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[DEH]

Hey gang,
I'm new to this and need a little help.

I've been going through the training course that was a great investment! I see the use of the reverse lever to achieve a proper lock stitch and understand its importance. The problem I have is I have no reverse lever on my machine. I'm running a singer 111W153 that's a great machine. I have added a servo motor and it is very easy to control. It is a very similar machine to the consew, just a little older. Any suggestion on how to solve this problem would be appreciated. For now I've been stepping in a few stitches , raise the foot up , pull the fabric back then re-sew over the stitch.

[Jayscanvas]

Ok I will start out by saying a reverse machine is nessary for doing the this work. But the truth is years ago many shops used machines with no reverse I have two my juki two needle and an old singer industrial I use for light material and occasional clothes hiem. Two ways you do it and there be more and any old school guys maybe able to give more. First do a few stiches and turn the entire piece of material around the other way stich a few stiches and turn around the original direction and start sewing. Second way is to do a few stiches then lift the presser foot pull the material back lower fot and stich over the original stiches.

[DEH]

Thanks for your input, I'm currently doing what you suggested and pulling the fabric back.Looks like I will need to upgrade my machine at some point.

[John]

Yeah the way you are doing the lock stitch will work just fine. Its just easier if you have a reverse lever.

[DEH]

Well I fixed the problem, just found a Consew 226 on Craigslist and added a servo motor to it. Much easier now!
The old singer will be a backup.

[John]

Nice! I love Craigslist. At least 1/2 of the things I own were bought on Craigslist.

[BigRig]

Easy to find more econimical machines with no reverse lever thats for sure!

[John Long]

Nice! I love Craigslist. At least 1/2 of the things I own were bought on Craigslist.

Ditto for me. I am currently watching for a steamer. I made one years ago which since has a rusted tank. I keep hoping to find a used Jiffy J3 or J-4000 but so far the perfect machine has alluded me.

My buddy that owned the trim shop here in town sewed every day on a Singer 111 with no reverse and never gave it a thought. He eventually bought a new Pfaff and was like a kid on Christmas morning. He really loved the Pfaff.

John

[BigRig]

@John Long ,

Did your buddy find the reverse on his pfaff that much more helpful?

[John Long]

The reverse does save some time. Raising your foot, backing up your material, and sewing three more stitches for your lock stitch takes time. So does turning your material around and sewing three stitches.

For a professional, time is money but I really think it is mostly about the convenience. I don't think his quality of work went up but his sewing speed did I'm sure. I'm 74 and Bob has been dead for 20 years. It probably was In the mid 80's when Bob replaced the 111.

For a hobbyist, I would much rather purchase a 111 with no reverse for 3-4 hundred dollars as a new Thompson Mini Brute or similar. First class work can be done without reverse. It becomes very challenging to sew panels with 1/2 scrim to a pleated insert with a machine that has no needle feed nor enough presser foot height. Been there, done that. AAMOF, If I had to choose between reverse and my servo motor, I would take the servo. Reverse, I can live without but I don't have time to master the clutch on a commercial machine.

John

[John Long]

One other interesting note. Bob was in business when most of the work was seat covers. Most of his time was spent making covers to put over new seats, taxi cabs, or the like. He could do three sets on a good day and two most days. For him it was about productivity not just quality. The other thing was replacing inserts or worn panels.

It was always exciting to me when he got a custom job in the shop and I got to watch him do a whole car. As the years went by, the seat cover work went away and the custom work increased along with repairing/replacing worn panels or torn stitches etc. I liked that a whole lot more than Bob did. :-)

The industry sure has changed.

John

[BigRig]

@John Long ,

I pretty much have a Singer LongArm No Reverse double needle that sews one needle available to me for way less than anything I can buy retail. I am still looking for one with reverse but not sure if its needed now for the odd pieces. It is repair and custom work I get in too.