How much does that singer 320 / 401 weigh ??
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
How much does that singer 320 / 401 weigh ??
Hi all,
I have just bought my first sewing machine at 62yrs old .OK I'm a carpenter/builder so maybe not that unusual .
I have received my 401G ($81) today ,in its case with 3 strips of sellotape around the base as 'packaging' !!!?? and still managed to get here in one piece as far as I can tell.
I am wanting to buy a 320 but need to know the weight for the shipping company.Can someone please tell me what it would weigh approx.I would imagine the 401 , 320 or others of the era would be close enough.
photos to follow
I have just bought my first sewing machine at 62yrs old .OK I'm a carpenter/builder so maybe not that unusual .
I have received my 401G ($81) today ,in its case with 3 strips of sellotape around the base as 'packaging' !!!?? and still managed to get here in one piece as far as I can tell.
I am wanting to buy a 320 but need to know the weight for the shipping company.Can someone please tell me what it would weigh approx.I would imagine the 401 , 320 or others of the era would be close enough.
photos to follow
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 4,001
Welcome to the group, it is never too late to start a new hobby and one that is this fun is really awesome. You were really lucky to receive your machine in one piece with no packing! So many are not so lucky. I can't help you with the weight but wanted to welcome you. Would love to see pics.
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9
Here is the new 320 ,just bought online (hasnt been sent yet).This person wants me to organize shipping AND packaging ??!!
Whats wrong with these people ??
Whats wrong with these people ??
Last edited by headonz; 09-14-2015 at 12:57 AM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 673
If it's been sitting a long time, it doesn't hurt to take the machine outdoors and flush the old oil out of the mechanism with some kerosene or mineral spirits. Let it dry and give it a proper oiling and greasing. (Old oil, because of the drag it creates, can be particularly troublesome in getting a machine to operate properly at low speeds.)
Congratulations on the 320 - terrific machine. I've given up my quest for one; they're practically non-existent in the U.S.
I'll interpret your "What's wrong with people?" question as rhetorical and just offer my sympathy.
Congratulations on the 320 - terrific machine. I've given up my quest for one; they're practically non-existent in the U.S.
I'll interpret your "What's wrong with people?" question as rhetorical and just offer my sympathy.
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Centralia, WA, USA
Posts: 4,890
Welcome! You must have been doing some research before you decided to buy. Congrats on both machines. Both are at the very least uncommon to rare here in the states. As much as I want a 320 I would have passed on getting it with the conditions on shipping. They probably wanted to remove the responsibility of shipping it from themselves. If machines are not packed correctly they're easily damaged. I'd say in the neighborhood of 40 lbs (18 kilos) for shipping and there might be some oversize charges as well.
If it was me, I'd pack foam all around the machine including the bottom inside the base so it can't move inside the case and a layer of cardboard then foam sheets around the outside of the case too so nothing can move. The foam outside will help protect against punctures. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts aren't stable enough and will allow the machine to move. It's the movement that tears things apart. Picture a bunch of gorillas tossing the box around. That's the kind of treatment you need to expect from shipping companies here. Maybe things are better in NZ.
Manalto: I've heard of using kerosene but not mineral spirits. Have you tried mineral spirits? I've used it before on parts I've removed but not to flush out the inside of a machine. I have some here but would have to buy the kerosene.
I have a Brother that works fine at high speed but the blind stitch setting doesn't work well at lower speeds. I also haven't figured out how to take it apart to get to the cams inside. Brother built the machine with the stitch selector in the base of the pillar where it's hard to reach.
Rodney
If it was me, I'd pack foam all around the machine including the bottom inside the base so it can't move inside the case and a layer of cardboard then foam sheets around the outside of the case too so nothing can move. The foam outside will help protect against punctures. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts aren't stable enough and will allow the machine to move. It's the movement that tears things apart. Picture a bunch of gorillas tossing the box around. That's the kind of treatment you need to expect from shipping companies here. Maybe things are better in NZ.
Manalto: I've heard of using kerosene but not mineral spirits. Have you tried mineral spirits? I've used it before on parts I've removed but not to flush out the inside of a machine. I have some here but would have to buy the kerosene.
I have a Brother that works fine at high speed but the blind stitch setting doesn't work well at lower speeds. I also haven't figured out how to take it apart to get to the cams inside. Brother built the machine with the stitch selector in the base of the pillar where it's hard to reach.
Rodney
#8
Get them to double box it and stuff a lot of newspaper inside to stop the box of cams and FC floating around in transit. You organise a courier to collect it. In Australia, couriers can be cheaper (and are always faster) than Australia post
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 673
I've used mineral spirits, but only with extreme caution, as I'm not sure how it would react with the finish of the machine. Kerosene is safer (and stinkier).
Last edited by Manalto; 09-14-2015 at 07:18 AM.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: North Central, NC
Posts: 2,741
I too want to welcome you to the QB. There is so much good information to be found here that you need to be retired to be able to read it all ... or maybe just a faster reader than me. Either way, you should be able to get all the knowledge you need to bring those babies back to practically pristine. Love the looks of the second one and hoping that it still looks that way when it gets into your welcoming hands. Good luck with packing/sending. Is it located in NZ also and not too far away? That might help but "fingers crossed" for it might be a good thing to do also. So, what do you hope to sew and will it co-ordiante with your building/carpentry work or are you starting a new "hobby"?
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