Sewing Machine for uphostery

i need to get a machine for my mom to do some vinyl panels for a patio cover and though i my try my hand at some upholstery for my car down the road. i've seen some pretty cool vintage industrial singer machines, but not really sure what to look for. so i'm asking for advice from you guys who do this. i want to get something vintage because they look cool, but what should i be looking for? any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

you should be looking for a walking foot sewing machine with a 1/2 hp motor, try calling Alberoni sewing machines in dowtown LA. they have new and used machines with great prices.

 

We use a few different models of the PFAFF brand. There are 4 in my shop. One of them is like 30 years old and it is the main one that we use. It will sew through a 1/4" piece of plywood. I'm not kidding we did it the other day. They were made in West Germany and are bad***!! We do a ton of top end interiors and these things just go and go and go.

 

Hell i use a Model 27 singer treadle to sew my interiors, a 1911 issue!

 

My grandma uses PFAFF machines, She is a seamsterious. I would stand behind those machines, her newiest machines 30 years old atleast

 

A good quality machine will cost you a fair amount. Brands like Pfaff, Consew, and Singer. If your not a professional and won't be using the machine for hours daily you can get a knockoff. I've got a chinese Consew knockoff that sews really well. And paid about $700.00 complete. You can find some used ones and rebuilt if you want to take the time to track em down.

 

anyone on here a sewing machine dealer My wife and I are looking for some used industrial machines

 

I use a Pfaff also. nearly-antique, high mileage, $600.00
I have sewn thru wood backed door panels.

MAKE SURE YOU GET A MACHINE WITH A WALKING FOOT.
It will make a world of difference in what you can or can't do.

Although a real "seamstress" would call me a chicken for doing this, I changed the pulley sizes on the belt drive to slow my machine down and make it easier for me to keep up with.

I didn't like the choice between either slipping the clutch badly or running full lightening-speed.

I never could get the hang of feeding 4 layers of leather around tight curves at 300 miles per hour.

After slowing down the speed a lot, it is much easier for an amateur like me to use.

I have been told by an upholstery instructor who used to work at Lazee Boy (spelling?) that Juki, Pfaff, and Singer were usually good industrial brands to buy if you made sure they used the steel gears and no plastic gear versions.

He mentioned Consew as a good one also (could that be the one he said to check and make sure it doesn't have plastic gears? or was it Juki?)

 

I hear the all metal gear drive home Singers will do some light upolstery s***ching, not really industrial but much more readily available. These machines seem to be 60s vintage at newest. Any of the 400-500 machines with the second digit a 0. A 401, 403,501,503. depending on how fancy of stuff it needs to do. Most will come with a zipper foot that allows you to get up next to a piping. These machines are direct drive, many of the old belt drive or even pedal machines (as mentioned) may work too.

My brother in law got a new commercial machine off ebay and the seller ***ured him it would do what he needed to do. It ended up being one of those sweatshop machines with no speed control, it's just a dog clutch and is doing 2000 spm as soon as it kicks in.

 

I got a old Singer 237 (belt drive) of Ebay for $25, about the best it will do is 4 layers of upholstery vinyl. I did 4 layers of Zodiac without a problem. It's portable and goes on the floor of the closet when I'm done.

I don't think I'd go into business with it, but for simple stuff in small doses, it works pretty dang good.

 

I have a couple Pfaffs and a couple Consews. The Consew machines are fine, Pfaff is my favorite. It sounds like you could get away with a cheaper setup for what you want to do, but be sure you get a machine with a walking foot (compound feed) and reverse. One of my first machines didn't have reverse and I hated it.

 

Try contacting Quality Industrial Sewing in Grand Island Ne. Ron has been selling high quality, affordable upholstery machines to the hotrod community for over 20 years. Stands behind what he sells!