Thread: sewing machine
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Old 07-03-08 | 11:42 PM
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le_lapin
Cupcake of Destruction
 
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Seattle, WA

Bikes: clunky, soon-to-be-replaced 15yr old Novara (ugh!) and a sweet Schwinn cruiser I picked up at Burning Man.

You definitely want a very strong, high-quality machine with a good motor, regardless of whether it's "industrial" or not. There are a lot of home sewing machines out there that would peter out eventually (or entirely) if all you were using it for was canvas, leather, and nylon webbing. I have a high-end home sewing machine, and it can definitely handle tougher stuff but it's still not geared towards those applications. I would look into industrial machines that don't have all kinds of features that would be useless to you (like mine), but rather are fast, very strong, sturdy workhorses. You also might consider looking for an antique. My dad collects Singer Featherweights, and despite the name they're very tough machines that use a manual treadle. He uses one of his exclusively for sewing outdoor clothing and jeans. If you end up with a more standard home machine, you'll want one that can handle thicker thread through the top and bottom.

Find some businesses that work with similar materials, like sail-makers or small outdoor gear companies, and ask what they use. See if they recommend brands or styles of machines. I'm sure there is a middle of the road industrial-style machine that would be affordable and not too large, for smaller operations.
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