I was reading on here the other night and was falling asleep while reading, I seem to remember some comments about a new Highlead ??? I am very interested in hearing about it if its sewing yet.
I have one on order from Gregg at Keystone Sewing, but it hasn't arrived just yet. I'll post an update when I've got it set up and sewing.
June
I love mine! It's been a year now and no problems whatsoever. There's nothing quite like a brand new machine.
Quote from: JuneC on August 01, 2012, 06:03:42 pm
I have one on order from Gregg at Keystone Sewing, but it hasn't arrived just yet. I'll post an update when I've got it set up and sewing.
June
June,
On the way, did Lois provide you with tracking number? Let me know if not, as machine is now in transit.
Yes, I spoke with her yesterday. I'll call the transport company on Monday to investigate. I expect it will take till Tuesday or Wed. to get to South Florida.
June
I have never heard of this machine.,
I checked a website and the long arm looks interesting ., there wasn't any pricing ,,are they high priced and would they ship to Ontario ?
I would love to hear the feedback on it on how anyone who has one likes the performance,,I have a Juki but I would like to get something good for a back up or maybe use the old juki for back up..
Nothing worse than a machine down waiting for maintenance
Bought one a few years ago. It's a fantastic machine. Very well built. I bought it from Greg @ Keystone. I would buy another without hesitation.
Mine was delivered late today. I didn't get a chance to unpack it yet. Hopefully I'll have it sewing by the weekend.
June
Witch model did you both get ? They seem to have so many, do you have the long arm?
I got the regular length arm. The model is GC0618-1SC. It's a walking foot with large hook and reverse. Comes standard with table and servo motor - at least it does from Keystone. Their long arm (25") version of this machine looks to be just over $3 grand which is a phenomenal price for a brand new long arm, but I'm doing less canvas and more upholstery so can't really justify the extra $2 grand for something that's rarely required.
June
I can't wait to see what you think of it, I have a double needle Artisan (I think they are the same mfg.) and it"s a HOSS. It sews with authority and laughs at luan and trim panels, my 1508 is great but the Artisan is a bulldozer! I hope you love yours like I do mine.
June, I have the same one....you'll love it! Have to agree that the long arm isn't really necessary for marine canvas/upholstery. I would only consider it if I did large tarps with webbing sewn in the center or something like that on a daily basis.
So...Inquiring minds want to KNOW!@# :o
Three grand !.... yup thats more than I can handle .
I ony do mostly upholstery so I think I may check out the one you have June..let me know what you think of it...I was noveled by the long arm with all that room to squish big items under..for that price I'll just keep squishing.
It's still bolted to the pallet, unfortunately. I hope to get it unpacked tomorrow. Depends on how many times the phone rings and distracts me from the work at hand. If I have enough energy left at the end of the day I'll get it set up. This heat just whoops my butt (the shop is not air-conditioned). Found myself having trouble sewing a solar shade because my hands were so sweaty the vinyl mesh was slipping out of my grip. Still, I'll take the summer heat over the winters you guys get up there in the frozen Arctic :-\
June
Not quite the Arctic ha ha but yes it gets cold only 4 hrs north of Toronto
...we get pretty warm muggy days too and one trick is to wet a towel in cold water to put around your neck and run cold water over your wrists for a bit..it seems to help a bit. better yet keep an ice bucket near by although customers will think we're losing it bobbing for ice cubes ..LOL
Working when its hot makes for a long and aggravating day when your sweating over your work and I'm pretty up beat but it can sure wear you down when its hot.
I have had my GC0618-1SC for 7 years and love it.Sewn evrything from light covers to heavy gauge enclosures.Gonna get a zig zag next to replace my old singer.
Hey lc,
Algonquin Provincial Park is one of my favorite places. I'm tentatively planning a canoe trip this October. I've gotten into going in early May or early October - no people and no bugs. I did have snow for 5 days the last time I went in October, though.
Wilderness Outfitters on the West side of the park is who I usually rent my canoe from.
With all the immigration, Toronto may one day expand to be on the edge of the park?!?
gene
PS: I'm here in SW OH10.
hiya
If only you could ship to the Uk cheaply i'd buy a long arm from you Gregg, they are about £5k here or $7 to £8K
Rich
Gene Algoquin park is the best get away ever !!
Nothing but peace and solitude. you sure come a ways to get it, but it's certainly tranquil and it is a massively huge land of wilderness. Good place for you upholserers to go to get away from everything.
June did you try your new baby yet ??
If she doesn't get that machine set up and use it soon I am going to drive over there and do it myself. :)
Chris
Quote from: Mojo on August 14, 2012, 06:46:46 am
If she doesn't get that machine set up and use it soon I am going to drive over there and do it myself. :)
Chris
C'mon down! I've got a sunbed that needs to be constructed - board cut and routed/foam cut/hardware attached/covers sewn. Love the custom stuff where invention is required. I'll get to it in a day or so. I brought it to my home sewing room since my un-AC'd shop is rusting out my tools at an alarming rate. I'm going to be doing less sewing at the shop and more at home in this heat/humidity.
June
speaking of rust, i noticed a pair of channel locks (cheap imported) were surface rusting, I had left them in the bed of pickup. It can happen here in the summer also.
Haven't noticed it to be a problem, fingers crossed, in the shop. If I catch it early, steel wool will take it off, but sometimes we just get busy and don't have time to primp. Gotta make a living, we all know.
I have never seen it so dry and hot here. I used to live in the South, maybe 500 miles from here and tools rusting was an issue, unless you were a mechanic. ;) That is one advantage of being a grease monkey. Most of the time our work is free of grease/oil, which is fine with me.
Doyle
I don't know how MANY, MANY stitchers do it. But I could NEVER work in a shop with no A/C.
I wouldn't even want to attempt it. I really admire (feel sorry for) you boat enclosure guys. I don't mind the occasional outdoor job, but if I'm indoors, my electric meter is turning like a fan. I like to be able to hang meat in my shop. In the winter, there are only a few days in Texas where I really have to fire up a heater. Most of the time, all I need is a light jacket while I work.
June, keep that Highlead at the house ;D
My current shop is located on the back of the house so it gets AC from the house itself. I just leave the door open and it stays cool and dry.
No way could I handle sewing out in the heat anymore. Been there and done that.
June, it all depends on whats for dinner if I come down there. :)
Chris
Quote from: Mojo on August 16, 2012, 07:25:08 am
June, it all depends on whats for dinner if I come down there. :)
Chris
"Bugs"... aka Florida Spiny Lobster. Turns out the small marina where my shop is located is also home to 2 local lobster fishing boats. Fresh lobster (and I'm talking still crawling :o) every afternoon around 4 p.m. ;D Wholesale pricing - gotta love it. Surf and turf tomorrow night for dinner.
Got the sewing room cleaned up last night. It's been a while since I went through all my old scraps. Funny how your perspective changes over the years. When I got started, I saved almost every scrap over 6 x 6. Finally realized they'll never be used (for the most part), so out they went. Soon to be productive space 8) ... air conditioned.... maybe 30 feet from the pool :-\
June
I still havnt tried Florida "lobsta".
Sith no claws weres the meat? At least ya got tails.
Dunn you mention rust I never thought about it but my old singer had bare metal where the lack pait has worn over the years on the through and post that withrust if not seeing for a day or two I never noticed it so much in new England. Must be the humidity here ugh
Even with ac it's off when I'm not sewing
hey Mike
I had a guy come into my shop today with an accent , hehe turns out his winter
home is only about 60 miles south of you.
He was telling me how good the fishing is where you are,
As for lobster, i hate to eat food that is still looking at me :-)
Rich
Quote from: fragged8 on August 17, 2012, 02:49:47 pm
I had a guy come into my shop today with an accent
Rich
LOL, WE don't have accents, you Brits do :-X
Oh, and Florida lobst'a don't have claws - you eat the tail only, so there's no need to serve a whole critter. Better than Maine lobster IMHO.
And Mike, I have to wipe down my machine at the shop almost every morning due to surface rust where the paint has worn off. Don't like it a bit. And my hole puncher and pliers get all rusty just sitting in the case. Time to add AC or I'm going to give up the shop and move back home, in spite of the cramped space.
Still trying to get the machine all set up and adjusted. On deck for tomorrow morning is to get the table height adjusted. I tried it today with a GIANT ratchet and socket, but couldn't get the bolts to budge. I need my Wheaties and try again. It's set about 2 inches too high for me right now, so bolts have to come out and drop to lower holes in the table legs. Stay tuned :D
June
Quote from: JuneC on August 17, 2012, 07:18:38 pm
It's set about 2 inches too high for me right now, so bolts have to come out and drop to lower holes in the table legs.
It always seemed like it was the other way around for me. Seems like every machine that ever came into my possession I had to stick a 2 X 4 under each side (too lazy to whup out the big wrench).
Quote from: fragged8 on August 11, 2012, 09:29:27 am
hiya
If only you could ship to the Uk cheaply i'd buy a long arm from you Gregg, they are about £5k here or $7 to £8K
Rich
Containerized shipping (LTL) isn't terribly expensive across the pond. It's the VAT that kills you :o What's it in the UK - 21 or 22%?
June
So it's all set up and I've sewn a few inches, but nothing in production yet. The servo is going to take some getting used to. I've turned down the speed, but there's a very fine line between stop and go - actually more than on my clutches (but they're old and totally broken in). I don't expect the servo to get "broken in" so it just something I'll have to get used to. I'll keep the finger guard on the needle for a few days at least till I get it under control. I totally LOVE how quiet the servo motor is and the lack of heat coming from under the table.
Changing the bobbin will also take getting used to since all my other machines are top loaders. I'm going to miss being able to slide open the plate to eyeball how much thread is left in the bobbin. This has become a real habit with me and it's really not critical unless top-stitching, but I like to keep on top of when it might be running out. I'm sure it'll take just a few weeks to get to a point where changing the bobbin is another mindless task.
Over the next week or so I'll be putting it through its paces. I'd like to see how lightweight a fabric it will handle, as well as how heavy. The reverse will also be something I need to remember to use since I've been without it for years now. I think it will be indispensable once I get used to having it there.
June
In time everything will become habit June. When I change bobbins I never even lift the machine or lean down to see the bobbin case. I just reach in and flip the level and pull the case out. It just becomes natural after a while and you pick up that " feel ".
Your old clutch motor probably had an older belt on it which created just a little slip when starting. With servos there is no slip. The nice thing is that if you dial the servo down you will get the feel and be able to stop the needle in the material. It will all come together in time.
I have ( I think ) 4 speed selections on my servo. I typically sew at the second lowest. When doing toppers and awnings I sew wide open. By keeping it at the 2 nd speed I have better control when slowly going through different areas on the toppers. I sewed once at the highest speed setting and couldn't even think fast enough to feed and control the material..........lol.
That thing flies......
I sew at the lowest speed when sewing solar screens because of the binding and numerous corners and turns I have to make.
I love the servo and I love the bottom feed machines. The reverse is a must for me. I like my Juki 563 but I love my Chandler and am much faster on it. Glad your getting to know your machine. :)
Chris
Along the way, did Lois offer you tracking range? Let myself know otherwise, as machine is in transit.
Hey Everybody!
Thought I'd chime in about my Highlead too. I've had mine about 2 years now and love it. I've sewed 9/10 oz. Latigo Harness Leather and just cut the sleeves off of my fire dept. uniform shirts and hemmed them up last week! It sews pretty much anything I want with hardly any adjustment. Only occasionally do I ever adjust the bobbin tension.
I just received a new leather machine yesterday. It's a HOSS! Cobra Class 4 with electronic needle positioning. Just got it set up last night but haven't played with it yet. After coffee, that's what I'll be doing. Been wanting to branch out into holsters and leather biker gear like saddlebags and such.
June, you'll get used to the servo and reverse. One thing I really like using the reverse for is positioning the needle when I'm doing precise work. If I want to end up in the hole I started on, all I have to do is press down on the reverse lever while rotating the handwheel and I can put the needle exactly where I want. I also use the same technique for putting the needle exactly in a corner for making a turn.
I've got some info to share on the new digital servo motors but I'll start another thread to share that info.
Hope everyone has been doing well!
Well, it took me about half a day of use to get used to the servo. LOVE it! And I find there's no issue switching back and forth from servo to clutch. It just feels natural - maybe because I sewed on a home sewing machine for many years making my clothes and the feel is a lot like that. I hadn't used my home machine for several years so it took a bit of use. I did have to take the needle guard off right away though. The bright, shiny "cage" jumping up and down as I sewed was very distracting.
June
Ive cot a wuestion on The servo motors. They o ly run ehen needed i have heard. It like a clutch motor continusly. In my sewing shop i have two breakers on one the shop light my singer and a window ac unit ln another my juki and air compressor and wall ac.
If my window ac it on and i turn on the singer the motor draw mores power on start up slinning the motor up. Start it first then the ac is ok on the other juki circut the air compressor with the ac it too much. I
Wondering it the servo would draw slot each time you step on the pedal starti g the motor and my circut would pop? I know more power
With the servo, someone stated it used the same motor as a clutch, is that true or look like it is true?
Then, I think your understanding (MIke) is, the motor does not run all the time, is that true for those with the servo?
If answer to all is "yes" so far, hence your question, right Mike?
There was a contributor about a week ago who said that her husband measured the power consumption on what we are talking about and the major power usage was at start up. I suppose she said for both, a motor with a conventional clutch and then I assumed it would play out the same way with a servo.
That post is only about a few days old, I should go back and read.
Doyle
Right doyle im sondering if the servo eluld lop my breaker eith too mich on startig the macbine on the
Servo. With the. Lut h motor already running there no major power draw when starting to sew it only when the motor is turned on with to much already running. The. It will pop.
I'll try to answer some of your questions,Yes the motor only runs when you step on the pedal,the clutch motor takes alot of elect to start,then when it's running it uses less(but it's still running & might be humming) the Servo only runs when you press on the pedal,so I've never measured it but I'm almost certain it uses less power to operate plus when the clutchmotor is running it throws out quite a bit of heat which is great for the people in the north in the winter,but will make your shop warmer in the summer.
HTH
Bob
Thanks bob.
Ive ne er noticed any heat on mymlrgs off the motor and i live in shorts.
Im going to have to feel it next ti
E im sewing.
re: clutch vs servo discussion : power consumption.
Is it really gonna break the bank? I mean, just how much difference in $$ is there?
If the servo motor is the same as the clutch motor (it has been stated it is), then energy consumed is equal if the power output is equal. If the servo output power is not as much, that has to be factored into the power consumption. But any savings by that phenomena will be offset somewhat because with servo there is a never ending stop and start. Obviously, there are a lot less stopping and starting with a clutch, in effect most energy is consumed one time, at startup.
This thing about heat from the motor continuously, I have never had that problem, whatever the heat is can't be much if it isn't noticed. The sewing light heat is greater than the motor heat in my experience. I try to use a 35 watt sewing bulb when I can find one, to minimize the heat from the bulb. That is what initially came with the light, a 35 watt.
This topic, for me isn't economics, it is about understanding. We all might appreciate an engineering report covering this particular issue, I would. I did read one covering servo controls intergrated in welding operations during auto line assembly. That report did not focus on energy consumption, instead it stressed that servo integration provided superior welding time and position for each and every spot weld. These welds were done very systematically, by robots. Obviously, energy consumtion at whatever price it cost was over shadowed by the quality and efficiency derived from non servo equipped welding. It was a very interesting and consuming article, technically speaking.
This discussion has moved initially from, there are savings, there should be savings because.......not running all the time, to please understand energy usage spikes very high at start up and essentiall falls to a much lower consumption rate after startup on any motor. Now, we are finding out servo equipped operations run only while the needle is moving, but stops and starts a large number of times during almost every sewing operation. Doesn't this mean that there are going to be energy usuage spikes during every one of these starts and stops?
That is a yes, if the power output is equal to a continuous motor operation. Servo, may not put out the power? Again, not enough technical support avaiable for the average reader.
These comments do not reflect that I am a negative servo person. If a sewing task required the ultimate precision control of a needle, then it is required, the servo that is. Energy consumption is not the issue. I would appreciate that kind of control particularly working with high leather detailed sewing.
If this issue has been technically proven to the advantage of a manufacturer of servo equipment, bets are such information would make head lines and we would not be in this question mode and only getting answers of it seems "this or seems that" should be the answer.
But, the engineering study I read, and is available for anyone to read, did espouse that servo conrols integrated in robat manufacturing of auto assembly operations offers precision in placement and timing of welding that is unsurpassed by any other available technology. It does not claim any energy savings benefit. The relative importance of more or less energy consumed is not the important issue for auto assembly industries.
Doyle
OK Just did my own little test and data session. kinda crude test but a test none the less. My shop has a 120 volt supply to all the plugs in the wall so this test was simple to do. I took a meter to measure amp draw and while everything else in the shop was turned off checked to see how much draw there was on the clutch motor first. Upon start up the clutch motor drew 10 to 12 amps for just a few seconds, I would say about 6 seconds,After start up the motor drew an average of 4.0 amps while no load or sewing it didn't make much difference.
Now for the servo motor results.... upon start up.... no amp draw....while sewing very slowly 0.1 amp yes thats ONE TENTH OF AN AMP. While sewing at what I consider to be wide ass open.......about 2000 spm......... amp draw maxed out at 0.4 amps ........ YES THATS FOUR TENTHS OF AN AMP.
So my test proves to me that in my situation and my application if it were to be that I turned my machine with the servo motor on in the morning and sewed all day, that I would use one tenth of the electricity that I would the following day if I used a clutch motor to do the same amount of sewing.
To me it's a no-brainer decision to use a servo, no noise....... no hum....... better control..............no heat............ no clutch dust......... AND ONE TENTH OF THE ELECTRICITY USED.
I will be saving some money to buy two more servos for my other machines!!!!!