The Machine That I Fiddled With Today
#1252
I will check out that book. I hope I do "get it". I have such a hard time finding clothes to my satisfaction in the store. I really want to make mine, without fear. I wanted a professional look and if I can conquer the serger I know I can do it. I will look for your posts on this.
I alter a fair bit of my clothes these days. I've been on an allergy elimination diet that's been changing my shape as well and nothing fits right now so I have to or I'd be replacing almost everything. Thankfully it's summer and mostly tanks and tees at the moment. If a serger can make me look competent, it can work for anyone.
#1253
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Dallas
Posts: 145
My husband and I fiddled with the bobbin area of the Red eye tonight. Cleaned the rusty parts with a wire brush. Boy, was it dirty. Oily grunge, bugs, and cotton fluff. It's soaking now in Mr. Wrench penetrating oil. Then I've got to cut a felt to replace the one I mistakenly tried pulling out of the spring when we first brought the machine home. We're on the home stretch for the mechanical parts, but still need to French polish yet. Not really looking forward to the FPing.
#1254
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
The hook assembly on mine is really finicky, it popped out of place inside the race a couple times on me now. Have you noticed anything like that with yours?
The only thing I don't like about the machine is Sears used the ugliest shade of green possible on their cases during that time. The machine itself looks great.
Rodney
The only thing I don't like about the machine is Sears used the ugliest shade of green possible on their cases during that time. The machine itself looks great.
Rodney
The case...yeah. Mine did come with a case but it's been to hell & back, lots of scuffs and scrapes. So it's 100% ugly regardless of the color underneath all the marks. I just don't really trust plastic cases anyway, that heavy-as-heck machine being held by aging plastic...I carry it from the bottom when I move it and basically just use it as a dust cover. It's a little broken-out on the inside too - I'd like to replace it.
I'm trying to convince my DH to get into woodworking so he can build a bunch of bases and cases for me but so far he isn't taking the bait. I will probably have to figure that out on my own if I want that to happen! LOL
#1255
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 4,299
I think you will. If you can disassemble and reassemble a vintage machine, you can "get" tension even on a serger. I teach it in my classes and my ladies all leave understanding how to read a test sew and adjust accordingly. Serger test sews look different because they're usually an edge but the principles are basically the same. Loose loopers will always do "X", Tight will do "Y", loose needle threads will do "Z", etc.
I've NEVER even used a serger before and I have heard they are a little tricky so I have to admit I'm a little intimidated by it. This machine has pretty terrible reviews in regards to tension so it might be a manufacturing problem; then again some people seem to sew with it just fine so maybe it's just fussy. It's still in the box right now. Kind of lurking, actually.
Nice thing is I have literally zero investment in this machine. If I totally screw it up I won't lose a thing, and if I fix it, I will have my first serger!
#1256
I’ve been fiddling with the Singer 20U Professional Zigzag machine that I picked up at an auction over the weekend, and trying to determine if the submodel number is 20U11 or 20U13. In the mean time, I’m getting a list of broken or missing parts together, and trying to decide which method that I will use to slow it down a bunch.
CD in Oklahoma
CD in Oklahoma
#1257
I was just given a modern Singer serger that has tension problems. My friend picked it up for free on Craig's list and assumed she could figure it out (she's an experienced garment sewer, but not really into machines themselves) and when it persisted to have problems she in turn passed it along to me. I don't think anybody has ever successfully sewed with this particular machine!
I've NEVER even used a serger before and I have heard they are a little tricky so I have to admit I'm a little intimidated by it. This machine has pretty terrible reviews in regards to tension so it might be a manufacturing problem; then again some people seem to sew with it just fine so maybe it's just fussy. It's still in the box right now. Kind of lurking, actually.
Nice thing is I have literally zero investment in this machine. If I totally screw it up I won't lose a thing, and if I fix it, I will have my first serger!
I've NEVER even used a serger before and I have heard they are a little tricky so I have to admit I'm a little intimidated by it. This machine has pretty terrible reviews in regards to tension so it might be a manufacturing problem; then again some people seem to sew with it just fine so maybe it's just fussy. It's still in the box right now. Kind of lurking, actually.
Nice thing is I have literally zero investment in this machine. If I totally screw it up I won't lose a thing, and if I fix it, I will have my first serger!
Tension is so misunderstood that if that's the predominant "problem" people report, I won't dismiss the machine until I have a chance to try it. In all the time I've been servicing, I've had three machines come in with "tension issues" that were legitimate machine malfunctions or missing pieces. And more than 90% of the machines I service are for "tension problems". Even people who've "been sewing since before I was alive" have brought me non-mechanical-issue tension "problems".
I do think the vintage Singer sergers (1980s ish?) are more robust than the newer Singer ones but my current serger (my first was a singer 14u64a) is a still current model Kenmore made by Janome that I lucked into for a smokin deal and kept after using both it and the Singer side by side. A lot of "tension problems" on sergers can also come from inappropriate presser foot pressure too - just like on a vintage sewing machine.
One day, I'll get around to adding a video about sergers and tension on them to my list of youtube videos. I'll go down into the studio and put it on the list today in fact. Once upon a time (less than 5 years ago), I'd never used a serger either. Now, the only thing that makes me hesitate is the time to change thread colors - which I do by tying off and pulling through - or the time to change from rolled hem back to regular hemming. Both are minor but I can make them pretty big in my head sometimes. Don't let it intimidate you, just go for it.
#1258
I think you will. If you can disassemble and reassemble a vintage machine, you can "get" tension even on a serger. I teach it in my classes and my ladies all leave understanding how to read a test sew and adjust accordingly. Serger test sews look different because they're usually an edge but the principles are basically the same. Loose loopers will always do "X", Tight will do "Y", loose needle threads will do "Z", etc.
I alter a fair bit of my clothes these days. I've been on an allergy elimination diet that's been changing my shape as well and nothing fits right now so I have to or I'd be replacing almost everything. Thankfully it's summer and mostly tanks and tees at the moment. If a serger can make me look competent, it can work for anyone.
I alter a fair bit of my clothes these days. I've been on an allergy elimination diet that's been changing my shape as well and nothing fits right now so I have to or I'd be replacing almost everything. Thankfully it's summer and mostly tanks and tees at the moment. If a serger can make me look competent, it can work for anyone.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SusieQOH
Links and Resources
2
11-18-2019 07:08 AM
AngieS
Main
13
10-05-2011 10:33 AM
craftybear
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
44
02-07-2011 08:50 PM
Izy
Pictures
25
05-25-2008 03:45 AM