[Haaseman27]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this machine...

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-HEAVY-DUTY-I...d=p3286.c0.m14

[grifzila]

The machine is a new one to me too. I've done a lot of machine repair over the years and I recognize some of the components. What I recognize would be found on Brother and other Japan machines made for over 40 years. Everyone sold them under many names like Sears/Signature, Wards, even Singer. They have rugidized it somewhat by adding the step down pulley and Walking foot shaft. It looks like the weak features are the drive motor power and the drift pins and set screw's that lock the shaft collars and gears from slipping. If any of the shaft parts slip a few degrees, the timing of the needle and bobbin can give trouble by dropping stitches or braking needles. The machines are straight stitch only and have only one stitch length.

If you decide to give it a try, I suggest oiling the machine every 5 hrs. of running time. The pro's use clear mineral oil sowing machine oil because it doesn't stain a much. The other thing is to polish the needles on a buffing wheel using metal polish compound. The thicker the material the more important the polish is. This can be the diff. between making a mess and no trouble.

Good luck, John

[DanTwoLakes]

I'm sure grifzila would agree with these statements. To simplify this for you......any of these knockoff replicas of the classic sewing machines ( like the Singer 111W) in the hands of someone who sews for 3 hours a week will work fine. If you want to sew 8 hours a day, at full speed, every day for the rest of the machine's life, this would not be the machine you'd want to do it with. For an occasional home user who does not need to make a living with the machine, it will work fine.

[Haaseman27]

What do you guys think of a Consew 230R-1? It says it does not have a walking foot... can a walking foot be adapted to that machine? Is the 230R something that would stand up better?