What small, lightweight hand crank would you take traveling?

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11-11-2013, 02:50 PM

#21

miriam

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Vridar

I use the hand crank referenced for boat cover repairs in situ. I concede the 1:1 would get tiresome for what most machines are used for. 1:1 with a largest hand wheel or extension to max diameter permitted would give enough torque for minor use. My rotator cuff would suffer, however.

Edit: I see Miriam has answered the 1:1 concern more succinctly than I in post #12.

I think it also depends on what you are sewing. If you are sewing leather ends on an occasional suspender a 1:1 would work just fine and it would be easier on the machine. Your rotator cuff won't give out that quick. For kids they don't last long no matter what.

11-12-2013, 02:06 AM

#22

Sheluma

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Quote:

Originally Posted by miriam

NOPE no dice NOPE don't notch out your hand wheel on a FW. A spoked wheel won't fit so the suicide knob won't do it. You don't have a motor mount that will hold a standard HC - there IS someone out there selling window crank knobs stuck on a clutch knob you can attach to a FW. http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEATHERWEIGH...-/160874190414 Kind of a lot of cash though for a window crank knob. I don't know how those hold up either. See if he has any kind of guarantee on that before you shell out hard earned $$$. I think there is info somewhere on building up the side of the post to hold a hand crank attachment but seems like a lot of trouble. The Singer Spartan or the 99s will HC beautifully - they are small but they are heavy enough to stay put. I think a little weight when you HC helps or you might have to find a way to anchor the machine.

Thanks for setting me straight, Miriam

11-12-2013, 02:25 AM

#23

miriam

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheluma

Thanks for setting me straight, Miriam

It's ok. I like to sew with a HC. I learned on one. Took me 50 years to find one again - very soothing to not hear the motor whine. You have to use your left hand to control the fabric - not a bad thing.

11-12-2013, 10:26 AM

#24

Redsquirrel

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Join Date: Sep 2013

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here's the thing with light hand cranks, they might move around on the table a bit. I even have trouble with my 99 moving a bit when I'm winding the bobbin. I think I need a sticky pad under the case to hold it in place. Just something to keep in mind.

11-12-2013, 11:08 AM

#25

miriam

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Wasn't there a calculator commercial for with one with big green buttons and little rubber feet? I think we need big rubber feet...

11-23-2013, 08:43 AM

#26

ThayerRags

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Join Date: May 2011

Location: Frederick, OK

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Here are two of my 1:1 handcrank machines. A 1943 Singer 29K70 and a 1957 Singer 221.

The boot patcher is nicknamed “Cope”. He has a Copenhagen Snuff can lid for his front inspection cover decoration. I’ve painted the lid gold since this photo was taken. I seldom use the hand knob on the 29K70 except for winding bobbins. I crank it for sewing a lot of stitches using the rim of the wheel, but rarely use the hand knob, and it has a treadle for long runs which I seldom have with my kind of sewing (repairs). My other 29K70 was missing its hand knob when I got it, so it doesn’t even have one.

The Featherweight is my hurricane-ravaged “Hurkie” machine that I sew quilt blocks with at Quilt Shows. Hurkie has done a bunch of block piecing. I wind its bobbins on it with the crank as well. An index finger can spin that crank pretty fast! To make the bobbin winder work without a motor belt to ride on, I put an O-ring in the belt groove. (Some kind of tractor filter requires the O-ring. Ask your local NAPA Auto Parts Dealer about his rings.) The needle has to go up and down while winding a bobbin, but I usually unthread the machine to take thread off of the spool that I’m sewing with anyway. I’ve used rubber bands in the groove too, but the black O-ring looks nicer.

I take Hurkie traveling with me, but I don’t recommend taking Cope along, at least not for short casual trips.....

CD in Oklahoma

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11-23-2013, 09:56 AM

#27

miriam

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I wants ta see the HC end of the FW.

11-23-2013, 12:47 PM

#28

ThayerRags

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Crank end shown. It fits nicely on the handlebars of my wife's motorcycle too.

CD in Oklahoma

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Last edited by ThayerRags; 11-23-2013 at 12:51 PM.

11-23-2013, 01:24 PM

#29

KalamaQuilts

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Location: SW Washington USA

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cricket_iscute

I've been looking at RVs, and they have such limited space! You would almost have to build your own RV insides in order to get any sewing space. You would probably have to do QAYG. I haven't actually lived or traveled in an RV, I'm guessing based on what I see in the RV world.

I lived in a 5th wheel for 3 years while I nursed my father in law. The first thing I did was ask the people I bought it from to take out the TV. Then I put one of the two recliner in that corner up at the street FREE

I had my featherweight table remodified to seat my Janome.
I had a shelf made to go where that honking big TV was so that gave me a lot of room for tools and threads and bits.

I put a pull down shade above the steps going up to the bedroom with glued on flannel on it for a working wall.
I used the cutting board that goes over the sink for a place to put my cutting mat.

It is all doable, depends on how flexible you are willing to be. Best wishes!

11-23-2013, 02:19 PM

#30

ThayerRags

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cricket_iscute

Have you given any consideration to tenting? They used to make some big honkin Sheepherder tents several years ago. With a wood stove in them, they were kinda compfy. I’m not sure what happened to mine. One of the kids got it, I guess. If they aren’t still making them, maybe you could sew your own. Set the DH’s cot and all of the cooking gear outside under a lean-to, and you’d have a fair-sized quilting area....

Just a thought.

CD in Oklahoma