Best machine to add a hand crank?
 

If you had your choice of machines, which would you prefer to have as a hand crank?

I decided to get one of the repro hand cranks for fun and put it on a machine. Now I can't decide which machine to put it on!

The best machine to add your hand crank to, of course, would be one of my machines....
Did I ever mention that I'm really into handcrank machines?

CD in Oklahoma

The one you use the most!!! (I agree with CD 100%)

heehee! Very very funny! I was originally thinking my Singer 128 la vencedora...still waiting clean up but then wondered if I wanted to pop it on a 99 instead since the bobbin holds more. Then I sorta started wondering what the best choice would be!

I would agree on a 3/4 machine...either a 128 or a 99 would be excellent. I have a soft spot for the shuttle machines.....

My daughter has a La Vencedora handcrank and has given up all of her electrics because of it!

I agree. One of the 3/4 size Singers is the best. Easy to do as long as they have the motor mounting boss and they're a convenient size. Roserips and I were talking about this a while ago for kids to sew on. She said the distance is too wide between the crank and the needle for kids to sew on a full size machine comfortably. An adult may not have that issue.
If your machine is in a carrying case the handcrank may not fit when the case is closed. Bentwood cases are about 1/4" short of clearing the crank. The good news is the crank only takes a few seconds to install.
Rodney

This is a great question IMO but I guess that is because I want to do this also. I have several machines in Bentwood cases, one shuttle type and one regular bobbin. Cannot decide whether to buy a repro handcrank and do one of them or wait until "you know where" freezes over and I find an authentic hand crank. So, I will be reading all posts to help me make a decision. Thanks for asking this!

I wondered about an original too but I don't see them often and they can get expensive. Jenny at Sew Classic has been out of them forever so when they finally came in, I decided to grab one quick!

I like HCs. The DGDs love the little 99 and my DH likes to use that one too now that he has learned to sew. I don't know if it is because it is a 99 or if it is just a very nice machine to begin with. I had a 15 I really liked to use, too.

I'm leaning towards the 3/4 sized machines but am curious about a 15 or a 66 with a handcrank. Did you notice a difference between the 99 and the 15?

no real difference in cranking but I am partial to 15s

We all really like our Singer 201 hand crank. We also like the Singer15 hand crank. On my sewing machine buck list I have a singer 99 hand crank.

I have one machine with a HC on it. A Singer 99K. I named him Rusty. It works quite well. The machine is heavy enough that it stays put as you use both hands to sew with.

The HC actually came on a 127 but I never used it there, just took it off and put it on Rusty. The 127 will go back in a treadle cabinet as soon as I can get it redone.

3/4 or full size doesn't matter to me as long as the machine is heavy enough to stay put. A light weight machine can slide all over the place as you crank it. I don't want that.

Joe

I have a Hand Crank on my Singer Red Eye. It is not on original, and like someone else said here a while back, the ones made now are more like toys. Mine works, but I can tell it is not quality material. It wobbles around as I crank it. I had to have a fly wheel with spokes put on the machine to install it. The motor wasn't any good anyhow.

Some times they do wobble around. You can replace the rubber thing that goes in the spokes - that breaks anyway - use a piece of tubing or stitch a piece of leather to the end of it. You may have to keep a screwdriver handy to tighten up the screw that holds the crank on the machine.

Interesting. Thanks for the input! I had decided to use the 99 I have waiting for some clear coat repair and then realized it doesn't have a spoked handwheel. I guess the 128 wins for now!

If I want to replace the 99 handwheel will any spoked handwheel do?

Some of the older Singer's have a longer shaft and won't fit. Other makes won't fit.

OK, so stick with Singers and test...I think I have one out in the hoard somewhere lol. I'm going to see if it would work. ;)

maviskw,
Chances are your redeye 66 came with a spoked hand wheel, it was probably a treadle. Then later converted to an electric machine.

Christy,
I have a couple Chinese spoked hand wheels and they seem to work OK. Not overly pretty or perfectly made, but good enough to do the job. They will work on the 66s and 99s although sometime they require fitting.

Joe

Sew-Classic sells reproduction handwheels too. If you're not worried about messing up the original wheel you can cut or drill a hole in it to fit the crank. 99s are common enough you're not really hurting anything with the modification. Or buy one to modify from a parts machine so you can convert back later if you want.
Sometimes the spoked wheel is a different diameter where the bobbin winder rides against it making the stock winder not work anymore. It's just something to keep in mind when you switch over.
Rodney

Hand Crank
 

Jenny at Sew-Classic.com has received more hand cranks. It takes a while for them to come in, so better order right away. She was very nice and emailed me when they came in so I could get one.

I've been watching for them to come in already knowing I wanted to try one. I got mine already!

I started cleaning up a Singer 28 today. It was one I got a few months back and it was frozen solid. It's not a real looker but I think I'll clean it up and give the crank a try. It would be fun to see it actually work.

I'll also work on the 99 so I can try the crank with that too. The spare spoked handwheel I have fits! It's a 9 spoke and the chrome is rusted but I should be able to clean it up. I'll drop it in the Evaporust for starters. ;)

I have a 127 and a 115 HC setup. The 127 is so smooth I prefer it for delicate work. The 115 is a clunker for "Dirty" work. I've even used the 115 in a rain shower finishing a pontoon Bimini repair. It seems to have survived without a hitch due to the oilings over the years.

Edit - I might add, the smoothness of 127 is probably due to a Singer crank. The 115 crank is after market and wobbly. Also, the 115 hand wheel is the larger 9 spoke leaving the crank ill fitting.