recommendation for new sewing machine

The wife wishes to replace her White sewing machine purchased in the early '70's. Nothing terribly wrong with it except probably needs a professional cleaning. We figure it would be more economical in the long run to replace it.

She does very little original sewing: Just alterations and repairs. A common task is shortening the legs of blue jeans. Hence a requirement for a machine powerful enough to go through denim approximately 3/16 thick? (The present White has great difficulty with this).

So far, she seems to think the Brother Project Runway Ltd. Ed. "50" would suit her needs.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Thermo102

Reply to
thermo102
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Keep what you have

Reply to
Ron Anderson

Ron is our favorite repairman. He's straightforward and honest. If he says keep it, then you should keep it. Have it cleaned and serviced and you'll save yourself a lot of money and aggravation Juno

Reply to
Juno B

Absolutely!

Clean and oil that poor old White. You have no idea how much better it'll go when you do. And it'll go through the denim like a pro, whereas the Brother will have a hard time of it. I've just had the Brother Innov-is 10A on my bench for a month for extensive testing. Here's what I said:

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The one you are looking at is very similar.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

Heavens YES! do not dump that old machine. I have a newer and very expensive machine (a Janome 9700), I hit 2 layers of denim with it and BANG, the timing is off for the 100th time. Now all it will do it jam as I sew. I got out my much older New Home and it went right through the denim. No problem. My other machine will have to go in to be fixed (for another $100, no doubt).

Jon

Reply to
Dr. Jon R.N.

It looks like one of those so-called sewing machines that have no frame. The top shaft and bottom shaft are just screwed to the plastic shell. I have come across several that, when the timing goes, there is no way to make an adjustment and parts are not available. They are throw-aways.

gwh

Reply to
Wayne Hines

It's great fun to have a new machine with "features" that weren't even available when you got your old White. But like with so many things -- new houses come to mind here -- "trim" is no substitute for a solid foundation. When your White was made, people took sewing seriously and needed something that was up to the task of long, straight seams, of mending overalls and other heavy items, of running for hours with little rest. New machines may do a lot of surface decoration that looks cool, but few of them are up to being work horses. Those that are cost thousands of dollars, and often don't have a lot of fancy stuff.

Ron and Wayne are in the sewing machine sales and repair business. If they say to hang onto your White, I would say that's precious advice. Get it serviced by a competent sewing machine mechanic, which may be a little hard to find, but persevere. If you still want fancy stuff, buy a good used machine with the features you want, but keep the White -- it'll be handy when the new one is in the shop.

Reply to
Pogonip

Something's wrong there. We routinely do 6 layers of 12-oz denim on that machine with no problem with the timing. If it's jamming, it may be that the bobbin case is out of position.

gwh

Reply to
Wayne Hines

Try to clean and oil it yourself. Just read the manual or ask for direction on how to do this. And be sure to use a jeans needle! Barbara in Florida

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

I have the White 3100 which is virtually the same machine as the Huskystar C-20 but a few dollars less, and I love it.

Not only will it sew many layers of denim routinely, but I find that the computerized controls are a real blessing.

Yes, i know that many here think that computerized machines are the work of the devil, but I'll respectfully disagree!

Reply to
Sparafucile

Oh, I adore my Lily! Don't get me wrong... It's been worth every penny of the £1100 price tag (though I paid less on special offer) over the last 10 years. But I acknowledged and accounted for at the time that the computerized bits would have a limited life, and that when they died it would be a dead/parts only machine. So far it has rarely put a foot or needle wrong, but you also have to take into account that they need regular servicing that cannot be done at home the way you can with the older mechanical machines.

Nothing I own matches it for buttonholes, and a lot of newer machines don't do them as well, even electronic ones. If you want/need 10+ buttonhoe patterns, go for rlrctronic, but if you want it to go through denim AS WELL< you are going to have to spend a LOT of money! Yer under £200/$200 cheapie starter models are not going to hack it and it would be an unkindness to the machine and the buyer to sell them one.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

To everyone who has responded to our original inquiry: A big thanks!

I forgot to mention the most important feature the wife was looking for, i.e. the free arm construction (which the old White does not have).

She has bitten the bullet and ordered a Brothers CS6000 i60 stitch from Sears.

We'll definitely hold on to the old machine and I'll see what I can do to get it loosened up. I'll most likely be back in a few weeks asking more questions.

Thanks again, Thermo

Reply to
thermo102

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Wow, good luck with that. Would you buy a new car for $1,59.70? No? Then why buy a "sewing machine" (that's in quotes for a good reason) for the equivilent?

My first sewing machine, a brand new Singer 401A still going strong 49 years later, I bought for over $700 in 1962 dollars. Let's see, with inflation that would be about $5,038.81 today.

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Reply to
BEI Design

Most inexpensive machine sold these days are sold to be toys. Back in the early 70s, most sewing machines sold were tools, not toys. Please reconsider divesting yourself of your machine. A good mechanical machine that is regularly taken care of can last a century or more.

Reply to
Samantha Hill

I have several free-arm machines but have not used the feature in years. Plan your sewing carefully and you won't really need it.

I say, if a new machine makes you happy, get it. Just don't get rid of your old one -- get it serviced and keep it in good condition, and you won't be sorry.

Reply to
Samantha Hill

Keep my email address for when you need the parts you will. The bobbin case is $25.00 plus $6.00 shipping and handling. I sell about 10 a week.

Reply to
Ron Anderson

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