Inexpensive (new) workhorse machine - recommendations?
 

I've discovered that my Pfaff Quilt Expression and Pfaff Quilt Ambition machines are not dequate for heavy-duty sewing. I'd like to purchase a machine (DH says to get a new one) that will sew heavy, thick projects (baby towels, sew through jeans seams, etc.). Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks!

I really love my vintage machine(s) for this sort of thing. I have a Remington, Morse is a similar brand. Solid metal, great straight stitch and goes as far as zig zag but can sew through anything, including upholstery and jeans.

If I was going new, I'd probably look at the Sparrow.
https://www.eversewn.com/sparrow-15

This is what I would recommend too. IMHO the newer machines do not hold up to heavier projects. Plastic parts just give out to quickly, that has been my experience. I have a half dozen metal part vintage machines that I use all the time and have not a single problem but it is the newer machines that are made with plastic parts and computer parts that wear out quickly and cost an arm and a leg to fix, it at all repairable. I have picked up all my vintage machines at garage sales and the most I paid was $15. Each and everyone a solid work horse.

The Juki TL 2010Q is a great machine but straight stitch only.

Bernina 930! Does anyone have this machine? Does the walking foot work?
 

Bernina 930 does anyone have this machine?

I have a Brother 1500 that fits this bill. It's mechanical not digital, solid, straight-stitch only, knee lift, auto threader, auto cutter, a workhorse. You can get one new for $700.

I like the Juki brand for heavy duty sewing.

I do think an old Kenmore with front-loading bobbin could do the job very well. Look for a serial number that starts with 158. They were mostly made by Jaguar. I can find them at the thrift store pretty often, but the price has gone from $15 to $35.

The Juki 2010 is pretty awesome and relatively inexpensive machine, that could do the job.

The Bernina 930 is a great vintage machine. It could do the job very well. But the walking foot doesn't work very well on mine. I wonder if I just need to adjust the presser foot tension? They tried the criss-cross feed dogs on the 930, and decided it didn't feed as well, so they made a "feed dog up-grade," with teeth. I have the up-grade, but it still doesn't do very well with the walking foot.

Another vote for the Juki TL series machines (2010, 2200). It's a straight stitch only solid workhorse machine that has sewn through layers of leather, webbing, upholstery fabrics, etc.. Very similar is the Brother 1500 mentioned by Peckish which is essentially the same machine as the Juki TL's - all have a few feature differences but any would do the job nicely.

I recommend the Janome HD9 V2. It is a little better than the comparable Juki. It goes over lumps, bumps and sews through more layers. Both are good machines.
Hd9 v2 Straight stitch only, can use industrial feet found at Wawak. The bobbin is about one and a half times larger than regular domestic machines, .This is the upgrade to the Janome 1600. I purchased this machine to sew denim, purses, totes, boat covers and leather.

I've always hemmed my husband's jeans on my older Bernina. With the help of a hump jumper it does fine. My mother used to swear by my grandmother's old Franklin treadle to sew anything heavy. She mended horse blankets and even sewed custom saddles pads for me on it. It would sew things that her 301 couldn't.

I have a Bernina 930, but it was gifted to me and needs a new needle bar so I haven't sewn much with it. My friend had one that she had purchased new and she loved it. I don't know how it is for heavy work and they cost a fortune now so . . .

I have found that with my Bernina's the need for a walking foot is much less that with other machines. The walking foot for my 180 works very well, but I don't always use it. When I'm doing something small or something with thin batting, I dont' usually bother with the walking foot.

Look into industrial machines. I really wish I had before buying my Juki 2010. Ended up buying a Juki industrial later and like it so, so much better. The cost was about the same. Servo motors are so much nicer than the old clutch motors that made most industrial machines a lot more difficult to work with. They can sew fast, but also very, very slowly if needed.

That's great advise - if/when I need to replace or upgrade to a stronger machine I will remember this. What model of Juki Industrial did you purchase? I know you're a consumer of all types of wonderful machines and always appreciate your shared experiences!

I second this idea. Donna Jordan uses a model 8700 Juki machine in her videos. I’ve seen them online for $800 or less. I don’t know if you consider that budget friendly, but I think it is a good value.

I bought the Juki DDL-8700. This is a straight stitch/no computer machine - but if you also want a big throat area, and the table gives a great, stable sewing area. Never have to worry about the foot pedal wondering off either. The main down side is they are heavy and Not portable, but when I'm wrestling with a binding a king quilt, the machine never shifts.

I also have a Janome HD9 professional. I really like it and use it for my purse making and often for piecing. It is a straight stitch mechanical machine. Has a needle threader (that I was not thrilled with at first but I have gotten used to), thread snips, and knee lift for presser foot. I just hemmed some jeans on it and had no problems.

What's a "hump jumper"??

I bought a Consew a few months ago. It does work great for straight sewing on denim, but I'm not loving the machine for many other reasons. I wish I had bought an industrial Juki instead.

I think that is the little button on the side of a certain presser foot that kind of shifts the balance of the foot backwards, so the foot will go over thicker pieces of fabric bunched together in multiple seams. You have to keep the button depressed the whole time with your finger. I might be wrong about this, though.

i have a thick plastic piece about 1.5” square. It’s called. “Jean a ma Jig” and it helps a presser foot get through a thick seam of many layers. A sewing notion I’ve had for years.

This site shows the one that I have. https://napasewandvac.com/the-hump-jumper/

It's a piece of plastic that you put either behind or in front of your foot to keep the foot even and thus sewing. I've used them in many projects for years. They work great and are very inexpensive. I have the same set I bought in probably the late 80's. They're still fine and have been used a lot.

Tranum, a Jean A Ma Jig is sort of the same thing.

The hump jumper/Jean A Ma Jig is a wonderful little gadget for
thick seams. Didn't even realize until recently that I had one that came
with my Janome. They call it a 'Button shank plate'. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...s/rolleyes.png

I purchased a Sailrite Fabricator industrial machine. You can go to their website, sailrite.com to see more. The machine is decently priced and it will go thru denim, seat belts, canvas and the like. I make purses, totes and bags and this machine stitches thru several layers of denim especially when I'm making handles and then attaching handles to the bags. I'm very pleased with this machine and their customer service. They have several demonstrations and information on their machine on YouTube as well. Great machine and I'm very pleased with this product.

Forgot all about the Sailrite machines - will have to bookmark that info for the future. Thanks for sharing!

Hi, Can you let me know how often you oil the 6 points on your Juki (in relation to hours of sewing)? Thanks!

I'm sure this will receive varying responses but in my case I oil the six points "frequently" which equates to approximately 8-10 hours of sewing. One little drop unless I can hear the need for more or sooner.

Thanks so much for the quick reply!