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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old
"Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. |
#2
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
FullyDetached wrote:
I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old "Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Most domestic sewing machines can cope. Use a needle designed for leather and be prepared to help the machine wheel if it sticks. I've done caravan awnings on her machine with quite heavy canvas as well as vinyl seat covers. You need canvas thread to get the best results, try a camping shop. |
#3
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Sat, 29 Aug 2015 16:41:18 +0100, FullyDetached wrote:
I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old "Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Before you buy a sewing machine try your local town for someone who does 'alterations' to clothes. They often have a range of machines and can be very cheap. I had a pair of walking sandals repaired by one (the leather strap had broken)- cost me £2.00. |
#4
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 29/08/2015 16:41, FullyDetached wrote:
Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Get yourself a pre-war treadle machine like mine. It only sews straight, but it'll sew nearly anything. Andy |
#5
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Saturday, 29 August 2015 16:41:00 UTC+1, FullyDetached wrote:
I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old "Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Any old metal geared machine should do it. NT |
#6
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Sat, 29 Aug 2015 16:41:18 +0100, FullyDetached wrote:
I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old "Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Try a cobbler? They have kickass machines and are usually glad of the work these days. -- Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box |
#7
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 8/29/2015 12:42 PM, Vir Campestris wrote:
On 29/08/2015 16:41, FullyDetached wrote: Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Get yourself a pre-war treadle machine like mine. It only sews straight, but it'll sew nearly anything. +1 Many of the modern machines don't cope well with multiple layers of heavy fabrics. |
#8
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 29/08/2015 18:05, David wrote:
On Sat, 29 Aug 2015 16:41:18 +0100, FullyDetached wrote: I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old "Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Try a cobbler? They have kickass machines and are usually glad of the work these days. Saddlers also have the hardware, but they tend not to be short of work and hence expensive. Ditto sailmaker if you are near the coast. As someone else said, you might be surprised what a modern "ordinary" machine can do; wife has a big fancy vintage industrial Singer for making bridles etc (for horses, before you ask) but actually uses her domestic one for making things like dog leads out of 25 mm nylon webbing which is quite thick. |
#9
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
In message , S Viemeister
writes On 8/29/2015 12:42 PM, Vir Campestris wrote: On 29/08/2015 16:41, FullyDetached wrote: Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Get yourself a pre-war treadle machine like mine. It only sews straight, but it'll sew nearly anything. +1 Many of the modern machines don't cope well with multiple layers of heavy fabrics. Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) -- Tim Lamb |
#10
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Saturday, 29 August 2015 18:52:54 UTC+1, newshound wrote:
... wife has a big fancy vintage industrial Singer for making bridles etc (for horses, before you ask) I didn't ask, but I'm told there's a high premium paid in the fetish market so perhaps she should diversify Owain |
#11
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 8/29/2015 2:07 PM, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , S Viemeister Many of the modern machines don't cope well with multiple layers of heavy fabrics. Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) Oh. My. God. |
#12
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Saturday, 29 August 2015 16:41:00 UTC+1, FullyDetached wrote:
I'm a bit of a rucksack connoisseur, and my favourite 12-year-old "Macpac Tekapo 25" rucksack has some fairly large holes in it. Rather than throw it away, I'd like to repair it, but my previous attempts with a needle and thread have been very time consuming. There are companies that offer rucksack repairs, but their charges seem quite high. Can anyone recommend a sewing machine for DIY purposes? It would need to be able to sew through fairly heavy rucksack fabrics. Old, basic sewing machines are best. You don't need all the fancy stitches that modern machines have. Straight and zig-zag pretty much cover it. A 'sleeve arm', I think they are called, is useful - the lower part is thin enough to slip sleeves etc. over. Good for working in tight places... I have an old Husqvarna 'Viking' which is almost of industrial quality. It has a 'tri-stitch' whis is also handy. I have used this for sewing webbing, leather, etc., as well as making kites and 'real' clothes. Pfaff and Bernina of similar vintage are also good makes. As you will see, many will recommend you get an old treadle Singer or similar. I haven't used anything like this recently to compare. HTH Jon N |
#13
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 8/29/2015 4:30 PM, jkn wrote:
Old, basic sewing machines are best. You don't need all the fancy stitches that modern machines have. Straight and zig-zag pretty much cover it. A 'sleeve arm', I think they are called, is useful - the lower part is thin enough to slip sleeves etc. over. Good for working in tight places... Yes, this is very handy, but really old Singers tend not to have it. I have an old Husqvarna 'Viking' which is almost of industrial quality. It has a 'tri-stitch' whis is also handy. I have used this for sewing webbing, leather, etc., as well as making kites and 'real' clothes. My Viking (20-25 years old) has been able to handle anything I've tried on it - many layers of leather, canvas, webbing, heavy upholstery fabrics, binding quilts - with no strain whatsoever. Pfaff and Bernina of similar vintage are also good makes. As you will see, many will recommend you get an old treadle Singer or similar. I haven't used anything like this recently to compare. Pfaff are solid, but IME needlessly complicated. |
#14
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Saturday, 29 August 2015 19:54:26 UTC+1, S Viemeister wrote:
Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) Oh. My. God. Staples are useful sometimes - but not for duvet covers. Don't ask me how I know that. Owain |
#16
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 29/08/2015 19:07, Tim Lamb wrote:
Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) WASHING INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash in luke warm water only. Andy |
#17
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
In message , Vir
Campestris writes On 29/08/2015 19:07, Tim Lamb wrote: Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) WASHING INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash in luke warm water only. Done in a hurry as they were the only clean pair found prior to a holiday. Don't know about washing. When I ordered the glue sticks they were for two different purposes, wood and other? The sticks are identical so I don't know which I used. Same stuff used to fabricate a cover for the GC play pit. Woven polyethylene tarpaulin. Looks OK so far. -- Tim Lamb |
#18
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On 31/08/2015 10:07, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Vir Campestris writes On 29/08/2015 19:07, Tim Lamb wrote: Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) WASHING INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash in luke warm water only. Done in a hurry as they were the only clean pair found prior to a holiday. Don't know about washing. When I ordered the glue sticks they were for two different purposes, wood and other? The sticks are identical so I don't know which I used. Same stuff used to fabricate a cover for the GC play pit. Woven polyethylene tarpaulin. Looks OK so far. What do you think will happen to hot melt glue in hot water? Mind, wonkypedia suggests it doesn't melt until 120C so it may not be a problem. Andy |
#19
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
In message , Vir
Campestris writes On 31/08/2015 10:07, Tim Lamb wrote: In message , Vir Campestris writes On 29/08/2015 19:07, Tim Lamb wrote: Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) WASHING INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash in luke warm water only. Done in a hurry as they were the only clean pair found prior to a holiday. Don't know about washing. When I ordered the glue sticks they were for two different purposes, wood and other? The sticks are identical so I don't know which I used. Same stuff used to fabricate a cover for the GC play pit. Woven polyethylene tarpaulin. Looks OK so far. What do you think will happen to hot melt glue in hot water? Mind, wonkypedia suggests it doesn't melt until 120C so it may not be a problem. For occasional wear, it may be some months before I find out. The likelihood of prevailing on my wife to use a low temperature wash for my clothes is pretty low! The full story is longer.... my last Jeans purchase from M+S turned out to have the hip pockets set so low that wallet and mobile phone make driving uncomfortable. Presumably some fashion statement only relevant to the wilds of Chelsea:-( -- Tim Lamb |
#20
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
In article ,
Tim Lamb wrote: In message , Vir Campestris writes On 31/08/2015 10:07, Tim Lamb wrote: In message , Vir Campestris writes On 29/08/2015 19:07, Tim Lamb wrote: Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) WASHING INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash in luke warm water only. Done in a hurry as they were the only clean pair found prior to a holiday. Don't know about washing. When I ordered the glue sticks they were for two different purposes, wood and other? The sticks are identical so I don't know which I used. Same stuff used to fabricate a cover for the GC play pit. Woven polyethylene tarpaulin. Looks OK so far. What do you think will happen to hot melt glue in hot water? Mind, wonkypedia suggests it doesn't melt until 120C so it may not be a problem. For occasional wear, it may be some months before I find out. The likelihood of prevailing on my wife to use a low temperature wash for my clothes is pretty low! The full story is longer.... my last Jeans purchase from M+S turned out to have the hip pockets set so low that wallet and mobile phone make driving uncomfortable. Presumably some fashion statement only relevant to the wilds of Chelsea:-( in the wilds of Chelsea they drive 4x4s. needed for off-the road-driving ie parking on the pavement. -- Please note new email address: |
#21
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Sat, 29 Aug 2015 19:07:55 +0100, Tim Lamb
wrote: Many of the modern machines don't cope well with multiple layers of heavy fabrics. Hot melt glue was the answer to my last Jeans pocket failu-) When a trouser Zip failed I got some very strange looks in a gents toilet as I glued it back together with some contact adhesive I happened to have in the car. I couldn't use the privacy of a cubicle as there was hardly any light. Of course I remembered the first aid kit had a selection of safety pins in it hours later. G.Harman |
#22
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Wed, 2 Sep 2015 08:47:37 +0100, Tim Lamb
wrote: The full story is longer.... my last Jeans purchase from M+S turned out to have the hip pockets set so low that wallet and mobile phone make driving uncomfortable. Presumably some fashion statement only relevant to the wilds of Chelsea:-( Means the phone gets to a better position for many Chelsea residents to do what they normally do ,talk of out their arse. G.Harman |
#23
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Sewing machine for DIY ?
On Thursday, 3 September 2015 14:25:22 UTC+1, wrote:
Of course I remembered the first aid kit had a selection of safety pins in it hours later. .... when desperate for a pee and finding the contact adhesive had set? Owain |
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