chain stitcher
 

Before I hurt myself buying something that won't work...
Many, in fact almost all the chain stitchers I'm seeing on ebay are designed for treadle work.
If not hooked up to treadle, will any of them work as a hand stitcher?

I saw the post and photo here where the whizkids modified a Willcox? to take a Singer crank, which is what got me wondering about the treadle models.

I can see they don't have a handle, so wondering if they can be run with a finger inside the right side, or on the wheel itself?

I'm looking for one to take with me when Rob goes fishing, I wouldn't need a table, just a lap tray. Have found the Singer 127 hand crank just too heavy to carry around, although it is wonderful to use on the covered deck.

Thanks for letting me pick your minds.
Sharyn

There were some cranks made for FWs on Ebay for about $35. They were simple and that would allow you to convert the FW for electric-free sewing. In order to hand crank, other machines, the hand cranks need to bolt to the motor bosses. In the case of the FW, the crank fastens on the clutch release part of the wheel. Has to be seen to be appreciated. This would be ideal for multiple FW owners.

I'm not multiple anything, heaven forbid! But I do have a good featherweight I don't like sewing on...but would certainly try it as a hand crank... I'll have to go get it and set it on my lap for an hour :) See how heavy 13 pounds can get.

The gearing might be a problem?
A little research shows this would be 1 stitch per turn rather than the 3 stitches per turn on a chain stitcher? It's all about speed :) And weight! The chain stitchers are quite light and of course use spooled thread.

Hi,

Here's a W&G hand crank modification from Treadle On:

http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...ibbscrank.html

I was pretty impressed with the Singer 40K, a high quality toy. At 4lbs it's a bit light and certainly no W&G:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...m-t266870.html

Jon

Good morning Jon,
the W&G adaptation probably wouldn't work for lap sewing and if I have to bring a table setup I might as well bring the 127 :) thank you for showing that

I have been looking at toys also and wondering if they are junk or perfectly good chain stitchers.
My Singer 404 is that color... lovely, is there a crank handle or do you just spin the wheel?

I'll go look at toys again and see what is available.
I'm thinking whatever I get I'll attach to a tray of some kind, both for stability and workspace to lay out pieces.

The needle thing (plus price) is why I probably wouldn't get a willcox and gibbs. On the other hand a needle might last a year or two at hand crank speed. Not very likely to break one.
But then the toys I looked at the other day didn't even mention needles, I think most sellers are thinking most buyers are collectors rather than users?

Do you think the SewHandy which seems common enough would be a working machine?

I took a photo of this SewHandy the other day, they all seem to be this way to my untrained eye
Where/what is the spool holder?

Oh my gosh...toy sewing machines are a whole 'nother world to study...and it seems they all make a chain stitch!

Very true. Toy sewing machines are like a whole new world.

The 40K is the only toy machine I own. It works very well and I really don't want a herd of toy sewing machines though I find the toys extremely interesting.

I don't hear much about the Singer 20 toy machines sewing wise but with as many as Singer made and sold you'd think they work (?)

Jon

My original research was on the singers 20 and 24 models (lots of variation there)
two differences between the 24-61 and 24-71 is the first has auto tension, the 61 doesn't.

I'm with you, I haven't got the slightest interest in collecting anything.
Having cancer twice in the last few years cured me of a lot of things. But never quilting!
thanks

Hey, just clicked on your link. You know how many times that rubber ball image as crossed my eyebulbs lately? Lots

In fact now that I've scrolled down I bought a packet of 24X1 needles from you today...setting my intention so to speak
Leaning toward Betsy Ross right now...subject to change ;)

Great fun and Good Luck Searching. Some of the toy machines seem rather flimsy while others like the Singers appear well made. Many of the toys were also advertised as traveling machines to appeal to a broader market. I choose the Singer 40K because I already had a supply of the oddball 24x3 needles and the high quality / low price and demand (around $30 and shipping).

Jon

I would not suggest a toy machine. Most collectors suggest that even children not be taught on a toy machine. I would suggest you find a Singer 99 and convert it to a HC. Not light like a featherweight or chainstitcher though. Other alternative is a Singer 301 which is aluminum and light. It also has a handle. Not a chainstitch, but straight stitch.

I am with you Maria, I would not recommend a toy machine to actually sew with. And surely not to learn to sew with one. See you at Toga.
Skip

I feel fortunate to have a good one.

Jon

Do you specifically want a chain stitch machine or do you just want a small, light sewing machine?
Rodney

Funny, I've been thinking about you Rodney, And your woodworking skills...

If I hate it and Glen and Farmhousesewer are right, I'll have a cute machine I can put back on ebay, no loss.

But yes. For my specific use, on a tray, in the forest I'm thinking it will work out great.
A chain stitch is simple to lock, and in piece work the blocks except the the outer edges are all stitched across.

I bought a 50's Sewhandy 20, no plastic, like new condition. I'll keep you posted!

And I'm still thinking about converting my featherweight, which I don't care for, into a hand crank. After all I have all the parts I need (brave talk) on the 127.. That is doable, right? But my one concern is 14 pounds on my lap might get heavy after a little while, hence the thought train about the toys.

I would interject that If "I" was buying a chainstitcher it would be a W&G only. Their locking chainstitch is VERY strong and with some patient watching, the handcrank version can be had for as low as 100-300 They are SO silent, smooth, and lightweight.

The best more modern (non-featherweight) solution I know of is a Singer handcrank on a Bel-Air Bantam. It is a Singer 99 clone (3/4 Size) and aluminum body so very light.

Hey, thanks for those suggestions Steve. I slobbered over the W&Gs for some weeks, but considering where I intend to use one I opted for an easily found affordable one. Having zero experience in the field, I also couldn't be sure if all the parts were there and how expensive they would be. Dropping my tray on the rocks or dirt is a distinct possibility.

I didn't realize the Bantam was alum. thanks.

edited to add: having done a quick perusal here, JMiller said he had a badged Sewmor 303 in a bantam thread.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...o-t240528.html

I'd have to ask what they weighed wouldn't I, to know if it was alum or cast.
Asking questions is what I do best :)

Here is the thread where we got a Bantam set up for my Student who was deployed. Sent it to him with motor and hand crank so he could do either THREAD

Edited to add link to local Bantam http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/atq/5131580419.html

The Singer handcrank won't fit on a featherweight. Featherweights use a different motor and mounting position than the older Singers did. Featherweights don't have the boss on the back.
There is a guy selling handcrank kits made with the crank off aluminum windows but that's only a direct drive, not the 3 to 1 ratio a Singer handcrank has.
Here's the link. http://www.ebay.com/itm/221-Singer-H...item2c9e77fc2f
Rodney

There are battery operated sewing machines out there. Just Googled. Tried copy and paste (wouldn't let me)one for $69 with multiple said nothing about being a toy. It's 10x4x10. Uses 4 AA batteries.

Hi Tessagin, I looked at those, but I don't think 4 AA batteries would hold up very long, I'm gone 2 or 3 days sometimes. Not that I couldn't carry batteries, but it doesn't seem 'green' in my mind. I was particularly taken with the one that looks like my 404, but it is all plastic, not going there.

thanks Rodney, about the featherweight transition not working. I think I knew that but my brain doesn't run on all cylinders. I'm running through shopgoodwill right now, just seeing if I can spot a bantam. Gotta train up my eyes.
If you guys spot a good 'un please PM me.

Steve, I saw that thread, what a great save for a vintage machine. It has probably since been passed on to a village granny who is making clothes for everyone.

Just wanted to add to this thread, I think I'm giving myself a brain tumor hunting for a Bantam :)

I have my little sewhandy now and it is SO cute. I can't make it sew a consistently good seam but it is fun trying.

I love HC sewing. I have a Standard machine that can use a round bobbin or it can use a spider to make a chain stitch. It is obscenely heavy though. It does not take a Singer HC. I put a spinner on it. The chain stitches are pretty small so it is a LOT of work to do very much. Maybe it is possible to modify something and attach a Singer HC.

there are a number of reasons my Singer hand crank isn't working on river banks :)
Too heavy to tote around, need to take a table, banging up my bentwood case, size...
But they are lovely machines to quilt on, aren't they.

the hunt for a chain stitcher, which led me to toy machines is purely about weight and true portability.
Thanks for weighing in!
The hunt for a bantam was fueled by the enablers above :)
It WILL take my singer hand crank parts won't it?

yes, it will and does in the thread I posted. Actually, things changed in the last month before he returned and he ended up with the machine back. It is safe and sound at his home in the States now.

I bought a handcrank for my FW. the one advertised and made from a window crank. I was not totally impressed. still have it.

Yesterday, while reading a manual for Singer Golden Touch and Sew on Singerco.com, I read that machine can do chain stitching, but you need a special bobbin cover, a little round plate that fits over the bobbin, under the bobbin plate. It isolates the bobbin from the needle. Says it will ravel readily and should be fastened with a sewing needle at the ends of a seam. I was flabbergasted, for lack of a better word. It was a model 750. Wondering if Cathy has seen one of those little plates floating around. I would like to try it. I have the machine temporarily.

I wonder if the hand crank for the FW shown on Ebay for around $36 would work on the Golden Touch and Sew. I don't want to modify the hand wheel to use the Chinese version. Modification is an option though.

The Singer Golden Touch and Sew can be inexpensive at thrift stores and isn't really heavy, heavy, but still enough. Mine was given to me, but we still don't have a 4-pin plug or controller for it yet. I have given these machines a jaundiced eye until reading the manual and seeing it is a pretty neat machine. Maybe I was wrong, even if it does have plastic gears. I saw some gear sets on sale on Ebay that would work on it, if ever needed. Right now we really need a wiring diagram to make a wire to try it. I'm dying to find out what it can do as far as chain stitching.

Yesterday, while reading a manual for Singer Golden Touch and Sew on Singerco.com, I read that machine can do chain stitching, but you need a special bobbin cover, a little round plate that fits over the bobbin, under the plate. It isolates the bobbin from the needle. Says it will ravel readily and should be fastened with a sewing needle at the ends of a seam. I was flabbergasted, for lack of a better word. It was a model 750. Wondering if Cathy has seen one of those little plates floating around. I would like to try it. I have the machine temporarily.

Final SewHandy results
 

We attached it to a lap tray, with the right height camp chair it works amazingly well.
My nephew saw it and I explained it for going fishing, sewing without electricity.
He said "but what about me?". So the SewHandy will be his. It makes a beautiful stitch by the way


And I found myself a Bantam..I'll put a new thread up about that.