For the last couple of years I’ve been searching for the ideal zig-zag stitching device that can be treadled. I haven’t discovered one that satisfies all of my requirements, however I’ve discovered a number of that come close. My singer 328K is all metal, it makes many of the stitches I need, as well as it is simple to treadle, however it skips stitches on stretchy knit fabrics. My Janome 712T does well on knit materials however is difficult to treadle as well as has plastic parts that I concern about breaking when I sew thick fabric. I discovered a Fleetwood F-5000 free-arm device that I was able to convert to treadle. It is all-metal, handles knits well, as well as is simple to treadle, however only does directly stitch as well as zig-zag. likewise I choose to sew on a flat bed device many of the time.
In the back of my mind I kept wanting a singer 411G. I understood it wouldn’t be rather what I wanted, because it doesn’t do a 3-step zig-zag (it’s multi zig-zag stitch is 4-step), as well as it is practically impossible to discover one with a treadle balance wheel. However, I understand some people have handled to treadle the electric version by shimming out the balance wheel, utilizing a string or spinning wheel drive band instead of a leather belt, or cutting a groove in the balance wheel, so I figured that with some effort I ought to be able to treadle the electric version. as well as as for the 3-step zig-zag, I believe I can style a new cam as well as have it 3D printed [which I did].
I lastly chose to just stop purchasing material for a while so I might save up for a 411G. They are relatively rare, particularly in the us where they were never sold, so I had to purchase one on ebay, which I dislike doing. It survived being shipped, however some idiot (probably the seller, who declares to be an professional at servicing stitching machines) had squirted large amounts of grease in many of the locations that ought to be lubricated with stitching device oil. That took a while to clean up.
I kept getting irritated since the “nearly ideal condition” device I paid as well much for was a greasy mess, the tension assembly needed fixing, it was missing a screw, one spool pin was damaged off, the other spool pin was stuck in location with epoxy, as well as the motor needed servicing. then I would remind myself that those were the reasons I swore off purchasing stitching machines on ebay. Right, right.
At least the only shipping damage was the damaged off spool pin. Although I can’t truly count that as shipping damage, because the plastic pin was superglued in location as well as would have damaged the very first time I utilized it anyway. Unfortunately, I couldn’t discover a 411G locally, so ebay was my only option.
My 411G is the electric only version:
There is a version of the 411G that was made to convert between treadle as well as electric. perhaps someday I’ll discover one. There is a groove for a routine leather treadle belt on the balance wheel. It has a belt cover on the front as well as a different type of grasp knob on the handwheel [Note that part of the grasp knob is missing on the handwheel below—see the picture in the comments section of what a total one looks like]:
I evaluated out my device on some cotton/spandex material that my singer 328K, singer 401A, as well as other vintage stitching machines had a difficult time with. The 411G did excellent on this fabric. Yay! It seems to work much better on challenging knits with singer size 90/14 sphere point needles, though. I likewise tried Schmetz stretch needles as well as Organ sphere point needles, however I got a few skipped stitches. I can online with having to purchase singer sphere point needles for this machine. Organ universal needles work fine in this device for stitching woven fabrics, which is good, because they are affordable as well as I have a great deal of them.
Another reason I desired a 411G is that it chain stitches (if you have the chain stitch needle plate, part #503599). I have a singer 604E that I got for chain stitching, however it doesn’t create a extremely consistent stitch. The 411G’s chain stitch is a bit better, however I’m still getting the occasional huge thread loop or damaged thread. perhaps I can get it to work much more consistently if I play with the tension as well as stitch length.
I chose to clean as well as lubricate the motor, just to see if I may be okay utilizing it as an electric stitching device (directions for cleaning a singer slant needle motor can be discovered on this page). I likewise cleaned the motor commutator with a pencil eraser. I put the motor back in, as well as it sounded much better as well as may have had a bit much more power. For a vintage machine, it’s quite nice. It was a top of the line device in it’s day. I still couldn’t deal with stitching on an electric machine, though. It’s as well loud, it’s as well difficult to manage the speed, it’s difficult to push the button on the foot controller, as well as it makes that frustrating electrical humming noise when it gets stuck on a thick seam. So I quickly took the motor back out.
It took some work to get this device into a common singer treadle base. perhaps this device will in shape in the newer (1950’s as well as 1960’s) singer treadle cabinets, however the older one I have needed some modifications.
First I had to take out the metal plate on the best side of the opening for the stitching machine. It is connected to a huge spring, which likewise had to find out. With a mirror as well as a light, I was able to see the screws I needed to remove.
I’m not sure I would be able to put that spring back in. It was under a great deal of tension, as well as I’m not sure exactly how everything fits together. right here are the parts I took out:
I tried putting my 411G in place, however the ledge on the front sticks out as well far as well as hits the machine:
I sawed off 4 mm from the edge of the front piece of wood.
Now the device in shape into the opening, however I found I couldn’t lower it totally to shut the cabinet!
I couldn’t repair that, so I just put a plastic cover over the stitching device as well as suggestion up the left side of the table against it when I’m not utilizing it. I can’t leave the cupboard open all the method because it sticks out into the middle of the space as well as gets in the way.
The Amazon product links in this publish are affiliate links. If you click on these links as well as purchase something, I will make a little commission.
Now I had to figure out exactly how I was going to treadle my 411G. very first I believed I’d try utilizing size 2/0 candle wick in the bit notch on the left side of the balance wheel. I purchased some, however then the next day (after it was as well late to cancel my order) I chose I’d rather try utilizing a flat urethane belt over the flat part of the balance wheel. I got 1/2″ wide, 0.062″ thick belting. I don’t believe anything thicker would in shape over the balance wheel without scraping against the body of the machine.
I had a number of choices lined as much as try – candle wick, my spare urethane spinning wheel belt, as well as flat urethane belting. There is a piece of 3/16″ leather treadle belt in the photo below for reference. I chose to try the flat belt first, as well as it worked so well I didn’t try the other options.
I cut the belt lengthwise into 7 mm as well as 6 mm broad strips. I utilized the 7 mm broad strip. I joined the belt by melting the ends near a candle flame then pressing them together. After it cooled I cut off the bead at the join with a razor knife. After practicing a couple of times, it’s not difficult to do.
Here’s the join:
The flat belt works quite well. It doesn’t slip at all, even when I sew over thick seams. many of the time it rides at an angle on the drive wheel:
Sometimes the belt works its method part method over the edge of the drive wheel, as well as it appears like it is going to pop off, although it hasn’t really come off yet. I shortened the belt a bit to see if much more tension would help, however it didn’t make any type of difference. [Edit: Actually, shortening the belt did help. The belt has been staying on the drive wheel.] It sews fine, though, as well as if I notice the belt working its method over the edge, I just provide it a bit nudge to get it back in place.
I truly like that the urethane belt never slips, even on the thickest fabrics, so even though I have to nudge it sometimes, I’m pleased with the flat belt. cutting the belt narrower, perhaps 5 mm wide, would most likely assist keep it on the drive wheel, however I was concerned a narrower belt would stretch out as well much or get wedged into the notch on left side of the balance wheel. I do have that other piece of belting I might try cutting narrower if the belt does ever begin coming totally off the drive wheel.
I don’t like that the spool pins are on top of the upper cover. You have to open the cover to see the stitch pattern chart, which is difficult to do without knocking off the spool of thread. because the one staying spool pin is as well short anyway, I chose to utilize a separate thread stand.
This exceptional threads stand is quite cute, however thinking about exactly how much I just spent on this machine, I chose I’d much better just make my own thread mean now. I made one from an old yardstick, a skewer, an old plastic food container, half of an old knitting needle, a bag of sand, a pair of nuts as well as bolts, as well as some tape. Not extremely pretty, however effective.
I was having issues with the spool spinning as well quick triggering the thread to wind around the knitting needle, however wrapping the thread twice around the thread guide seems to have resolved that problem.
I like the mismatched drawer pulls on my treadle cabinet. type of shoddy chic, or in my case, just shabby. perhaps I’ll replace those whenI get around to refinishing the cabinet.
I’m truly hoping I can handle to stop purchasing stitching machines now. My fleet of stitching machines is feeling quite complete. I have six treadle machines, which are the machines that I really utilize (The electric machines sit on a shelf. Or on the floor. Or up in the storage loft). My singer 201-3 is my many often utilized directly stitch machine. I have my singer 15-88 set up for denim topstitching thread. I most likely won’t utilize my singer 328K much now that I have the 411G, however my youngsters utilize it sometimes. I have a Fleetwood F-5000 totally free arm device that I mainly utilize for hemming jeans. My Janome 712T only gets utilized for stitching bras as well as underwear, however if I can get the 3-step zig-zag special stitch disc produced the 411G, I most likely won’t utilize the Janome much.
In addition to the treadle machines, I have a Juki MO-654DE serger, which I truly like, as well as a sibling 2340CV coverstitch machine. I likewise have a portable electric walking foot device that will sew material as much as 3/8″ thick. So I’m all set to sew just about anything from lightweight silk to a teepee. I can stop now. I don’t requirement any type of much more stitching machines. this time around I truly imply it. Seriously. Well, except perhaps if I discover a treadle version of the 411G . . .
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