Singer 628 Touch and Sew Questions
 

I just picked up a Singer Touch and Sew model 628 along with a box of cams, bobbins, and attachments for a few bucks at a thrift shop. It's missing the power cord but I did open it up top and bottom and the plastic gears appear to be working. Tension seems ok, I sewed a few stitches manually but guess I won't really know until I get the power cord. I'm reading a lot of mixed reviews on this machine, is it worth it for me to go ahead and buy a power cord and see if it it works? Any information anyone would like to share on this machine? Thoughts or suggestions?

Touch & Sews tend to be love them or leave them machines; people that leave them often call them Torch & Throws, or some variation. But just as many got one for graduation, or saved up their babysitting money for one and love them to pieces. (Sometimes literally! :) ) I'm not crazy about their wind-in-place bobbins-they get hinky with age, especially the bobbin winder lifter lever which tends to crack in the nylon base.

That said, they're usually decent machines. I'd never use one as my main machine, but if you need a backup or have a beginner to pass it on to, they're usually ok.

Thanks for the tip on the bobbin winder lever...mine appears to be intact at first look over, we'll see what happens when it gets power. IF it gets power! Any insight on the motors of these? Any way to know if it's konked out without getting a power cord? I was hoping that maybe if I bought the cord it'd fit another of my machines but it fits like NOTHING but the Touch and Sews lol* :) I just don't want to be out $15 if the power cord is basically worth more than the machine if the motor/electrical doesn't work.

Just me and my opinion, I would get a cord for it and see how it works for you. If you don't you will never know.

I have a cord set for this machine, if you could let me know your address I will send it to you.

Thank you Jingle and Sing99...I think I'm going to do just that. Sing I sent you a PM! :)

I'm sorry I am not very computer literate and I cannot figure out how to answer your reply. I definitely do not want anything for the cord set, If I could just get your address, I will be happy to drop it in the mail to you.

Sing99 - thank you so much for your kindness! I have already spoken to someone about purchasing two of her powercords for a very reasonable price. (I don't mind having one back up around)...if that doesn't pan out I may take you up on your most generous offer...and thank you so much again! I'm constantly amazed at the kindness of strangers on these boards!

I have a Singer Touch and Sew that I have had for 50 years. I love this machine. My mom bought it for me when I was a teenager. I have it serviced and it sews beautifully. Mine is the 600 series.

I’m one of those who saved up their babysitting money to buy a new Touch & Sew Model 636. I made a lot of clothes with it, but hated the push-button drop in bobbin. It was “hinky” from the get go.

Beats the heck out of me why I still keep it. I open the cabinet to vacuum it out, but it hasn’t been plugged in since about 1997. I think I’ll drag it out of the corner and give her a good cleaning and some oil.

I just looked at the manual, “What’s new for tomorrow is at SINGER today!” The back cover shows pictures of a Singer television, Singer vacuum cleaner, Singer phonograph, Singer typewriter, and child’s Touch & Sew that’s battery, electricity, or hand crank. Ah, the “Made in USA “ good old days.

Good luck with your 628. I’m off to find my Zoom Spout.

In answer to "MattieMae" I have one of those toy machines in case with one extra original bobbin. My brother bought it at a flea market but it didn't work. Hubby took it apart every little piece. Now back together and works but I just use it for decoration as it seems delicate. Never had the full size machine.

I saw one of those manuals just recently! They're a hoot-a real blast from the past. I don't know which I want more, the Singer typewriter, or the TV. (To put in my sewing room, or course!). I don't think I have real vinyl records any more, so the phonograph is out, but I could re-ink the typewriter ribbon.

Oh, and can I be nosy and ask how much you paid for it, and when?

Mornigstar....Flea markets are great fun and you never know what you’ll come home with. So awesome your husband was able to take the little sewing machine apart and get it running again. I bet that it looks really cute on the shelf.

Karen....I had no idea Singer sold all that other stuff. I bought my 636 at the Mayfair Shopping Center in Wauwatosa, WI., from either Marshall Fields or Gimbels. It was probably 1968, unfortunately I don’t recall the price.

I did find the circular stitcher attachment that was a big selling point when I bought the Singer, but never even took it out of the box. Another biggie was the 636 has 7 built-in stitch patterns. So funny, I was looking at a Bernina the other day that had so many stitch patterns they gave you a stitch sheet, instead of showing them in the lid.

I’m surprised that the plastic on my machine housing has not yellowed, and the cord is still supple. I’m kind of excited to see if she’ll run after I give her a good once over.

Pumpkinpatch....Please keep us advised how your purchase works out.

I had a 63? inthe late 60s or early 70s. I had a very patient Singer serviceman who taught how to handle the bobbin problems, then I liked it. Keep a supply of bobbins and be careful about tightening them too much, they do crack in the center spindle as the bobbin can be separated.

I think we had one of these machines...the bobbin was wider on the top than the bottom, right? I have no idea what happened to it, but I do remember being allowed to use it...I must have been 10.

This is great to know as my 10 year old daughter may very well be inheriting this machine to practice on!

REALLY good to know thank you!!! The box of attachments/cams came with about 8 bobbins so that should be plenty to keep me sewing a while. Aside from nylon gears in some models the other big complaint seems to be that whole bobbin winding deal.

I found one at Goodwill for $20, had it cleaned and refurbished, worked beautifully until the bobbin conked out, the repairman said the trick is to be careful not to fill beyond the line, has been working great since then!

VERY good to know, thank you so much!

You are so lucky to have found a 628 Singer machine! I love it for the bobbin filling in place. I have other machines and if I run out of bobbin thread, I have to stop and fill them outside the machine. To help this problem, I fill several bobbins only to have some left over at the end of the job. I truly love this machine. It is faster than newer ones too. I have a Viking machine and it is twice as fast as the Viking. I hope you enjoy your 628.

Hello, I'm new to the quilting board. I recently got a Singer Touch and Sew 628, and need a few pointers for getting the thread on the Bobbin. I threaded the machine without much difficulty, but the threading the bobbin? Should I take the needle off? Also, what is the proper position for the needle, should the flat part of the needle go to the back or side?

Try the 626 or 629 diagrams, which might actually all be the same for the 620 series T&S:

http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diag...ng_diagram.htm
http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diag...ng_diagram.htm

free manual for 628 here:
http://www.singerco.com/uploads/down...0148fb9444.pdf

I just joined this morning because I wanted to say I too love my Singer 628 that my grandmother bought me in 1967, just before I entered Jr. High. If you still have questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you. I love my machine and am currently searching for a new motor. It just gave out finally, after 47 years. I hope I can locate one that will last me for a while! Definitely do not overfill the bobbin, stop before it is filled, otherwise you will be taking it apart and cutting out thread that is wrapped around the base gears. Remember the top of the bobbin is broader than he base, so the thread spills over the rim.

Also, never use a bobbin that is not a Singer bobbin. I find the needle hits the top edge of the knock-off bobbins, nicking the bobbin and dulling the needle and potentially breaking the needle. A Singer bobbin saves you from this headache.

Hope you're enjoying it and I hope I find another motor for my poor baby!

Sandy in Ohio

I have a 648 touch n sew. it has a brokem gear and is too costly to fix. I was going to part it out. what do you need?

Hi there! I just joined this forum to learn more about my old Singer 628 Touch N Sew. My mom bought it in 1967, with a cabinet, and later she wanted a portable. So the deal was I buy a portable for her and I could have the Touch N Sew.
It still works great. Since then, I've become a quilter, and about 5 years ago a friend GAVE me a Bernina 830 Record. Well, it has been my main machine, until yesterday when it started making funny noises. So, it's back to the Singer, at least until the Bernina is repaired.... So, my question is, what kind of pressure feet do you buy for the old Touch N Sews? Long shank? Short shank? or Slant shank? I don't see anything in the manual about that. Thank you.

ps I love this forum, have turned to it for advise many times.

The two Touch & Sew machines I have had (750 and 778) were slant shank machines. A quick Bing search confirms that the 628 is as well.

The Touch & Sew series all take slant shank accessories.

Cathy

OK, thank you. Now after re-reading the manual, it says you can do free motion work without a pressure foot at all... any experience with this? Or what foot works best for free motion quilting? Thanks again.

Selahquilter welcome aboard. I don't think I'd try it without a presser foot. I think you need a darning or embroidery hoop if you're not going to use a foot. You can adjust for very light or no pressure on the presser foot and raise the plate above the feed dogs for FMQ on Touch & Sews. I've only experimented with FMQ once on mine and it was the regular foot. I was able to make it work enough to prove you could do it but you'll probably want to find a free motion or darning foot for your machine.
Sew-Classic.com carries them.
http://shop.sew-classic.com/Slant-Shank-Feet_c10.htm
They're toward the bottom of the page.
Rodney

Rodney,
Thank you. I'll check it out. Also, will do a muslin practice sandwich first.:)

Anybody have a metal feed dog for a touch n sew 645?

I also love my T & S. Be sure to read the manual completely once or twice highlighting all of the things that it says to do that may be different from most other machines. Write those down on a cheat sheet and keep it next to you until you can do all of them by heart and always use the correct needle size with the correct fabric with the correct thread, It really does make a difference. :)

Good point Sunflowerzz. They're not like other machines. I can understand why there's a love/hate thing with them. They're not a very intuitive machine. You pretty much need to read the manual to understand how to operate one.
They use a 2 piece bobbin. You need to be sure the bobbin is screwed together tight. If it's even a little loose it throws the thread clearances off and you'll be fighting jams.
Rodney

Be very cautious about firing up your 628 at full speed before you know whether it has plastic gears or metal gears in it. I bought a 628 in a beautiful condition at a neighborhood garage sale. I plugged it in and it sewed beautifully for about 6 inches. Then all hell broke loose because the old plastic gears shattered! I found out that this is a very difficult problem to solve. Some 628's have metal gears however and if you have one of those it will not give you this problem. Try to determine in advance of running it whether you have metal or plastic. The older ones have the metal gears. I was so disappointed that this machine was ruined by just running it. Fortunately it came in a very attractive cabinet which I was able to use with a 301 by just purchasing an inexpensive "cradle" attachment for the 301 to set in. I hope you get your machine running safely for you.

For some reason my last post posted to two threads at once. sorry for the confusion but I am not even sure how I managed to do that!