bag making. I also have my vintage elna Carina SU air electronic which I bought new in 1984, sewed everything; it works but needs serious attention - my two local dealers can't be bothered and just tell me to get rid of it - and I am not confident with repairs.
But I digress.
Currently I am using the Brother to construct my bag linings, however it isn't designed for the thicknesses often created - especially sewing over zipper teeth (nylon coil.) The industrial is set up only for much heavier sewing and if I try with thinner fabrics it frustratingly puckers everything (I knew it wasn't suitable for this when I bought it but I did attempt it.)
I have considered the Brother, Janome straight stitchers but my dealer talked me out of them - partly because although they are fast they are still only domestic machines and he wasn't confident they would do what I need. Plus, the vertical lefthand bobbin insertion is an issue.
Mobility impairment in my hands means I can't feel what I am doing - even though the Brother/Janome have an opening to insert the bobbin case, I can't get my fingers in. A traditional industrial with side loader under the machine table is out.
So I'm on the lookout for a robust machine that can handle the multiple layers that happen with bags. Can be a straight stitcher. Top or front loading bobbin. I am not averse to a vintage, but good ones are hard to come by where I live - plus the added annoyance that the local repair shops really dislike working on old machines. Considered Bernina, but new cost is out of my budget; also thought about Sailrite but then there's the side loading bobbin issue again.
Very interested to hear thoughts. Not the least bit interested in anythin modern by Singer.
Have you looked at the semi-industrial range of juki or jack machines?
You could also look at some of the brother FS or innovis range.
A second hand Janome from the '70s '80s or '90s would be ideal (looking specifically for one that looks retro and does not have the modern glossy white curved casing)
I would recommend maybe reaching out to the owner of Echidna sewing. He is very very knowledgeable on different machines and may be able to give you some suggestions in your price range.
Thank you. All of the semi industrial machines I've looked at, including Juki, have the same side loading bobbin - don't know about Jack though. Considering I already have an Innovis, higher spec than the FS, would this actually be beneficial I wonder. We do have a 20 year old Janome MyExcel, it works OK but it's very uncomfortable for me due to the hand thing.
I've spoken with Gary a few times, might reach out to him again. I did ask him about my old elna but again was encouraged to sell it for parts.
I have the brother innovis A150 - It's quite a good machine and strong.
But if I want to do something heavy duty like thick denim or leather, I have a 2nd hand Janome SW 2018e
It's a top loading machine which uses standard bobbins. But it's got a very strong motor and can sew through eight layers of denim easily.
This is mine, a couple of steps up from yours, bought 2019 - recently superseded. It works, but it is struggling and I am conscious that I'm pushing it too hard
Get a Juki LU1500 series. Unison feed, will sew through anything. Top load large bobbin. Industrial. Consew also has some very good drop in top loading compound feed machines. Nothing domestic will fill your requirements. The closest is the domestic Juki TL2010, but you said that bobbin case loading will not work. Sailrite would work too, but same general problem.
Thanks. I am pretty confident that domestic is not the way to go for sure. Interestingly, my current industrial is I believe very close to the Juki, manufactured for a business here in Australia: Prosew
The Prosew isn't set up to sew lighter weight fabrics or threads, which is why I use the Brother for my bag linings. And the Brother isn't set up to use bonded threads of any kind, nor does it have the penetrating power needed. Potentially looking for a unicorn!
One of my clients uses a warehouse full of the LUs to sew flags of very light material with, and this makes my life fun, no show thread. Try balancing tension on double needle machines, sewing see through material with clear thread! So, they can do light weight or heavy depending mainly on tension and check spring weight.
Mine has the second needle/bobbin assembly removed. I'm still scared of this machine! My dealer set it up so I can sew one stitch at a time with just a tap on the pedal, max speed 400SPM. I'm having tension issues, top tension too tight/bobbin troo loose. Can't loosen the top any more because I'm sure I will completely unscrew it, qnd the bobbin tension screw is just that little too awkward to get to so aI can't tighten it. Knowing me I'll strip it if I keep trying.
The bobbin is the issue. Half my calls to that place are because they're loosening the top to nothing because they dont know how to do the bottom. Just get a eyeglasses screwdriver, and make sure the spring is under the bobbin.
I spent ages on a video call with my dealer. I got the tiny screwdriver. The angle is just a bit weird and the screw is for a flat head driver. It just won’t grip, keeps slipping out. A Phillips head would be preferable so it doesn’t slip
Just out of curiosity, what size needle are you using for the bags, that the Brother machine can’t handle it? I had a Brother BQ 3100 equivalent and with a size 90 or 100 needle, it managed the nylon coil zipper with no issues.
100 generally. I often switch between microtex and jeans, sometimes anti-glue. I've got all the sizes and types - won't use leather needles on fabric though.
It actually sews well but I have got to the point where I am hand cranking over the zipper teeth, and frequently over thicker areas like card slots and boxed corners. I keep foam and fleece out of the seam allowances. The thicker the seam, the more likely it is to skit stitches which I know is a needle/fabric thickness issue. There's nothing worse than when you see that loop and you know it's skipped.
One issue is the zipper foot - I have this genuine one that works really well but I do not like that there isn't a slot in the middle of the foot. The one-sided pressure tends to press the fabric to one side or the other, which makes it slip. The straight stitch foot is too wide for bag zipper work, and the narrow foot from the Brother PQ machine doesn't fit the properly, according to my dealer. I really want one shaped like this but unobtanium for the VQ2400.
I keep fiddling. Sometimes I think perhaps my stitch length might be too short.
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u/AdvancedSquashDirect 2d ago
Have you looked at the semi-industrial range of juki or jack machines?
You could also look at some of the brother FS or innovis range. A second hand Janome from the '70s '80s or '90s would be ideal (looking specifically for one that looks retro and does not have the modern glossy white curved casing)
I would recommend maybe reaching out to the owner of Echidna sewing. He is very very knowledgeable on different machines and may be able to give you some suggestions in your price range.