How to choose the heavy duty zigzag sewing machine for sail makers and sail repairs

How to choose the heavy duty zigzag sewing machine for sail makers and sail repairs

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Sailmaker’ job involve lie out, cut, assemble and repair sails that may be made from high tech textiles, such as carbon fibre, Zylon and Vectran, and by a lamination cloth as well as canvas. If you're going to start your sail making business, the first thing you'll need is a good industrial sewing machine.

If you're going to make your own sails, the first thing you'll need is a good sewing machine. The type of material you'll be working with and its use determines what type of sewing machine you'll need. Get yourself a quality sewing machine that does a good, zigzag triple-stitch in multi-layered polyester and rest assured that your sails will hold against the elements.

The biggest reason a regular, domestic sewing machine won't work well is the material with which you're working. Polyethylene terephthalate sailcloth, commonly known by the brand name Dacron, is light enough that a common machine can stitch through it without slipping, but not when multiple layers are being put through. Generally, sailcloth is made of at least four layers of cloth, sometimes ten. To handle this much material, it's best to use a commercial-grade machine. Another reason to use a industrial sewing machine is the type of stitch you'll be relying on, namely the zigzag triple-stitch. It's not a complex stitch. Yet with the strain the wind applies to the sailcloth, it's best to have the securest stitches possible. Moreover, the industrial sewing machines are of much better quality in a large manufacturing environment.

The zigzag sewing machine is the most used stitch in sail making. It has several advantages: it can over sew an edge to prevent fraying, the stitch configuration is somewhat elastic, and it can be taken out easily with a seam ripper. Most important, the holes in the cloth are not so close together as in a straight line, and thus are less prone to tearing.

9518 medium weight zigzag sewing machine for surf sails and spinnaker: It is one of the finest general-purpose machines for sail makers and repairs, standard equipped with 4 Cams for straight stitch, 1-step (2-point), 2-step (3-point) and 3-step (4-point) zigzag. This sail sewing machine can be set up to sew anything from 1/2-ounce spinnaker nylon with #30 thread to 14 layers of 9-ounce Dacron cloth with #138 thread! Designed for manufacturing windsurfing sails and spinnaker, especially the one-man loft specializing in cruising sails for boat under 35'. 

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9266 extra heavy duty straight stitch and zig-zag lockstitch sewing machine for sewing webbing to reinforce: Extra heavy duty straight stitch and zig-zag industrial sail making sewing machine is designed for sewing very thick sails, attaching reinforcement webbing into edges and sail corner reinforcement patches, with thick thread V277 and needle 250. This zigzag machine also can be used as heavy duty rope-end bar tacker, to make sewn eyes termination or binding rope thimbles for boat rope, yachting rope, sailing rope and marine cordage. Many sail makers are still using Durkopp Adler 166 or Durkopp Adler 266-1, 9266 is the next choice.

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9366-12 Extra heavy duty triple 3-step zigzag sail making sewing machine: It is affordable heavy duty zig-zag sail sewing machine for most sail makers and repairs. Today is there the need for 12mm( zigzag width) 3 step zigzag for seaming bigger sails, it is almost necessary to have an extra heavy duty zigzag sail making machine, which can cover straight stitch, 1-step (2-point), 2-step (3-point) and 3-step (4-point) zigzag. This machine is capable of powering its needle through 20mm of Dacron, Kevlar, Webbing, Canvas and leather; Extremely strong needle penetration force, can easily sew sturdy webbing reinforcement and extra heavy sail corner patches. The basic mechanics (Shuttle hook, adjustments and timing) is the same with Adler 366 and Adler 266, therefore it is easier for the sail lofts already worked with these sail making machines. 

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9518-30 Long arm zigzag spinnakers sewing machine Long arm medium weight zigzag sail maker sewing machine for light to medium weight spinnakers, windsurf sail and up to heavy sails, using needles size 90 - 130 with thread sizes V46, V69 and V92 and capable of processing materials up to 10mm. All kinds of zigzag operations in light to heavy weight Dacron, Kevlar, Webbing, Canvas and leather can reliably be realized with these machines. The basic mechanics (Rotary hook, adjustments and timing) is the same with Durkopp Adler 72525 and Minerva 72525, therefore it is easier for the sail lofts already worked with Adler 525 spinnakers machines. This sewing machine is recognized as the best spinnakers machine in the sail making industry.

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9366-31HA Cam controlled extra heavy duty long arm zig-zag sail maker sewing machine: Long and High arm extra heavy weight zig-zag sail making machine designed for straight stitch, 1-step, 2-step and 3-step zigzag operations in the production of large-surface sails using very thick thread size V207 and needle 250. It easily sew 20mm thickness of Dacron, Kevlar, Webbing, Canvas and leather with its adjustable speed, pitch and zigzag action it can take on the largest sails you can imagine, described by the European sail makers as the Porsche of sewing machine, it is without doubt the strongest machine ever produced. The basic mechanics (Shuttle hook, adjustments and timing) is the same with Durkopp Adler 366-76-12 and Durkopp 266-1, therefore it is easier for the sail lofts already worked with these Durkopp Adler sail making machines. This robust and reliable sail sewing machine is designed for mass-production sail making business.

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9366-31XL: Extra high arm and long arm zigzag sewing machine for large sails: Super high (400mm) and long arm (760mm) heavy duty zigzag sail making machine. Today yachts and boats are getting bigger and bigger, many sail makers and repairs are ready to take on bigger projects and looking for a larger and high efficiency zigzag machine. We developed XL series sail maker sewing machines to meet your needs today as well as tomorrow. The heavy duty belt puller behind the pressure foot helps sail makers create a smooth, even stitch on large sails. The motor is also special, as it provides a large, even torque at any speed. This greatly improves the stitch quality when it is necessary to slow down, or change directions in large sails, or in the heavy patch areas.

Summary of Buyer Choose machines:

1. What’s the thread size you use?

2. Which type of zigzag you need?

3. What’s the size of your sails?

4. How thick of your sail cloths?