Originally Posted by
Candace
I'm not yelling
Sorry, as a computer professional, I've been a lot of years on the net, and this is how I took it. I tend to react badly when I see caps then what looks to me like an insinuation that I didn't read or understand the topic.
I know now that you aren't yelling when I see caps in your posts.
Originally Posted by
Candace
I didn't say "It doesn't work".
Originally Posted by
Candace
it's not doing what a WF is engineered to do.
Originally Posted by
Candace
Just because it "fits" doesn't mean it does the job.
Must be the Canadian translation, because what I learned is:
not doing the job = not doing what it's engineered to do = doesn't work.
I took it to mean that you were telling us that it didn't work.
Here's the thing though, and it's likely why Joe's feet "work" = Walking feet are
not engineered to feed the fabric. They reduce friction from the presser foot.
Per the link on Jenny's site that you posted to how a walking foot works:
A walking foot doesn't feed the fabric. Rather, a portion of the bottom of the foot moves along with the top layer of fabric as it is being fed by the feed dogs below. This greatly reduces the resistance and friction between the top layer of fabric and the bottom of the presser foot.
Joe and Joyce's WF may just be doing the job. Quilting isn't the only thing we use these for, and Joyce has been sewing for at least a couple of years from what I understand. Between the two of them, they may have come across problems in the past and identified and adjusted for them.
All that a WF has to do is lower friction. I take that to mean that it doesn't matter how big the "hand" it uses for the job is. That's why if you turn your walking foot upside down and play with the feet, they don't "feed" they "slide".
ETA: If the top dogs were to the left or the right of the dogs below, I can see where a problem might occur. If they're bigger, but over top of the lower dogs, I would think it should be OK.
Originally Posted by
Candace
there are no straight stitch WF made for the slant shank that fit the 301 feed dogs
Agreed, there is no foot that is strictly a SS foot, currently manufactured specifically for the 301,
However there are ZZ WF
being modified to
work with it:
from:
http://shop.sew-classic.com/Singer-S...A-SCF301WF.htm
"Genuine Singer brand Slant Shank Even feed / Walking Foot Fits the Singer 301/301A without binding. It has been specially modified and each and every foot is individually tested for proper function on a Singer 301 / 301A. "
This sure reads to me like it's being sold as a working foot, not just one that "fits" on the machine and looks pretty, so I asked the source. I emailed Jenny for clarification as to what proper function is as it pertains to this particular WF. All I edited out,( it was in 2 emails) is the stuff that she quoted from the page that was posted about walking feet.:
"Each 301WF is tested to make certain that is moves and functions as a walking foot should and that it doesn't bind like an unmodified slant foot will on a 301. We also suggest that the thread cutter is removed from the presser bar of the machine when using the walking foot. "
"There is NO slant shank walking foot available in a straight stitch only configuration.
Straight stitch machines have narrower feed dogs than zigzag capable machines. Since the 301 is a straight stitch only machine, it has narrower feed dogs. All of the slant shank walking feet ever made are zigzag capable. So, the modified,slant, walking foot will always be wider than the feed dog spacing. Always- no way around this.
That said, I have used the slant shank walking feet on the 301's and with the thread cutter removed and the presser foot pressure adjusted correctly, it functioned just fine as a walking foot should. As per the info below- NO walking foot attachment feeds the fabric. It can only move along with the motion created by the feed dogs below the fabric, and serves to reduce friction and resistance and aid in even feeding of multiple layers."
I think it's safe to say that the
modified ZZ foot that Jenny's selling for use on the 301 is indeed safe to purchase and will work on a 301. If it doesn't, I for one would like to hear about it, and it's no risk because she offers a satisfaction guarantee.
Originally Posted by
J Miller
OK, late last year I bought one of Sew-Classics straight stitch walking feet. I tried it on many of our machines and it would not work. I don't know why. It looked good, fit, functioned, but would not work. In each case I put the generic LS ZZ foot back on and it did work.
I got a credit for the WF from S-C and have continued to use the LS ZZ foot.
Possible you just got a "dud". AlphaSew's products can be a little hit or miss. A mechanical foot like that has a lot more places to fail than a solid foot. You may benefit from ordering another foot from Jenny with your next order... the one I have here that I ordered from her last year works.
Originally Posted by
J Miller
I'm hoping that somewhere there is a Singer made LS SS WF and when I find one I'll buy it. Until then I'll stick with the generic LS ZZ WF.
They
did,.. it's a heck of a lot of money though. It's the Penguin hoping foot people talk about. There may be others too, but that's the one that sticks in my mind.
http://www.april1930s.com/html/walking_foot_160741.html
Originally Posted by
J Miller
It appears that when I state an experience contrary to the accepted norm I'm either ignored or accused of trying to argue. Neither is the case in this situation.
Me too. I believe your WF probably does work, for the reasons discussed above.
Originally Posted by
J Miller
That is MY experiences with them. Not an argument, a fact.
Then use it.
If it works for you, that's what's important.