Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell
04-17-2012, 10:41 AM
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: suburb of Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 651
I just did some vinyl sewing for a repair on a 'skirt' for the interior of a bass boat.
I used:
A. Upholstery thread
B. A 'leather' needle
C. Marine vinyl
The reason I used the leather needle in the machine is that it 'slices' the vinyl whereas any other needle will make a hole. The 'slice' closes itself.
A couple more hints: Lengthen your stitches to about as long as they will go - too close together will tend to tear out of the vinyl. If you have problems feeding the vinyl, put some tissue paper under and maybe over the vinyl then the vinyl won't stick to the bed or foot of your machine.
Shari
I used:
A. Upholstery thread
B. A 'leather' needle
C. Marine vinyl
The reason I used the leather needle in the machine is that it 'slices' the vinyl whereas any other needle will make a hole. The 'slice' closes itself.
A couple more hints: Lengthen your stitches to about as long as they will go - too close together will tend to tear out of the vinyl. If you have problems feeding the vinyl, put some tissue paper under and maybe over the vinyl then the vinyl won't stick to the bed or foot of your machine.
Shari
Originally Posted by J Miller
Well, I just discovered several things.
First: the 201 will sew through two layers of that vinyl without any trouble.
Second: the polyester upholstery thread we used years ago is so heavy that the machine will sew with it,but getting the bobbin tension right might not be do-able. Or will take some doing, don't know yet as I hate to mess with the bobbin tension.
Third: A size 16 jeans needle works just fine.
Now to fine tune our efforts and do this thing.
Joe
First: the 201 will sew through two layers of that vinyl without any trouble.
Second: the polyester upholstery thread we used years ago is so heavy that the machine will sew with it,but getting the bobbin tension right might not be do-able. Or will take some doing, don't know yet as I hate to mess with the bobbin tension.
Third: A size 16 jeans needle works just fine.
Now to fine tune our efforts and do this thing.
Joe
04-17-2012, 11:19 AM
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Leather needle, OK I have some. The upholstery thread we have is almost too big for the machine, so we'll have to get some smaller stuff.
Not sure why, but this material just slipped right through the machine without problems.
Joe
Not sure why, but this material just slipped right through the machine without problems.
Joe
04-17-2012, 12:52 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by J Miller
Well, I just discovered several things.
First: the 201 will sew through two layers of that vinyl without any trouble.
Second: the polyester upholstery thread we used years ago is so heavy that the machine will sew with it,but getting the bobbin tension right might not be do-able. Or will take some doing, don't know yet as I hate to mess with the bobbin tension.
Third: A size 16 jeans needle works just fine.
Now to fine tune our efforts and do this thing.
Joe
First: the 201 will sew through two layers of that vinyl without any trouble.
Second: the polyester upholstery thread we used years ago is so heavy that the machine will sew with it,but getting the bobbin tension right might not be do-able. Or will take some doing, don't know yet as I hate to mess with the bobbin tension.
Third: A size 16 jeans needle works just fine.
Now to fine tune our efforts and do this thing.
Joe
04-17-2012, 01:03 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Originally Posted by miriam
Joe, have you thought about using a 15 clone? Just get an extra bobbin case set up to use the heavy thread. I've also used silicone on the vinyl.
Joe
04-17-2012, 02:24 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 2,609
So glad you got your machine back Julie
Skip
Skip
04-17-2012, 02:57 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
Originally Posted by miriam
Joe, have you thought about using a 15 clone? Just get an extra bobbin case set up to use the heavy thread. I've also used silicone on the vinyl.
Got the HOTHER up and running. Put in a spare bobbin case and strung it up with the upholstery thread.
Sews great with the heavy thread, just having a wee bit of trouble getting the tension right.
I've run the top tension up to setting 6 and backed the bobbin case tension out 1/2 turn.
Here is a pic of where I have it now. Two layers of this vinyl is roughly 2/3rds the thickness of the OEM splash shield. So when done it will work. Top strip is the top thread and the bottom is the bobbin thread.
Joe
04-17-2012, 03:02 PM
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Originally Posted by J Miller
Miriam,
Got the HOTHER up and running. Put in a spare bobbin case and strung it up with the upholstery thread.
Sews great with the heavy thread, just having a wee bit of trouble getting the tension right.
I've run the top tension up to setting 6 and backed the bobbin case tension out 1/2 turn.
Here is a pic of where I have it now. Two layers of this vinyl is roughly 2/3rds the thickness of the OEM splash shield. So when done it will work. Top strip is the top thread and the bottom is the bobbin thread.
Joe
Got the HOTHER up and running. Put in a spare bobbin case and strung it up with the upholstery thread.
Sews great with the heavy thread, just having a wee bit of trouble getting the tension right.
I've run the top tension up to setting 6 and backed the bobbin case tension out 1/2 turn.
Here is a pic of where I have it now. Two layers of this vinyl is roughly 2/3rds the thickness of the OEM splash shield. So when done it will work. Top strip is the top thread and the bottom is the bobbin thread.
Joe
04-17-2012, 03:11 PM
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: NE Iowa
Posts: 843
My friend just purchased her first vintage machine...a Universal Japanese clone. Serial #Z77218 Can someone give a date? She plugged it in last night and sparks flew!! She asked me to look at it. Bare wires coming out of the motor and then black tape to the plug in end to the machine case, about 8 inches long. I've never done any motor rewiring. Is there a tutorial for this, or do I need a more experienced person to work on it? Any help would be deeply appreciated!
04-17-2012, 03:15 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 1,571
It's about time!!!! I hope it is in great shape. What an ordeal you went through trying to get it returned- fixed or not. Hopefully you can enjoy using it now, and I'm glad it's now home with you.
04-17-2012, 03:40 PM
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 1,571
Sorry- I should have specified I was replying to Julie (jtapp 9).
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