Good sewing machine for UL fabrics?

[Monte Masterson]

What’s a good machine for under $300 that can handle materials such as 7d or 10d ripstop nylon, .66 membrane taffeta, .51 cuben, .67 noseeum etc?  My cheap Singer has it’s limitations.

[Ken Thompson]

Bunch of threads on that one.

 

 

 

get it? a sewing pun.

[Monte Masterson]

Yea, you’re a funny guy Ken.

[Ken Thompson]

https://ocala.craigslist.org/hsh/5511544642.html

[William Ready]

Instead of buying a brand new machine you might look into a walking-foot attachment, I find they really help keep a constant pressure on the fabric which in turn provides a nice finished stitch. There are a couple generic models out there as well as purpose built sewing machines. Also, (You may already know this) if you reduce the tension on the thread it will help with lighter weight fabrics. (I use Cubin fabric and silnylons fairly often on projects). http://www.walmart.com/ip/37553456?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227028231648&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=47345391032&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=93453504992&veh=sem

[Roger Caffin]

I’d be looking at a roller foot and imprroved sewing technique myself. And a lower thread tension and a lighter thread and a smaller needle.

Lots of Forum threads on this.

Cheers

 

[Mole J]

What Roger says.

but FWIW :

A few years back, was having issues with 2  different domestic machines when sewing silnylon.   I borrowed a friends Elna 340, and it worked like a dream.

After using it a lot I found that I enjoyed driving it so much that I bought one.

There are features that some would warn against it, but I find it faultless.   Have done tarps, modded inner tents, bivi with noseeum, bivi with pertex quantum, webbing and fly repairs, zips and plenty clothing repairs.

I bought a walking foot for it, which helps stop the layers slipping on long seams.

It’s a budget option that does everything I need. (have an industrial Singer for heavy stuff)

 

 

 

[Roger Caffin]

Chuckle

I have an ELNA TSP and an old black Singer. The ELNA cannot handle really heavy fabrics and threads, but the old Singer can. Curiously, the old Singer can also sew UL silk and silnylon, as well as burlap. But the Singer only does straight stitch, nothing else.

Between them, I have made UL tents, packs, clothing, quilts, and more.

Cheers

 

[Hoosier T]

It surprises me how much I read about issues sewing these light fabrics. One day on a whim I decided to make my wife a quilt and order Membrane 10. I bought a Singer Sewmate 5400 from Amazon and after researching myog quilts, I dove in. I had NEVER sewn before and didn’t even make a stuff sack for practice. I will say that it was the first of many projects. I have sewn with Membrane 10, 1.1 ripstop, 1.1 Silnylon, HyperD 300, and now I’m sewing a tarp using Membrane Silpoly which is a SLICK 15d, really slick in fact. I have never had an issue with this machine sewing light fabrics. Zero…I use Gutterman 70 from RSBTR and Microtex Sharp Machine Needles-Size 10/70 for all the light weight fabrics. I do use the stock needle that came with my machine for sewing webbing and other thick stuff. $111 for this machine on Amazon and it has worked like a dream. Run it on top thread tension of 6 and stitch length of 3.5 and sew all the things.

[Sam C]

I use a Singer Classic aka a 44S with sized 60 sharp needles and that free Gutterman 70 thread from RSBTR for the lighter stuff but truth be told I have yet to sew any fabric lighter than 1.1.  1.6 HyperD and 2.2 Hex70 are my go-to’s.

To keep the fabric from slipping and the seams straight I do a few quick tacks along the raw edge of the allowance, kind of like a quick and easy basting.  Sometimes I use painter’s tape, which can be a pain at times considering this stuff barely wants to stick to dry and “hard” surfaces as it is.

[Mario Caceres]

I really like the Brother CS6000i. This is an entry level machine which is great for beginners like me as it gives you a lot of control over the machine.  You can adjust the speed of sewing (from very slow to full blast), you can drop / raise the needle with a push of a buttom, you can adjust at will the width of the zig-zag stitch & position of the needle (from 0 to 7mm), you can adjust the length of the stitch from (from 0.2 to 5mm), it has a needle threader.  It comes standard with a walking foot, quilting foot, wide table, overcasting foot, and several other foots.  If you are planning to sew several layers of heavy material, probably you need something stronger (I tried to reinforce a shoulder strap from an old packpack and I had to use the hadwheel for that), but for lighter / normal sewing I can’t think in a better way to spend $145.

[Monte Masterson]

I ended up buying a Janome My Style 100. Paid $249 plus tax at Citrus Sewing in Ocala. I also got the walking foot to go with it for another $50. Well worth it. The machine works like a dream.

[Simon Kenton]

From what I’ve read, the Janome MyStyle 100 is the same as the Janome 2212. Looks like a nice machine for the money. Especially here:

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