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What to look for when buying an industrial machine.

An industrial works the same as a domestic machine but it is typically used for heavier materials such as vinyl and leather. Domestic machines simply would not handle the workload.

Types of Industrial Sewing Machines.

The following are types of machine are used in auto upholstery and although all have their place in a fully functioning auto workshop we teach students the skills they need on just this one …

You will learn how to use a machine in Module 2 of the course released on 12th June.

Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine A walking foot machine is STRICTLY INDUSTRIAL! It is basically a straight machine that is designed to feed materials evenly, top and bottom pieces. It features a two-piece foot that moves one side at a time. As it moves, it appears to walk. There is no such thing as a domestic walking foot machine! They do make a universal 2

attachment that you can mount on a domestic machine. This attachment is made to serve a similar purpose to a walking foot, but it is not the same thing. These attachments are sometimes called walking foot attachments, but this is a misnomer. They do not duplicate the motion that gives a true walking foot machine it's name, nor do they turn your domestic machine into a walking foot machine. Remember the advantage is that when you are sewing heavy duty materials the even feed will allow both pieces being sewn to be fed through with limited slippage, thereby keeping patterns and pieces true during sewing.

Cylinder Arm Machine The cylinder-bed machine features a narrow column instead of a flat sewing base, which passes fabric around and under the column instead of passing the fabric over a flat surface. The advantage of a cylinder-bed industrial sewing machine is the 5 to 16 cm diameter range of the various models. Cylinder arm machines are good for sewing headrests and doing especially small tight areas. 3

Twin Needle Industrial Sewing Machine

A twin needle machine is used mainly for Bentley stitching or any Twin stitches you would want on your cover for example French seams. We teach our students to substitute this machine by using the walking foot machine to produce double lines of stitching.

These 3 machines are the most common types of machine used. If you are buying a new machine, make sure you know what the warranty gives you and remember to service your machine otherwise it may make the warranty void. Most importantly your machine should last forever if serviced properly. We will explain how to look after and service a walking foot machine in a separate video. Most machines are made in Asia now and are rebranded as they are imported into the country of sale for example, Highlead, Diamond, Typical, Wimsew and Tysew. Brand new these will retail at around £1000 and you will need to add to this a foot if you intend to use piping in your upholstery. Expect to pay around £35 for this. 4

Upholstery Courses Online are a retailer for Tysew machines and sell a brand new walking foot TY1300 with a servo motor, cover, manual, piping foot, oil, needles and for £933. - to order contact us at : [email protected] Another popular brand is again made in Asia and has the same features as above - buying choice is down to personal preference. A Juki retails slightly higher in price. We use Tysew Machines in our workshops and are able to advise on the servicing, timing and maintenance.

What to look for when buying a second hand machine. If you are buying second hand, Be careful and follow these pointers .....

Always check to see the state of the underneath. Tilt the machine head back and let it rest on its stop. Be careful to check that the rest is in place before you tilt it back. If this is missing the head will flip off the table and you may be buying a machine on the strength of having made this mistake! Once tilted back you can look at the sump area – you are looking at the colour of the oil, the darker it is the older and more used it is as a rule. Another tell tale sign of old oil is a slightly spicy smell. There will be a filter area that should be covered with a mesh gauze - ensure this is in place and check there are no bits in the oil as these could have been sucked up through the filter and into the machine. 5

To the left of the sump area there will be a dry lint trap. Check around this area where the needle is for fluff, again another sign it hasn’t been very well looked after. It is usual to have collected and fluff in this area. If the machine has been advertised as having had a service this should be clear. Always take some heavy thicker material with you to test the machine and the motor under strain. Don't be afraid to ask to try the machine out. Test the motor for as long as you can by sewing, check the stitches top and bottom, and listen to the way the machine runs. To test a servo motor turn the sewing speed down to around 200 SPM or as low as it will go and slowly increase its speed to check its response when going very slow and then faster. If the machine is not fitted with a servo motor to the right of the table with digital displays. You are looking at a clutch motor machine. Just be careful not to put your foot down too heavily when you begin sewing as it will be very fast. You can fit a servo motor to this type of machine for around £150. The worst that can go wrong with an industrial walking foot machine is the motor so be careful to listen to how it runs and don't feel nervous about asking for a test. It can be confusing when you start looking for your machine as some are advertised as walking foot machines. Some just as Walking foot machines. 6

The way the machine stitches is to lock the stitches so yes you are looking for a lockstitch machine - but you want a WALKING FOOT lockstitch machine. Expect to pay from around £650 for a second hand machine as they hold the price well in the second hand market. There are the odd bargains on Ebay but we highly recommend going to test the machine - If its a bargain be sceptical until you make sure it really is.

If a machine just needs some TLC or an odd part a good parts retailer is SEW EUROPE - they are knowledgeable about all machines. http:// www.sew-europe.co.uk/

These machine are heavy! but they break down to transport them. By removing the head you are able to lay the table on its side or split it down completely (Don’t forget to drain the oil first).

Happy machine hunting and remember we are here if you need some advice.

Jacquie and Sam