Originally Posted by
miriam
In a factory wanting consistency & quality control? - nope not weird just prudent and not very versatile. I'm wondering if there is a way to change that setting. The arm is certainly long enough to do quite a bit. Mine takes long shank attachments. I found a real old long shank buttonholer in my junk today. I'm thinking it might go on there - wouldn't that be a hoot?
Ha! No, I was thinking that from a sale point of view, to say that the machine has been limited by the manufacturer to only do 8 - 20 spi for instance, limits its salability more than saying we can lock it to x spi, or you can...
I guess the length of the hole in the feed dog slots will make a difference too.
Holy cow, if you try that buttonholer lean WAYYY back!
Originally Posted by
Candace
I have a 31-20 that Steve gifted me in the garage, but I don't think I can be of much help to any of the questions. I think the hook/bobbin assembly is different on my machine and I've not even spent more than 10 mins with it. Life has sort of gotten in the way and I've had a full plate the last few months. But, if need be I can try to see if it has the same issues or at least take a few pics to work off of, if it will help.
I think if I remember, I read that the bobbin is bigger, which would make the rest of it different, you're right. The only thing I guess I could ask here is if you have that sort of play or if the hook and the shuttle carrier are fairly tight together. I'm going to check some of the other oscillating hooks around here today when I get home from looking for a belt too.
However, if you're crazy busy, don't worry about it. I'm thinking of ordering the hook and the carrier anyway, for the price of it, it's good insurance.
Originally Posted by
Cogito
Thanks for the great story! I might have to venture into the industrial world. Miriam I love the idea of using it for free motion quilting. I have been wanting a long arm but can't do the price....sigh...but this might be a reasonable alternative, lol. Is it impolite to ask What this machine cost? I have not even a remote clue and I am not close enough to be competing, lol! I know machine costs differ by location but? Or maybe Someone on this thread can tell me what would be a normal cost for these models?
your machine btw is gorgeous! I feel my smad kicking in! Lol.
I think that you'd find that a well serviced, ready to sew vintage industrial, like this one would usually sell around $500 - $650, possibly more here in central Alberta. That's based on what I hear people telling me their budgets are, and what I see them listed for in the buy and sell. It seems to jive with what I've seen in a quick look on eBay too. I've seen ads for $850 to $1000, but I didn't track them because I didn't know anyone with that budget. I have a waiting list as long as my arm for people I know who've asked me to keep an eye out for industrials for them.
This machine cost me under $100 because it wouldn't stitch and was seized when I got there. The asking price had been $100, then I traded her a belt for some amount off.
That said, I put probably close to 4 hours into it cleaning, adjusting, etc, and it's not completely finished. I still want to see what I can do about looking at the motor and servicing it, but it's a different motor than I'm used to, so I have to do some reading.
I will order about $70 worth of parts for it, some because I'd like to change them, some because they should be changed and some are no longer carried by my supplier, so I want to have them here in case they're needed down the road- shuttle carrier, hook and needlebar.
So what would this machine be worth in 2 weeks when I have the parts and have finished the work? I'm not sure at this point.
I have seen a couple of people put these machines onto a short arm frame. Make sure it's a beefy frame and carriage though, they weigh in over 60lbs as a guess, and then you have to figure out what to use for a motor. To put that in perspective, my LA machine is 41lbs on the carriage and the carriage is aluminum and extremely streamlined. The other thing about that is that you would find yourself pushing and pulling 60+ lbs, plus the carriage and the motor around to do your quilting designs. The carriage would have to be very well built to help absorb some of that wear and tear on your joints and muscles, but it can be done.
He is lovely isn't he? I can't seem to stop touching him whenever I go into the room for something.
