Sewing machine?

[AndyMan 7]

Can anyone recomend a good, cheap, small sewing machine? I'm not looking for bar-tacks, but something I can use on jump-suit repairs, making new helmet straps, etc? Strong enough to be able to penetrate type 8 webbing would be cool...

I'm not looking for the 100 year old "I'll sew anything" Singer that full time riggers use, but something that's lightweight, portable, innexpensive, strong motor - but not necesarily industrial strength.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[Ducky 0]

Quote

...cheap, small sewing machine?... Strong enough to be able to penetrate type 8 webbing

As the son/brother of a few "seamtress" types I'll say you may be searching for the impossible.....
That combo is a tough one, but I would certainly think you should be able to find something close. To my knowledge sewing tougher material requires tougher/larger needles which would require... you guessed tougher larger machines.

You on the right track though old tough boy tabletop singers last forever. There are at least 5 or so in my family that always have been. I never recall a breakdown. Perhaps I'll ask if my sisters or mom have one they wanna part with.

I would recomend garage sales and the classifieds. Another great place to look for "low-tech" appliances is a Thrift Store ie GoodWill.


kwak

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the windshield. Sometimes your the hammer sometimes your the nail. Question is Hun, Do you wanna get hammered or do you wanna get nailed?????

[rking12 0]

Europro makes a machine that is table top and has all metal gears. You can't hardly break it. You can break needles... I doubt you are going to find anything that will sew Type 8 webbing without going big.

I have a couple of Brother machines I got at Wal-Mart and I sew a lot. I make freefly pants, tubes and other stuff and have never had an issue with this $100 machine. I know I need a bigger one but I sure like the convenience.

I also found this site that sells some VERY tough thread that fits in regular machines. http://www.americanhomeandhabitat.com/catagories/fabric.htm

[riggerrob 643]

Pfaff 230 series machines work great for light weight repairs. I sewed together a couple of main canopies with mine.
The trick is finding an old - cast iron old - machine that will pull E-thread (Z-69). that requires a needle in the 18 to 22 size range. There is also a European standard for measuring needles, I think that means size 110 for pulling E thread. Don't be swayed by salesmen who show you how their favorite machine will sew through leather. Also bragging about whether a machine can hem jeans is also irrelevant. A machine that will gracefully hem jeans is far tougher than half the machines that riggers use.
When you go shopping, take along a spool of E thread and some Cordura samples to test the machine.

[councilman24 37]

I've had a Nechi and now have a Viking simple home zig-zag machine. I wore out the hook on the Nechi and a new hook was going the cost the same as I paid for the machine, $100. So I got the used Viking. You can use a 110(18) needle in most machine that take standard home needles. This is the needle size for e thread (#69 upholstery thread at your local fabric store) This will work for making drag mats, toggles (including sewing the 6 layers of the nose), installing leg pads, replacing velcro, etc.

As a more expensive alternative but inexpensive compared to full size commercial machine I've considered this
http://www.sewingmachinestore.com/sewingmachinestore/sailinsewmac.html $500 straight/%600 zigzag walking foot portable. Similar full size machine would be about $1200. Also, a "generic" (Artisan) version of a singer 20 U, one of the standard single throw rigger zigzag machines can be had with stand and motor for $700 plus shipping.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[fasterfaller 0]

Try the sunday paper . I bought a mitsubishi lu2-4400 for $800 bucks and it was near new . I saved almost $2000 . Most sewing machine stores sell low cost commercial machines for a reasonable cost . I always take some z-po and cordura along with some e thread and test it out first . Consew , juki , pfaff and singer have some lower cost machines .

[PhreeZone 20]

I picked up a newer Huskystar from the local sewing store off thier demo fleet for half off with one spool of thread through it. I've made a freefly tube, 2 wind blades with heavy 4 layer codura sewing and getting ready to do some patch work on F111 and ZP. I've ran 3 spools of E thread through it in less then a month and shes running smooth as silk.

Call around and see if your local sewing centers are getting rid of the old models soon.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[1234hutch 0]

hi
You'll just wreck almost any non industrial machine on most skydiving stuff.
having said that there are a couple of portable industrial machines that will fit the bill... I just do not know their names or models etc.
I suggest blowing 200-400 on an industrial Pfaff or similar.
in the long run you will be happier.
And remember folks you legally must be a rigger to sew on rigs
hutch

[Lizard 0]

Check your local newspaper or yardsales. Honestly, an old class 15 home machine should work fine unless you plan on doing some serious manufacturing. I picked one up for $5 and cleaned it up, set the timing. I use E thread/69 in mine and never had any problems with it. After WWII Japan built these things and companies imported them under alot of different names Mine is a "Dressmaker". I even used it to sew aileron curtains to protect the actuators for a DC-8 airplane and it worked just fine for it, they are not pretty or have the big industrial motor or table, but for what they are, you cant get a better deal. Just my opinion.