Industrial Sewing Machine: My Experience

[@judelarkin2883]

I love having an industrial machine so much it just marches right through things that a home sewing machine struggles with. I also love how slow an industrial machine will go. I’m not a professional so to get good results I need to be able to go slow. My industrial machine does that beautifully.

[@margaretderen2082]

You are exactly right about the “feeling of control.” I tried for years to get a consistent 1/4” quilter’s seam on a very expensive domestic machine and it was very frustrating. I can only describe it as feeling “squishy” - that the machine has a mind of it’s own. I was talked into buying an industrial machine (Baby Lock - similar to the Juki) and nailed a perfect 1/4” seam the first time and every time since then for 15 years. It does what I tell it to do - not what a computer decides. I love my industrial and will never go back to straight stitching on a computerized machine.

[@cliffordcarroll9320]

What is the name of the light and where can we purchase it?

[@Julija_Gobere]

I saw there’s an identical lamp on Amazon, look for ‘Neafti XL’

[@grinninggoat5369]

I have an industrial. One of the worries I had was being able to find the oil in my local area when I needed to change it once or twice a year. I know there are more expensive synthetic oils with additives made for industrial sewing machines out there but I don't used my indutrial in an industrial manner to warrant the extra expense of higher heat tolerances and 3 or 4 shifts of workers sitting at it every day. So, I looked at the cheaper non-synthetic industrial sewing machine oils and their MSDS safety sheets and found, to my surprise, most of them are listed as 100% Thin Mineral Oil, food grade. I can buy that by the gallon jug at my local farm supply store where it is cheaply sold as a ...... "livestock and large animal laxative"! 😂😂😂 it works just fine in my industrial machine without any problems or increased wear on my parts. I guess I can report to you that my machine has had "regular movements" thanks to the livestock laxative it uses. 😮😅😊

[@MikkoRantalainen]

Have you been happy with the color reproduction qualities of that lamp? According to tech specs it only has 80 CRI color reproduction which is pretty poor when it comes to color accuracy. Pure sunlight would be 100 CRI, the same as halogen bulb.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I haven’t noticed this being an issue🤔 But I’ll take double look next time I’ll use it🤗

[@roulamilanbadawi698]

Hello, I have a a domestic sewing machine but I can't do thick layer on and I am thinking to buy an industrial for that reason. I want to buy a machine that sew many layers of denim, leather, vinyl and make quilts. Does jack A2 can do this. And do you know the difference between A2 and A2B cause in my area they sell A2B

[@johannvanniekerk]

Thank you for this very insightful video, Julija! You have a gift for presenting information in a clear and thoughtful way.=

[@Julija_Gobere]

Thank you for such sweet comment, Johann! 🤗

[@Braisin-Raisin]

I just checked: the Jack A2 costs around € 800 plus about € 100 for shipping. this includes the table. A wonderful, informative video.

[@stevel9353]

Very informative video! It would be interesting to see a comparison between a vintage all metal straight stitch machine and an industrial machine. I've heard that they are much better than modern plastic machines. The Singer 201 is considered by some collectors to be the finest domestic sewing machine ever made.

[@najwakhan5594]

The oil... I know it takes a lot of quantity but it lasts... Were u get yours? Is It pricey?How and when to change? what to do with the oil u take out (can't u use It back) ?❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Julija_Gobere]

I got the oil at the local sewing supply store (that particular store is more oriented towards industrial sewing). I paid about 7eur for the 1l bottle, but there are definitely cheaper alternatives. I change oil about once a year, but the frequency definitely depends on how much machine is used. After oil is changed, old oil can't be used again, so it has to be safely disposed :)

[@TheseusTitan]

Your comparison is with Jack, a Chinese manufactured machine which costs a lot less than an industrial machine like say, a Juki which is manufactured in Japan and a high end industrial sewing machine that costs a lot more than a domestic. If you compared a 3k Juki to a domestic it would have been a better price comparison unless your domestic is also a Chinese manufactured sewing machine.

[@india1422]

Something else to consider is oiling. Some machines have various points that you have to manually oil every day, sometimes more than once. Some machines also have an open oil system, where under the table is a container with a pool of oil with various wicks sit in. Some machines have a closed unit, that you top up infrequent,y and you don’t have to manually oil any parts of the machine.

[@milesbailey1890]

The link for the work light is not the same worklight that you have.

[@valeriemaitre9479]

Thanks Julie, you made it so clear. No doubt, I’ll have such a beauty soon or late. 🤩🍒🇨🇭

[@Julija_Gobere]

Glad you liked the video, Valerie! 🤗

[@martacz.4794]

Couldn't agree more with everything you said. Let me add one thing considering buying the second hand industrial: if there is possibility to check the machine, if it has the auto thread cutter, if it's not 40 or 30 years old - I'd consider buying. Once I heard that industrial machines are made to work 24/7 for about 30 years... If a machine is 10 years old, it should serve well for at least 10 more. I LOVE mine (bought second-hand ;) )

[@Julija_Gobere]

Great point about machine work years!

[@vladspb_]

You have perfect English 🙂

[@kulettee]

Hobbyist here who have decided to get an industrial machine. Price was one of the reasons I decided to get one. I was eyeing on a semi-industrial machine. I am from the Philippines and getting one would cost me $800 minimum + custom fees. With the industrial sewing machine I got locally ( Juki DDL 8100e), I paid 23,000 pesos (a little over $400 USD) that includes shipping and servo motor. I didn't see any downside with my domestic machine until I upgraded. I didn't worry about the machine eating the fabric from time to time and the vibration it makes. But the moment I switched, these things have stared to bother me and was able to justify my purchase of an industrial machine.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I think we were eyeing the same semi-industrial machine!😅 It was (and still is) difficult for me to understand why semi industrial was twice the price of the actual industrial machine - that pricing doesn't really make sense... Very glad to hear you're enjoying your machine!

[@silvermeasuringspoons6462]

I use a semi-industrial machine. And it’s much more expensive than normal industrial machines. I’m from Thailand so I think it’s gonna be similar to the Philippines. Lots of people sewing for living, like street vendors seamstresses. The westerners don’t have what we have, they only have fancy laundromat. So lots of local/cheap repair shops and parts here. That semi-industrial worth the money for me. Because one of my most important factors is the pressure foot knees lifter, besides the fancy Bernina there’s no other domestic machines with that function (that I can found locally). And I need to move it sometime. I hated zigzag and mostly use french seam including armholes. I’ve used a Bernina before and the repair cost is so unbelievable. My previous Bernina stop working within 2 months after I got it cleaned/maintained and they didn’t even bother to estimate the repair costs. They wanted me to pay more for just checking and the cost and hustle for mailing it because I live outside the big city, and it’s just within 2 months. I donated that machine and almost got another Bernina (50,000 baht or about $1600+) before I found a semi-industrial which is half the price. Loved my semi-industrial and strongly NOT recommend Bernina anymore

[@hsing-jungwu6026]

Semi industrial is a term for commercial purposes. It’s literally a domestic machine but more sturdy built with faster speed. Most of them use domestic needles. These are designed for people with limited space but wanting a more reliable , faster and sturdier machine while still portable. So whenever there’s a problem with the machine. Get it to a mechanic for a service or fix is not difficult while you have to call a mechanic in for industrial machines which incurs call out fee and sometimes maybe not available if you live in a remote area. I see it as a choice between paying more for a machine and portability vs a bigger house and more service fee. All in all, a real industrial definitely performs better than a “semi industrial “. I use a vintage domestic at the moment and I definitely would like to upgrade to an industrial one day when I have a permanent space and more knowledge about sewing machines. I plan to start from a vintage industrial treadle machine in the future.

[@Shrinkingviolett2]

I love my Juki 8700 that is computerized. I have sewn for 35 years. But now I want a domestic Juki $4000 model as well as another Juki industrial serger to go along with my bernina cover stitch serger and my Janome cover stitch serger. Both will do overlock as well. I went to fashion design school in 2017.

[@weekenddistractions]

I agree that industrial machines rock. I have an old Juki 563. I don't do clothes (save a little repair now and then), but do bags, packs, etc. If I had to get another machine, it would be a post-bed unit with a slide-in flat table. It's more versatile and can get at things that a dedicated flat-bed machine just can't.

[@amirulwear295]

Nice

[@Shrinkingviolett2]

I love my Juki. I got so spoiled in fashion Design school, and have seen 35 years. But I really am interested in your school. Where does one find a technical sewing skills school vs fashion design school. Domestic machines just are not quite the same unless you go beyond mid level domestic sewing machines. That said, the high end Juki Domestic machines are amazing. Never buy a sewing machine from Walmart or a department store. Get one from a dealer.

[@BeMoreBarnaby]

I love my 1970s vintage Bernina semi-industrial (850): industrial motor, rotary rather than oscillating bobbin, & flat bed (table-mounted) - but it includes 20 stitches & a 5-step buttonhole. Best of both worlds. I bought it for 385 euros including table and accessories (lots of different feet). ...but I can't compare it to a modern domestic machine as my previous machine was a hand cranked, straight stitch 1931 Singer - not even a foot pedal! Happily used this for decades. Fully agree with Julja that you don't need fancy gear to stitch well... but it's sometimes nice to have! ;-)

[@rrjohn5]

I just looked at this machine in the US and 😮! $2000 US dollars!

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

I really enjoyed watching your video🥰 I am feeling a bit puzzled though by the idea that your machine doesn't standard come with a wooden table top. All the machines I have worked on in the past or looked at online all had wooden table tops🤔 Is there a picture online available where I can see how a plastic table top looks like? Because it is hard for me to imagine how it looks like. A few months back I commented on instagram about your machine and told that I would invest in an industrial by fall this year. Unexpectedly we bought a new house with a big garden, so my savings will go towards that this year. So I have to sadly delay my idea of investing in an industrial for another year😕 Any time I see you on instagram, I can't help but to feel happy and envious at the same time when looking at your machine😅🤩 There are 'vintage', second hand machines available, but I would be worried (aside from the clutch motor) that they won't feel and sound very smooth. (even with servo motor) I think that would be one of my requirments when investing in one. And the thread cutting function would be awesome to have to, since my current domestics doesn't have this feature. So far I can't come up with a question for your next video🤔🤗☺

[@Julija_Gobere]

I'm very glad to hear you enjoyed watching the video! 😊 I totally know what you mean about feeling happy and envious at the same time - I feel the same way when I see someone on Instagram with industrial serger 😅 About the table top: when searching for 'Jack A2', the image shows a table with gray and blue sides, that was the original table top (in my opinion, wooden ones look more elegant and timeless, at least at home setting) 🤗

[@titiaswildlifecottagegarden]

@@Julija_Gobere I googled the model and I can't imagine that table top is made from plastic. I don't know how it feels, but I agree with you on the wooden table top. They look nice, sturdy and authentic 🙂

[@whowantstoknow2617]

It really makes me wonder why on earth you'd buy a high end sewing machine with, say, 500 stitches. Who'd use all those?

[@liekie]

I can feel your frustration about the domestic machine. Originally I am also a trained seamstress (even though I never worked as a seamstress) and after finishing college I didn't feel like sewing at home, since I felt with my Singer sewing machine it was not possible to sew anymore. I wasn't able to sew straight seams: the presser foot was wiggling around (it was a click-on foot) and the machine almost jumped from the table when sewing. So after I graduated I didn't make any garments at all and very ocasionally I used my sewing machine to repair something or make a store bought garment wider or smaller. Until 2020 when I got my high-end Bernina, which is a heavy machine. Since then I am a happy sewing bee, allthough so far I mainly made quilts :D

[@Julija_Gobere]

Very interested to hear about your experience with high-end Bernina - I've heard good feedback about them, but haven't tried them personally yet. Definitely would be interesting to test how it compares to other domestic machines!

[@liekie]

@@Julija_Gobere THat would be very interesting. Last November I also got a sewing cabinet for my Bernina. Now the sewing experience is even better, because the machine is perfectly flat with the table top, just like an industrial machine :)

[@margaretgoodall5043]

When you say control, do you mean the manipulation of the fabric or the machine settings - stitch length, tension, foot pressure etc?

[@manarhelaly1654]

Thanks very much Actually i recently bought an industrial sewing machine i didn't receive it yet Its brand is "brother " It is used machine Its price 500 $CA I have one domestic sewing machine its brand is singer i bought it since 10 years ago When i find your video i was very happy because through your video you emphasize my idea And i will keep the two in shaa Allah

[@india1422]

I cannot comment on industrial machines. I have Bernina and they sew denim, vinyl, leather etc.

[@ellie9248]

Hi Julija, do you have to use the digital buttons on the machine to increase or decrease speed or can you sew manually without on tge sewing machine.

[@india1422]

I’ve just ordered the 3500 lumen version of your lamp.

[@TerrydeAlaska]

I love your video and explanations! I have a Singer Heavy Duty domestic machine and want a machine to sew thicker fabrics. I've demoed the juki 1541 industrial machine and it just purrs. I've been told that this industrial machine doesn't work well with light fabrics like cotton and will bunch up and pucker and not to buy one for that reason. I'd love to see you do a demonstration of sewing light fabrics on your industrial machine.

[@chrisashdown1484]

whoever told you that was talking rubbish that's the beauty of walking foot machines, but you do have do do a try first to get the top and bottom tension right if going from thick to thin material, you can also easily adjust the pressure foot. the 1541 will sew quite thick leather down to a couple of layers of polycotton. people soon get used to changing settings

[@melenelewis2955]

I bought a walking foot medium to heavy weight industrial machine ....absolutely love it even though I haven't done much sewing on it yet ...but I had to buy a servo motor because I found that it was too difficult for me to control as the speed was so fast ( I'm a newby with this but hope that I can eventually put the original motor back on when I have managed to get to know the machine better) . The servo motor has made it a bit easier to sew with. Thanks for your Super helpful sewing videos. Watching you from Johannesburg South Africa.😊

[@joolsofsewing3723]

An excellent video thank you!! Which dealer did you use please?

[@JohnGilbert-l5l]

Very. Unbiased and informative.

[@onelove6177]

Where can you reliably purchase the jack industrial?

[@anonym4251]

Hello, does your jack machine sew through medium heavy fabric. like two or three layers of thick wool fabric? or two thin layers of leather? not sure on how strong this machine is. you didnt cover that.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Easily🤗 It can sew easily through multiple layers, like 8 layers of denim or several layers of faux leather

[@isabeljohnston5020]

Thanks for your videos. I enjoy them very much. Can you please tell me where I can find you on Instagram?

[@Julija_Gobere]

You can find me on Instagram as sewingjulieblog 🤗

[@katrienvh4289]

Hi Julija, where did you get your Jack from please? I'm from Belgium, but I don't seem to find a dealer overhere.

[@Julija_Gobere]

We have a local dealer here in Lithuania🤗

[@bohemiansusan2897]

I would love to have an industrial machine but they start at $1,000 for cheap ones average $2,111. I would like to have a straight & zig zag. I do bar tacks with jeans with zig zag.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Oh that is pricey! Industrial machines ate definitely cheaper here in Lithuania🤔

[@bohemiansusan2897]

@@Julija_Gobere Definitely not easy to get one over here. I wonder if things are so expensive because sewing is rare over here. I have been watching Amazon for machines, which seems to be the least expensive. I see some machines designed for heavy denim and leather that are straight stitch only but from some very off brand that seems a bit suspicious. I do need zig zag for bar tacks on jeans and heavier fabrics. Otherwise I don't bother with zig zag. I did buy a Singer Heavy Duty with 300+ stitches and this is because I like to do simple embroidery on some projects. So far it doesn't jam up as much as my Bernette. Like you, I sew in a corner of my room, so it all has to be portable. I'm sure that I could take over more of the apartment to set up and my sons wouldn't say anything. However it's their home and I live rent free. I buy and read most European sewing magazines and the occasional Korean ones. I'm 55 and most are excepting of space aliens than sewers. If I find another sewer. It's all about quilts.

[@rhineslamprecht4675]

Thank you so much for such an informative video. My A2 is on its way😊😊😊. Looking forward to many more videos on these machines.

[@Julija_Gobere]

Congratulations on new machine - I'm sure you'll love this machine as much as I do! 😊

[@hc00t]

How was the seamstress oriented course you studied called? I would love to improve my skills but the only courses I’ve found have fashion attached to them. Many thanks in advance for any insights into what to search for.

[@Julija_Gobere]

I attended vocational school for 2 years and the program was oriented strictly around the sewing part, which I enjoy the most🤗

[@danielcasburn9753]

Can you share what school you went to?@@Julija_Gobere

[@faeeryn599]

I have a semi-industrial jack zig-zag machine and my life completely changed since day one 😊 At the beginning I though I was crazy and an industrial machine was definitely too much, but now, I couldn't change it for nothing in the world 😆. I feel really frustrated using my domestic, maybe the only machine near to an industrial (for me) is a vintage one, and is usually the ones I recommend to people. The most important thing for me with my machine is reliability and perfect finishing. (Mine having the possibility of the zig-zag too have all my needs cover 😊.)

[@Julija_Gobere]

Oh how interesting - I didn’t know Jack comes with zigzag function!🤯 Which model do you have?

[@faeeryn599]

I have a Jack 20U53Z I didn't knew it either 😅 until the dealer showed it to me. It's slower than straight stitch, the fastest can go it's 3000 spm but, it's more than enough for me ☺. It comes with 2 needle plaques, 2 feet dogs and 2 presser feet so you can change between straight stitch or zig-zag as needed, you can embroider with it too, but I've never tried it yet. Oh! And million thanks for the lamp link I've been looking for one and yours it's perfect in all levels ☺ @@Julija_Gobere

[@susanjejad741]

Hi dear, I have a spa and am thinking of getting one of the rooms into a swing room for fashion , I know it’s so different than what I’m doing that is skin care but I always been interested in fashion, my question is if the industrial machine is so noisy for my place? Thank you

[@Julija_Gobere]

Hello Susan! I would say that industrial sewing machine noise is very similar to domestic machines - at least in my experience, they aren't much louder. If noise is something of a concern and you will have a dedicated room for sewing, I would suggest looking at sound panels for noise reduction - those can be found on Amazon for rather low price and should help reduce noise even more :)

[@susanjejad741]

@@Julija_Gobere thank you dear

[@mariasilva-to4zi]

I have jack A5e and is the most wonderful present I gave to myself.

[@shantk7378]

Very well said! Great video!

[@kanchanaanuruddaweerakon2755]

Great explain ......

[@sewhappywithsenagollo9574]

How often do you have to take it for service?

[@Julija_Gobere]

I didn’t have to take it into a service yet, I only change oil myself (with a help of my husband, because lifting that machine requires help🫣).

[@sewhappywithsenagollo9574]

@@Julija_Gobere Very good machine..thanks for info.

[@kateleroux185]

Thanks to this video i recently bought a Jack A2b. I'm in South Africa and It was under R9000, about 450 euros or dollars. South Africa has a lot of Chinese trade which helps. I don't think i could even even get a Juki here if i tried. And it would be much more expensive. I love it so much! I make bunting banners and bags. I wasn't enjoying making bags on my Singer heavy duty any more but the Jack made it fun again. Thanks so much!

[@Julija_Gobere]

I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying your new machine!🤗

[@nerdyhustle]

Jack. The poor person’s Juki 🥹