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Default 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.
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Default 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.
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Default 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.
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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
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Default 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


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Default 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.


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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.

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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.
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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-)


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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



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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.

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Default 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
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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.

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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

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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
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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.

--
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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
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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:-(

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Tim Lamb
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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.

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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
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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
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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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