The Upholster.com Forum

I need your opinions on the value of a Consew Model 206RB-1.    Is it dependable?
What do you think it is worth in good condition?

Thanks,
CKKC

Gregg from Keyston sewing will probably respond with much more useful information.

All I know is that there are a number of different Consew 206 - RB ... models and they differ.
What are you going to use it for?  If it's for upholstery, most people on here recommend a "compound walking foot" machine which would be the Consew 206 - RB5 or the highly recommended clone made by a company called Highlead.  Those two machines are touted as very reliable.  I'm not sure if the RB1 differs in that regard.

I am new at this but I have just done a bunch of research on Consew machines. I believe The R in the model number # means reverse, the B stands for big bobbin and the number after is the version of this model meaning this is an older 206 (first version). I bought a Consew 255B my machine is a compound feed (walking foot needle feed) it was made in the late 80s. I gave $300 dollars for mine but it had some minor problems when I bought it. I think I got a pretty good deal on mine. My thoughts for a 206 rb-1 in good shape with table and clutch motor private party sale would be in the neighborhood of $500.00. With a private party sale of course you have no dealer support. Most of this information I have just passed on came from Gregg at Keystone either directly or indirectly. Gregg was very helpfull and is also very knowledlable. Hopefully he will post soon and give you better info.

Thanks for the input.  I just saw this machine at an upcoming auction and wondered if it was decent enough to drive out of state and pay a fortune for!   I don't think it has the nice clutch motor, but I'm not real sure about that.   

I just do my own upholstery with vinyl mostly and have just been using my Kenmore zig-zag
"stitch at a time" mode.   I still have a bunch of tire covers and padded walls to make for a van.

I appreciate any input on this!!

Carol

>>I don't think it has the nice clutch motor, but I'm not real sure about that.

Carol,

The above may be true, but I would highly recommend the even nicer "SERVO" motor! ;D  Much easier to control, especially for someone new to a commercial machine.

Good luck on finding a machine.  We have two very good sewing machine dealers on here.  I bought my Highlead from Gregg at Keystone.  Very happy. ;D

Quote from: CKKC on June 03, 2010, 01:39:37 pm
I need your opinions on the value of a Consew Model 206RB-1.    Is it dependable?
What do you think it is worth in good condition?

Thanks,
CKKC

Very good machine, made in Japan by Seiko, large bobbin with revesre, walking foot with needle feed, safety clutch. 

Very good machine if it's in good conditon.

Thank you everyone,  and as usual my mistake was in saying the "nice" clutch motor.  I meant
to say the nice servo motor!  I am not a company or anything like that, just doing stuff for myself and my family so it doesn't have to be absolute top notch. 

I do appreciate all the input!!

Carol

Quote from: CKKC on June 06, 2010, 04:41:22 pm
Thank you everyone,  and as usual my mistake was in saying the "nice" clutch motor.  I meant
to say the nice servo motor!  I am not a company or anything like that, just doing stuff for myself and my family so it doesn't have to be absolute top notch. 

I do appreciate all the input!!

Carol

Carol, you'll find that we pick a little on here occassionally. ;D  I got the servo because it was about the same price as a clutch motor and my skill level NEEDED it! :P  Now that I have it, I'm glad I went that route!  I've got an old Union Special that sews WAY too fast to control...for me anyway. :o

I bought my Consew 206-rb1 about 26 years ago and it is still going strong.  It has the standard clutch motor.  Never have problems with it. Gets a tune up about every 2 years.  Oiled twice a week. Gets used every day.

Well, I went to the auction today and got my Consew!    :)   ;D

Can ya tell I'm happy!!

Quote from: CKKC on June 19, 2010, 05:48:44 pm
Well, I went to the auction today and got my Consew!    :)   ;D

Can ya tell I'm happy!!

Congrats and enjoy.

Chris

Carol,
The decission to buy at auction or ebay or craigs list has been discussed many times here...pro and con
Just for curiosity it would be nice to see what it has cost you from day one (the day you bought it) to when you are actually using it..shipping, feet, motors,stand, etc as a comparison for those just biting the bullet and buying a reconditioned/new machine.
Best of luck with it and congradulations on your new aquisisition.
Dave

I would be happy to Dave.    I admit that it would be nice to know more about the machine before going to an auction and bidding on it, but hopefully my assessment of the machine will be in the ballpark.  The only thing I can see missing is the bed slide plate!   I've got to find one before I can do much with it.  I'll keep a running total for ya!

Carol

Gregg at Keystone will have a plate Carol..drop him a line!
Dave

I surely will!    I just wanted to get it running and see if anything else was amiss before ordering any parts.   

My husband is probably tired of hearing "If I need anything I can call Greg at Keystone!"

You could make a temporary plate out of an electrical box blank cover ( the round ones) until you see what all you need to order. [never mind how I know that; and have about half an hour of free time ready]

Or, where this is just for a quick shake down "cruise", throw a little duck tape or packing tape over the opening and stomp that bad boy, let's see what it'll suffer. 8)

Good thought Darren!  Actually I have a plate from an OLD singer that will cover everything but the (?) feed dog bar for the testing.   

Sorry I haven't gotten on it, I've had to do a LOT of mowing in the last few days.  I do walk by the machine and give it a pat and tell it I will get back to it ASAP!   

I surely can't wait to make sure it is all adjusted right and try it out.   I know y'all think I'm a nut job about this machine, but after using that Kenmore zig zag for all my upholstery stuff, I'm in heaven with that Consew!!

Quote from: CKKC on June 23, 2010, 07:31:15 pm
I know y'all think I'm a nut job about this machine, but after using that Kenmore zig zag for all my upholstery stuff, I'm in heaven with that Consew!!

Hey, we've ALL had that "warm fuzzy feeling" a time or two.

The Consew 206RB series has always been one our very best selling machines, and for a good reason.  Good quality, excellent design, and extreemly dependable.  Probally the best desgined safety clutch on any machine.  One of the very few machines I would say I know very well, and a lot about.  I have common parts listed on our web page that cross reference with a 206RB-5, and I can upload and link the owners and parts list for the 206RB-1, specifically tomorrow.

Consew 206RB, -1, -2 parts (12MB file size) http://keysew.com/books/206RB-1_parts.pdf (http://keysew.com/books/206RB-1_parts.pdf)

Consew 206RB, -1, -2 Owners/service manual (657KB file size) http://keysew.com/books/Consew_206RB_Operating_Instructions.pdf (http://keysew.com/books/Consew_206RB_Operating_Instructions.pdf)

Quote from: Gregg @ Keystone Sewing on June 24, 2010, 08:02:04 am
Consew 206RB, -1, -2 parts (12MB file size) http://keysew.com/books/206RB-1_parts.pdf (http://keysew.com/books/206RB-1_parts.pdf)

Consew 206RB, -1, -2 Owners/service manual (657KB file size) http://keysew.com/books/Consew_206RB_Operating_Instructions.pdf (http://keysew.com/books/Consew_206RB_Operating_Instructions.pdf)

Wow,    Thanks!

QuoteI have a plate from an OLD singer that will cover everything but the (?) feed dog bar for the testing.

That unfortunately is the most important piece of tin in that area. I doubt that tape would support the outer presser foot properly.

QuoteI know y'all think I'm a nut job about this machine

Not in the least. You have to have the right tools for any job and if you've been "getting by" with less it's HUGE to get properly equiped.

I am wondering exactly how to run the top thread around the tensioning device.  Is the thread supposed to be pulled upward until it goes past the "hook" in the device?   

I finally got to try sewing today and it did much better than I expected but the top thread broke and is pulled awfully tight somewhere!

oh ya threading the machine that was a challenge when i started and didnt see the thread run out  :o havnt used a consew but if your get a close uup pic Im sure we can help you.  I just love my old clutch ,motors I got no problem controling them at all. in fact i can start off and sew verrry slow if I want to. someday I might get to try a new servo motor and see what all the fuss is about  ::)

I'll try to get a pic of it tomorrow.   Someone must have screwed the top thread tensioner all the way in and I didn't notice it!   

(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi62.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh88%2FCKKC_2006%2Fth_Consew.jpg&hash=bb3746260b79f5e7b6ff03845c2716fe) (http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/CKKC_2006/?action=view&current=Consew.jpg)

My new machine!


(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi62.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh88%2FCKKC_2006%2Fth_TensionThread.jpg&hash=16ef6af1e80eb3676d1f1d51a0793a34) (http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/CKKC_2006/?action=view&current=TensionThread.jpg)

Thread tensioner area.    Is the thread supposed to go behind the hook like the pic?

(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi271.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj147%2Fcustomtrans%2Fth_IMGP1036.jpg&hash=ee90fd0c7c42e18871d1e624916d7940) (http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj147/customtrans/IMGP1036.jpg)
(https://forum.upholster.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi271.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj147%2Fcustomtrans%2Fth_IMGP1035.jpg&hash=72904309f0f62b83f2e5396b3c059e84) (http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj147/customtrans/IMGP1035.jpg)
Here are pictures for you
Eric

OK, thanks!   :)

I guess I have it threaded right then!

Quote from: hdflame on June 06, 2010, 05:44:05 pm

Quote from: CKKC on June 06, 2010, 04:41:22 pm
Thank you everyone,  and as usual my mistake was in saying the "nice" clutch motor.  I meant
to say the nice servo motor!  I am not a company or anything like that, just doing stuff for myself and my family so it doesn't have to be absolute top notch. 

I do appreciate all the input!!

Carol

Carol, you'll find that we pick a little on here occassionally. ;D  I got the servo because it was about the same price as a clutch motor and my skill level NEEDED it! :P  Now that I have it, I'm glad I went that route!  I've got an old Union Special that sews WAY too fast to control...for me anyway. :o

Well, this machine does have the clutch motor and I'm going to HAVE to get another shiv to get it to start slower!   It is going to sew my fingers if I don't!
I would love to have the servo motor but I don't think I can afford it at this time.  aarg!

Quote from: Darren Henry on June 23, 2010, 05:04:07 pm
You could make a temporary plate out of an electrical box blank cover ( the round ones) until you see what all you need to order. [never mind how I know that; and have about half an hour of free time ready]

Or, where this is just for a quick shake down "cruise", throw a little duck tape or packing tape over the opening and stomp that bad boy, let's see what it'll suffer. 8)

HA!  Well I stomped it today and it ran like my old 429 Ford!    I should have gotten a speeding ticket just for my test stitching!   Whoo hoo!

Quote from: wind_rose_2 on June 21, 2010, 07:43:51 pm
Carol,
The decission to buy at auction or ebay or craigs list has been discussed many times here...pro and con
Just for curiosity it would be nice to see what it has cost you from day one (the day you bought it) to when you are actually using it..shipping, feet, motors,stand, etc as a comparison for those just biting the bullet and buying a reconditioned/new machine.
Best of luck with it and congradulations on your new aquisisition.
Dave

OK folks.  I paid $450.00 for the machine, table, motor, huge box of thread, 14 bobbins, grommet setter, lots of grommets, small snap setter, lots of snaps,  small zipper pulls, a strange object that looks like it is for stretching webbing or fabric, a few needles and a bunch of other misc. upholstery things.

I just ordered the slide plate for $13.82

we spent $35.00 for gas to go to the auction.

Total $498.82

Sounds like at least $100 worth of misc. stuff.

Quote from: sofadoc on July 12, 2010, 04:19:40 pm
Sounds like at least $100 worth of misc. stuff.

At least!     I didn't even name all the stuff that was with it.

Greg at Keystone,

I received the slide plate today, it fits.   

Thanks!

Quote from: CKKC on July 14, 2010, 12:52:27 pm
Greg at Keystone,

I received the slide plate today, it fits.   

Thanks!

Good deal!