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wdrwilson



Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 1101
Location: Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax

PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 2:43 pm    Post subject: Speaking of sewing machines... Reply with quote

Here is one that squid might like.

A Pfaff industrial with needle feed on ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28165&item=3835861563&rd=1

It can sew 2800 stitches per minute. (watch your fingers)

Has anyone here used a machine like this for building kites?

--Bill
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Progcraft
Kitebuilder of the Year 2004
Kitebuilder of the Year 2004


Joined: 29 Sep 2003
Posts: 2568
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This one says 5500 stitiches a minute (vrooom)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=26256&item=3835801556&rd=1

P.
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kiteguy
Kite Builder II
Kite Builder II


Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 1459
Location: USA - Kansas, Overland Park - Near Kansas City

PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BIG price difference! Shocked
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Dave Ellis
Kites + Kids = Education
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dpb
Master Kite Builder
Master Kite Builder


Joined: 17 Dec 2003
Posts: 456
Location: Portland, OR

PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Deb Cooley does. She did give strong warning about not sewing your fingers to the fabric (at those speeds and with the power in those machines, you can do just that). She noted that it was painful and worse, it stains the sail and ruins the seam Wink !

Dave
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Doug LaRock
Master Kite Builder
Master Kite Builder


Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 180
Location: Yakima, Washington

PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 11:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I got my industrial machine it was set up to sew about 2500 spm.
It wasn't suitable for what I was doing, so I put a DC motor with a vary speed control on it and geared it for about 900spm max. Now I can control it and see what I'm doing. The guy that owns the sewing shop I bought it at worked for 30 years in commercial clothing manufacturing and said he had women that ran machines geared from 5000 to 7000 spm. They had to have been very good ,way beyoned me.
Doug
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KiteSquid
Master Kite Builder
Master Kite Builder


Joined: 29 Aug 2003
Posts: 3517
Location: USA Virginia King George

PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 6:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

LOTS of practice!!!!!!

BTW I would not want either of those machines as they only sew straight stitches. I need zigzag, needle feed and a servo motor, but that starts at about $6,000 for a well usesed one.
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KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.
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Aiyana



Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 10
Location: Vancouver, BC

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have some questions about what kind of sewing machine I need to get started with kite building. I have an older (almost ancient) Kenmore that does most of the basic stitches including Zigzag and from what I can see these stitches are all variable in length and width. Is this all I need? Rolling Eyes
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Aiyana
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KiteSquid
Master Kite Builder
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Joined: 29 Aug 2003
Posts: 3517
Location: USA Virginia King George

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Aiyana wrote:
I have some questions about what kind of sewing machine I need to get started with kite building. I have an older (almost ancient) Kenmore that does most of the basic stitches including Zigzag and from what I can see these stitches are all variable in length and width. Is this all I need? Rolling Eyes


Aiyana,

YES your machine, some new needles and 100% Nylon or Polyester thread is all you need!!!!


99.9999999% of kite building can be done on a home sewing machine as that is what most of us own.

The top requirement for any machine is:

Can it sew consistantly?????

If not, get it serviced by a good technition and take your thread, needles, and fabric when you give it to them and test it with your thread, needles and fabric BEFORE you take it home as you want it to sew well before you star on a project.

I sujust you read Gary Engval's Kite Sewing 101 article HERE

PRINT this article and have it near your machine when you start as it discusses thread tension.

The only reason a kite builder would need to get an Industrial machine is to sew FAST!!!!!!! Some of them sew over 6 times faster than the fastest home machines....

Like sewing a bunch of 100 yard tails or if you go into it professionaly....

I am sure Peter Lynn has some industrial machines as I would not like to build one of his large kites on a home machine... or to sew Megga Bite would take all year just to sew it together.....

I do most of my kite building on one of my home machines.

I hope this helps...
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VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.
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Grant L
Kite of the Year 2004
Kite of the Year 2004


Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 748
Location: USA IN Indianapolis

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also, read through the manual of you machine . I've had mine for over a year and a half. I was reading through the manual the other day and discovered a very useful thing it does that I wasn't even aware of Embarassed This new knowledge has already made my sewing easier Very Happy
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Aiyana



Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 10
Location: Vancouver, BC

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alas...this machine is so old I don't think there is a manual for it anymore...I am taking it in for servicing and will take a sample of the Texlon with me so they can check it! I'll have to buy needles and thread anyway so perhaps I can get that stuff right there. I know I've seen a thread (no pun intended) on threads and was wondering if someone could refresh my memory as to what type of thread and what weigh of thread I need?? Laughing
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Aiyana
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