How do you treadlers do it?

Old 11-23-2012, 05:03 PM
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Default How do you treadlers do it?

I just finished on of my Whacky Bags using my Singer 66-1. The machine works great, but I had trouble with the belt slipping, slipping, slipping ..... I shortened it by an inch and that didn't help much. It's an aquarium tube experiment belt so I'll get a real one tomorrow. That should take care of that.

OK, but how do you treadlers do the parts where you need to keep going and go slow????? I can go good on straight sections and gentle curves, but when it comes to start, stop, start, stop like I have to do with my bags it's a pain in the xxx. When I get to the point of going slow the machine want's to stall and spin backwards. Can't have that it screws up my work.
I'm hoping a new belt cures most of that.

I'm not a complete novice, but I could use some tips. Oh, and please no Youtube videos, I can't watch them with this sloooooow dial up I'm on.


Joe
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Old 11-24-2012, 03:32 AM
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I want to know that too - I have better luck with a hand crank
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Old 11-24-2012, 03:56 AM
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its not easy....i have one too. My friend has one and she makes it look so easy. I guess its like everything...practice, practice. I do not have any problems with the belt slipping. I do have the leather belt. They are pretty cheap. Be sure to oil everything and clean it out well. It did make a huge difference once I cleaned and oiled. It was clean on the outside but disgusting on the inside.
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Old 11-24-2012, 04:36 AM
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I have a similar problem - once I stop for any reason, when I start again, I am sewing backwards! Any hints for the treadle challenged?
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Old 11-24-2012, 05:40 AM
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Originally Posted by miriam View Post
I want to know that too - I have better luck with a hand crank
No kidding. I put the hand crank we got on the 127 on the same 66-1 and it worked great. It took a long reach to get to the crank but I could sew sooooo slow if I wanted. One stitch at a time if needed. But the hand crank is destined for Mr. Rusty, as soon as I find a case for him.

I think, but am not sure that 90% of my problems was the home made belt. No matter how tight I got it, it slipped. I could not even wind a bobbin with the tubing belt. Just that extra load of the bobbin tire brought things to a halt.
Once I get a new belt I'll see what I can come up with.

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Old 11-24-2012, 05:42 AM
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Linda, do you stop with the treadle horizontal or at the top/bottom of the stroke? I realize you can't always stop with your feet in a specific position but when I can I try to stop with the treadle horizontal. My legs (I'm actually getting the two foot thing down at last) seem to remember which way they were going and I almost always start up again going the right direction. In fact, with that revelation I'm going to try the 9W (opposite throw of the hand wheel) again since I won't need to help start it by hand as often.
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Old 11-24-2012, 05:42 AM
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This is a very good question. I have 2 treadles that I haven't tried yet, but would love to. I was told that I need an older lady that owned one to teach me how to treadle. Is that really neccessary? Or can one just get on board and treadle?
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Old 11-24-2012, 05:44 AM
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try 'sewing' with it for about 45 - 60 minutes with no thread - sew how you do
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Old 11-24-2012, 05:45 AM
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Originally Posted by J Miller View Post
I think, but am not sure that 90% of my problems was the home made belt. No matter how tight I got it, it slipped. I could not even wind a bobbin with the tubing belt. Just that extra load of the bobbin tire brought things to a halt.
Joe, I finally have the tubing belt working on Colette. At first I was having terrible slippage problems but once I cleaned the track on the flywheel most of it went away. Then I shortened the belt a couple of times until it seems it finished its stretch in period.
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Old 11-24-2012, 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by sewmom View Post
This is a very good question. I have 2 treadles that I haven't tried yet, but would love to. I was told that I need an older lady that owned one to teach me how to treadle. Is that really neccessary? Or can one just get on board and treadle?
I just sat down and jumped in. Took me a bit to get the rhythm of the thing. Once that was done I can do pretty good. Except for the start, stop part.
No matter what someone else tells you, it's your body that has to learn the motions.

Joe
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