The Upholstery Forum

Hello all, I want to purchase a bigger machine for my shop. A friend has in store an old pfaff machine with this details


It has a small cylinder base for sewing.

Is this a good machine to purchase for my shop?

The machine is pfaff 491

@Hope Komla ,

Do you have a flatbed machine?

@BigRig. YES I DO PLEASE

@Hope Komla , if you want a toy to tinker with then that machine is a great machine to sit around and play with. I would never use it all sewing can be done on a flat bed.

Chances are that you could get by with it but far from ideal. Wouldn't be on my list of machines to own. You say you want a bigger machine, what are you using now? Pfaff 491 is a needle feed, roller driven post bed. Nothing wrong with it and if you need one, you have to have it but not on my top ten list for upholstery.

Wow,these are great points. @Adam12, I want to use it for sofa and automotive upholstery. But as I can tell from the advice this machine comes with its pros and cons. At my current location in Ghana,finding the parts in the future may be challenging. Even though I would love to work with it,I think the points are really good to consider.

I agree. Those machines are more for specialty item that are being mass produced, Like shoes for example.
Automotive, marine, furniture upholstery can all be done on a flat bed.

@Hope Komla ,

Flat bed it is! What is your current machine? We need to get your brain off that headache you are looking to get.

@BigRig my current walking foot machine is a rex607.
It works fine but I struggle sewing through heavy and thick leather. It also makes the stitch length smaller when I sew.
I know getting another machine that sews smoothly would be of great help.

@Hope Komla ,

Pretty much the same thing here on the stitch length. What are you sewing leatherwise? Is it upholstery leather?

Yes,faux leather and also real leather please.

@Hope Komla , did you pass on that Pfaff?