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Posted by AMM on August 30, 2006, 2:46 pm
I have a Bernette (sp?) 410 sewing machine that we bought
about 20 years ago reconditioned.
I'm fairly happy with it (especially when I look at what
new machines cost), except for one problem:
it's not very good at pulling the cloth through at a consistent
rate.
The stitch length will vary by a factor of 2 or 3 on a simple,
flat seam. If I go over a fold, it will sometimes stop moving
the cloth at all, and merrily put all the stitches in one spot.
This is true with light cloth (e.g., voile), medium weight cloth
(broadcloth, quilting-weight cotton, etc.), and heavy (14 oz denim.)
I've played with the foot pressure, but it doesn't help.
I find that if I want the cloth to go through consistently, I have
to grab both ends and pull on the cloth the way I want it
to go.
I took it in to be serviced at my local fabric shop, and it didn't
help at all. Nothing was improved, but it did drip oil on the
cloth for a while.
Every time I ask at the shop, they say it's
because the machine doesn't have the horsepower (but it
puts stitches through 4--6 layers of heavy denim without
a problem!)
They insist my only solution is to buy a fancy
new Bernina or Husq<whatever>, for something
like $1000 . But when I look at these machines, they
have lots of features I don't need. And they don't look
exactly robust. (They don't even have a proper reverse stitch
setting, like my mother's old straight-stitch home Singer.)
Any suggestions from folks who *don't* have a financial interest
in selling me the most expensive machine on the market?
-- AMM
[line eater fodder]
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Posted by Sarah Dale on August 30, 2006, 5:18 pm
AMM wrote:
> The stitch length will vary by a factor of 2 or 3 on a simple,
> flat seam. If I go over a fold, it will sometimes stop moving
> the cloth at all, and merrily put all the stitches in one spot.
Ouch! Interesting problem AMM. I have two things, no three things to
suggest to you.
1) Take out the bobbin, bobbin case, and needle plate etc. and check you
haven't got a build up of lint under the feed dogs that's preventing
them moving properly. Have a good old clean out in there.I know you've
just had it serviced - but it's worth checking! If the shop didn't do
that - go and complain!
2) Re-post your query over on alt.sewing - a much busier group by far,
although a lot of folks read both.
3) If you are in America, Contact Ron Anderson
A1 Sewing Machine
PO Box 60
Sand Lake, NY 12153
518-674-8491
http://www.a1sewingmachine.com
He's a long term member of alt.sewing, and can give you excellent advice
etc. without selling you a machine you don't want.
HTH
Sarah
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Posted by FragileWarrior on August 30, 2006, 6:28 pm
> AMM wrote:
>> The stitch length will vary by a factor of 2 or 3 on a simple,
>> flat seam. If I go over a fold, it will sometimes stop moving
>> the cloth at all, and merrily put all the stitches in one spot.
>
> Ouch! Interesting problem AMM. I have two things, no three things to
> suggest to you.
>
> 1) Take out the bobbin, bobbin case, and needle plate etc. and check you
> haven't got a build up of lint under the feed dogs that's preventing
> them moving properly. Have a good old clean out in there.I know you've
> just had it serviced - but it's worth checking! If the shop didn't do
> that - go and complain!
You might also want to check and make sure that the feed dogs aren't
dropped for some reason. Some sewing machines have that capability and if
they're not up and moving, neither is the fabric.
Whatever the problem is, I'd bet it is with that part of the machine, not
the "horsepower".
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Posted by Phaedrine on August 30, 2006, 7:01 pm
> I have a Bernette (sp?) 410 sewing machine that we bought
> about 20 years ago reconditioned.
>
> I'm fairly happy with it (especially when I look at what
> new machines cost), except for one problem:
> it's not very good at pulling the cloth through at a consistent
> rate.
This is a bottom of the line machine to start with. If it was
reconditioned 20 years ago (!), I can't imagine it has much life left in
it.
--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI,Shakespeare)
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Posted by FragileWarrior on August 30, 2006, 7:13 pm
>
>> I have a Bernette (sp?) 410 sewing machine that we bought
>> about 20 years ago reconditioned.
>>
>> I'm fairly happy with it (especially when I look at what
>> new machines cost), except for one problem:
>> it's not very good at pulling the cloth through at a consistent
>> rate.
>
>
> This is a bottom of the line machine to start with. If it was
> reconditioned 20 years ago (!), I can't imagine it has much life left in
> it.
>
Tell that to my Featherweight workhorse.
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