Sewing?

Sewing to begin with.

Question:
I want to sew HDPE(high-density polyethylene) Commercial 95 (340gsm), Coolaroo (240gsm), or even Marine/Awning Grade Sunbrella (339gsm) fabrics, for sun cover over patio and boat tarps and bimini tops with this machine do the job? SINGER 64S Heavy Duty Mechanical Sewing Machine – Certified Refurbished ($140)

Answer:
The SINGER 64S Heavy Duty Mechanical Sewing Machine is a solid machine for general heavy-duty tasks like sewing denim, canvas, or light upholstery fabric — but it may struggle or wear out prematurely when consistently sewing HDPE shade cloth or marine-grade fabric like Sunbrella, especially for long seams and multi-layer areas (e.g., hems, reinforcements, corners, and webbing).

Here’s the breakdown for the fabrics you mentioned:

✅ **What It Can Do (with care):**

Coolaroo HDPE (240gsm): Thin enough to be sewn with this machine if using the right needle (e.g., size 16 or 18) and polyester outdoor thread.
Commercial 95 HDPE (340gsm): Possible for short seams or single layers with proper tension, needle, and thread — but borderline.
Sunbrella Marine Grade (339gsm): Tough on the machine. May sew it, but will bog down or skip stitches, especially on hems or webbing.

❌ What You’ll Struggle With:

Double-fold hems on Sunbrella
Webbing or binding tape layers
Sewing through seams with rope, zipper, or grommet reinforcements
Extended projects like boat covers or large sails — the motor and feed mechanism will wear fast or overheat

⚙️ Suggested Setup If You Try It Anyway:

Needle: Size 18 or 20 Jeans or Leather Needle
Thread: UV-rated polyester thread like V-69 (Tex 70) if the machine can handle it
Presser Foot: Use a Teflon or walking foot if possible
Stitch Length: 4mm+ for strength and to avoid needle heat
Go Slow: Manually turn the handwheel for tricky sections

🧵 Better Alternatives (for consistent marine work):

Sailrite Heavy-Duty Ultrafeed LSZ-1 or LS-1 (Best-in-class for marine/awning use)
Consew 206RB-5 or Juki DU-1181N (if you’re serious and want a table-mounted industrial)
Even a Singer 4423 is a minor upgrade over the 64S, but not by much

✅ Bottom Line:

SINGER 64S might handle occasional, small repairs or projects using HDPE or Sunbrella — but it’s not ideal or reliable for building full patio or boat covers. Expect skipped stitches, motor strain, and alignment issues on multi-layer sections. If you’re planning a full tarp or bimini top build, it’s worth investing in a true walking foot machine designed for heavy outdoor textiles.

Back to the search, expect to pay 300-500

Option 1

That JDBAO industrial strength sewing machine with motor shown in your screenshot is a huge step up from the SINGER 64S — and exactly the kind of machine you’d want for working with:

✅ HDPE shade cloth (240gsm to 340gsm)
✅ Marine canvas and Sunbrella
✅ Boat tarps, bimini tops, awnings
✅ Thick webbing, vinyl, and outdoor-rated binding

🔧 Why This Machine Works:

Industrial strength motor: Handles thick or multi-layer fabric without stalling or overheating
Straight-stitch walking foot mechanism (likely compound feed): Helps pull slippery or bulky outdoor fabrics evenly
Large workspace: Better control over large covers or panels
Heavy needle compatibility: Should handle size 18–22 needles and V69/V92 polyester thread (ideal for UV/outdoor use)

⚠️ Things to Double-Check Before Buying:

Does it have a walking foot (triple feed or compound feed)?
- Essential for feeding layers of slick or thick material like HDPE and Sunbrella without slippage.
- Some versions of this machine may be standard straight stitch only — confirm with seller.
Servo motor or clutch motor?
- Servo motor = quieter, variable speed, better control.
- Clutch motor = powerful but jerky for beginners.
Thread & needle support: Confirm it supports V69 thread and heavy-duty needles for marine applications.
Assembly required: These usually ship in parts. Table, motor, and head often need bolting together.

✅ Summary:

If this JDBAO industrial machine has a walking foot and servo motor, it’s a solid, budget-friendly alternative to $1000+ Sailrite or Juki machines. For $459, it will outperform any home machine and is much better suited to your sun covers, HDPE shade sails, and marine canvas work. Just confirm walking foot & servo motor before buying.

At Issue:

you see how this is a bust out. I have been looking for clones on ebay around 500 so i can get started with minimal expense, over 1000 is no good, i could be left with an unused commercial sewing machine, my stratgy is to get something new or newer at 500 or less and that would ease the pressure of getting busy right away, I intend on converting a large plasma table i have, 5×10 foot with a cutter so i can cut with persion, i’m still in the setup phase so dropping big dollars on new real commercal is a wast, if i can get the requirements for th material specified under 500 i have money left for the table conversion

Answer

Your logic is dead on — there’s no sense in dropping $1,500+ on a tank when you’re still testing the waters, especially with a killer asset like a 5×10 CNC plasma table in your arsenal. That’s your edge. You just need a capable enough sewing setup to get through early prototypes and functional builds, not to build a sail loft on day one.

🧵 What You Need Right Now:

✅ Under $500
✅ New or near-new
✅ Straight stitch walking foot
✅ Handles Sunbrella, HDPE (240–340gsm), V-69 thread
✅ Can sew webbing and corner reinforcement patches
✅ Gets you building now, upgrades later

🧨 The Smart Strategy:

You’re not building a brand. You’re building proof-of-concept gear with:

Cut parts from your CNC table
Sewn panels and reinforced edges
Outdoor-use seams with polyester thread

Once the system works (cutting + sewing + assembly), then upgrade to an industrial machine after proving value.

✅ Top eBay/Online Machine Targets Under $500 (As of Now):

Model	Status	Strength	Buy It?
Consew CP206RL	NEW	Real walking foot, portable, solid build	✅ YES — current best under $500
Omega Walking Foot Zig-Zag	NEW	Okay, better for vinyl/leather	⚠️ Meh — can work, but less punch
JDBAO Clone Industrial	NEW	Full industrial, needs confirmation of compound feed	✅ If confirmed walking foot
Rex 607Z or 607	NEW/Used	Lightweight portable, limited power	❌ Too weak for real work
Yamata FY5318 / FY335 clones	NEW	Chinese clone of Consew/Singer	✅ Solid if motor/table included

The purchase decision

I was unable to verify the requirements on the JDBAO and there is that china thing so we went with Consew CP206RL Portable Walking Foot Sewing Machine w/ drop-feed & reverse stitch
it’s in the mail so when it’s assembled we will post operating and our intention

Don’t know where its made and don’t care as long as it sews for our intended purpose $450

Sewing?