Re: [bolger] Digest Number 1230 - sewing sails
What a bunch of wimps !!
A Sailmakers Palm, a tube of needles, a chunk of beeswax, and heavy
thread . . . about $10.oo. O.K - POLYESTER thread . . . I'm not
completely 19th century.
On a more serious note, I'm not kidding about the 'ditty bag kit', parts
of which are listed above. In mine there is also a couple of marline
spikes (Stainless - bought, Wood - I made}, a couple of 'threading
tools' for braided line, some bits of soft leather, and odds & ends for
whipping line and other chores.
A couple of years ago I coaxed Joanne into sewing up a 'foredeck' bag to
store the hanked on jib, and a couple of sheet bags for the cockpit. {A
little 'bait' did the job; I showed her the pages in the West Marine
catalog for 'store-bought' prices . . . and the 'kit' cost in the
Sailrite catalog}. Good 'Sunbrella' material, no real problem with her
'standard' sewing machine. I hand-stitched the leather chafing strips;
why strain the machine.
If you've ever visited a sailmakers shop, you'll get a hint of a major
'trick'. Externally, their machines aren't that much different than the
'home' ones . . . but they are situated at the edge of a PIT that the
operator sits in. The floor is a very smooth and polished wood. This
allows them to REALLY EASILY manipulate the material.
They also do 'hand sewing' on the really tough reinforcing or chafing
pads.
Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
run $50 -$100 at auctions around here.
A Sailmakers Palm, a tube of needles, a chunk of beeswax, and heavy
thread . . . about $10.oo. O.K - POLYESTER thread . . . I'm not
completely 19th century.
On a more serious note, I'm not kidding about the 'ditty bag kit', parts
of which are listed above. In mine there is also a couple of marline
spikes (Stainless - bought, Wood - I made}, a couple of 'threading
tools' for braided line, some bits of soft leather, and odds & ends for
whipping line and other chores.
A couple of years ago I coaxed Joanne into sewing up a 'foredeck' bag to
store the hanked on jib, and a couple of sheet bags for the cockpit. {A
little 'bait' did the job; I showed her the pages in the West Marine
catalog for 'store-bought' prices . . . and the 'kit' cost in the
Sailrite catalog}. Good 'Sunbrella' material, no real problem with her
'standard' sewing machine. I hand-stitched the leather chafing strips;
why strain the machine.
If you've ever visited a sailmakers shop, you'll get a hint of a major
'trick'. Externally, their machines aren't that much different than the
'home' ones . . . but they are situated at the edge of a PIT that the
operator sits in. The floor is a very smooth and polished wood. This
allows them to REALLY EASILY manipulate the material.
They also do 'hand sewing' on the really tough reinforcing or chafing
pads.
Regards,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
>them . I use mine to sew leather, and parts are still available. They
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 13:15:48 -0400
> From: David Ryan <david@...>
> Subject: Sewing Sails?
>
> FBBB --
>
> My wife is researching sewing machines in the hope of finding
> something inexpensive but serviceable for home projects (think
> "Trading Spaces")
>
> Right now she's looking at the Brother LS1217, available at Walmart
> for $99.99. Does anyone on here know if this sort of machine would be
> suitable for finishing the edges on cut down sails?
>
> YIBB,
>
> David
> --
> Message: 11
> Date: Sun, 29 Sep 2002 23:04:44 -0000
> From: "pvanderwaart" <pvanderw@...>
> Subject: Re: Sewing Sails?
>
> My experience with sewing is quite limited. I had no trouble sewing
> polytarp sails on a home machine once an knowledgeable person gave me
> the right thread. The only problem was that I was sewing through
> carpet tape and the adhesive gummed things up a little.
>
> The problem with sails is that sometimes, a very big piece of cloth
> has to go between the needle and the (whatever y'call it) upright
> portion of the machine. Usually the sail is rolled, but that causes
> problems too with the patches losing alignment. I think there is an
> interesting FAQ on the Sailrite site.
>
> For sails, you want a ziz-zag feature. I might also check out if it
> has any advice or special attachments for upholstery. Curtains are
> more common that sails, I imagine, at least at Walmart.
>
> Peter
> Message: 20
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 06:44:05 -0000
> From: "proaconstrictor" <proaconstrictor@...>
> Subject: Re: Sewing Sails?
>
> You can do some prodigious sewing on a simple machine. Follow the
> basic sailrite instructions. There is some thread lubrication advice
> that made all the difference, when using a small domestic machine.
> You do strain the motor a little, so get something like a Sears with
> a good waranty. Idealy find a mcahine that fits an aftermarket hand
> crank. It is easier to crank your way through large material
> buildups at reefing points and so forth, rather than trying to get
> the motor to surge through them.
>
> Message: 21
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 00:28:20 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Chance Curtis <sneakeasy2002@...>
> Subject: Re: Sewing Sails?
>
>
> Have her check out old treddle sewing machines. Amish here still use
run $50 -$100 at auctions around here.
> CCG________________________________________________________________________
> David Ryan wrote:FBBB --
>
>pleasant
> Message: 23
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 01:19:16 -0700
> From: "Derek Waters" <dgw@...>
> Subject: Re: Sewing Sails?
>
> Hi David
>
> The Brother weighs about 12 lbs. Sewing your sails will be a more
> experience on an old iron head - they tip the scales around 40 lbs anddon't
> get pushed around quite as easily. Sewing machine places often havethem
> real cheap, having taken them as trade-ins. Just my 2c.________________________________________________________________________
>
> Cheers
> Derek
>________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 24
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 12:32:09 -0000
> From: "sanmi" <sanmi@...>
> Subject: Re: Sewing Sails?
>
> I sewed my 90 sqft sail with my wife's necchi home model with no
> extra stuff. I kind of burnt up the motor. These days, I can still
> sew cuffs on my pants, but when I sewed my bimini, the motor started
> smelling after a bit and I had to let it cool down before each long
> seam. I saw some replacement motors on ebay for less than $20, so
> I'll probably get one of those before my next project.
>
> Frank
>
>