Ep 241 | Sailrite LSZ-1 Ultrafeed Walking Foot Sewing Machine, Setup and Review, Sailing Nutshell

[@versatec1]

Can you imagine sewing and repairing sails making and fixing clothes it's liquid gold

[@williambunting803]

The light plugs into a socket under the adapter where the foot controller plugs into the machine. I think i saw that you have the adapter already in place. I love the light. I have the machine in my workshop where I also have my lathe and use the light for both. I bought the servo motor for the bench machine and will fit that in my modified base (the space I have to store my machine is is only about 230mm deep so I am making a special aluminium base for the machine to sit in and with a clip on deck assembly. I think I will one day make a cloth over bag if I ever consider moving the machine to work elsewhere). Thanks again for the talk, it gives me confidence that I bought the best machine for what I am doing, and I didn’t know that there was a spare parts kit so will get one of those.

[@versatec1]

It's a no-brainer and the money you could make sailing the high seas with something like that is endless like an incredible socket set

[@bobjoncas2814]

...Good one, stay safe and have a great week...

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks Bob. You too. W.

[@awbskymac8149]

Good video - I have the same machine and I could identify with everything you guys said. When I bought mine I had never sewed anything so it was a bit of a learning curve. I found the foot control to be ok but I have never used it on my boat, and yes, it is heavy, and solid. For me it was ok to lift. Sailrite’s videos are fantastic and I have made a lot of stuff for my yacht. Also made a lot of stuff for home too.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks for the comment. It’s a great portable, sail sewing machine. We love it. W.

[@sstem2169]

I really enjoyed, and appreciated your review of the Sailrite sewing machine. I have thought they were supposed to be a good machine, but with your flat honest review, and predominantly glowing recommendation, (which carries a lot of weight in my book!) I won't hesitate to spend the extra $$$ to buy a Sailrite, when the time comes. If it wasn't worth the extra money, Magnus would absolutely be the first one to say so!!!! ;-D I do indeed value y'all's opinions.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Hi. It’s definitely a solid machine and it does what it was designed for. I recently spoke with a friend who has a ‘similar’, cheaper machine and she said it was only average to sew with. W.

[@williambunting803]

Thanks for this review. I bought the same machine and am starting with small projects like outboard motor cover. Seeing how you handle the big items through the machine will be helpful, and also how you plan out patterns. I built a special compartment for the machine so I could dispense with the box which is just too big, bulky and heavy (I don’t feel safe with new things until I have beat them around and modified them a bit). One of the projects I need to get on with is to make up tool rolls for my various tool kits.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks for the comment. Coming up is a nifty way to measure large lengths of fabric without a big table. We needed to do this for the two stack packs. Tool rolls are a great thing to make. I’ve made quite a few for the tools and utensils when Magnus was doing the motorbike tours. W.

[@williambunting803]

@@LifeinaNutshell i thought of another sewing project. Rope bags. Bags to cover ropes that are not going to be used for extended periods when at anchor or moorings, but also need to stay on deck. Here in the Nederlands in Winter everything goes green from algae, but there is also the UV issue as well as preventing ropes from going hard. These need to hang upside down to keep water out.

[@Sailspirit99]

Sailrite have introduced a new item, the WorkerB® Power Pack Motor System (110V) ($299) which slows down the speed. But no 230/240V yet which is disappointing as I have the Aus/NZ model, love it. Agree re the tiny light one-speed racing pedal, I even thought about gluing some sinker weights plus non-skid feet onto it, my home sewing machine pedal is way heavier and speed control way better. Thanks for showing the damage from the Explosion, I was stunned when you mentioned it in the video straight after. I think I’ll rewatch your video to count how many times you said it was “heavy”. I’m 5’2”, female, and agree, it is heavy. But then it kinda needs to be to do the work. Singer have several models of a lighter cheap HD machine which is great for a lot of the light canvas work etc, often on special from Spotlight (50%). Fair winds, Elaine.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks for the information Elaine. Sinker weights are a good idea. W.

[@asennaydenov6461]

Hi, great review! If I remember correctly inside the pedal should be a small potentiometer for regulation of the sensitivity. Please check that with Sailrite if that’s doable before to open the pedal. For the light connection there is adapter kit so you can plug it to the motor connector ArtNr: 122305. Is not a bad idea to have some spares especially the plate between the shuttle and the feed dogs. When needle brakes can damage the surface on this small plate and then starts ripping the thread. The plate looks like a half moon with two screws ArtNr: 1603 Retaining ring cap spring Page 5 in the manual. Good luck!

[@tomas5376]

It’s definitely the best of the best!⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Hi Tomas. We love it. W.

[@timspurge7448]

Having watched yet another excellent video, I will now have to go out and buy some more Coppercoat, as I will have to raise the waterline as the boat floats lower with all Great gadgets seen on your channel Ha ha

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Hi Tim. We raised our waterline the first time Nutshell was hauled out! Thanks for watching. W.

[@Al.W7263]

The problem you pointed out about the foot pedal seems to be a common complaint of Sailrite owners. On your rugged description of the machine. Were you trying to say that it's a "man's machine"? lol Thanks for the video. I hope Sailrite watches this video. What an amazing selling point for the machine and box surviving the explosion and still in mint condition. There could be a deal there some where.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

We were very impressed that the machine survived the explosion. It’s definitely a workhorse. W.

[@doughowden1098]

Hi Wendy and Magnus, don't usually comment but thought I may be able to add something useful to your excelent review of the Sailrite. I wanted to make rope bags for my boat and bought an old cast iron singer 201. Excelent old machine that will do al lot of tasks and is beautifully made, but it is a domestic machine and has its limitations. Wanted a Sailrite but they stopped selling them in Australia. There are at least 4 clones, looks like the castings all come out of the same place(probably China) and the quality varies, I bought a "Reliable Barracouda" from a Qld agent, Reliable are the Canadian clone, quality seems good, offers the monster wheel( Couda crank!) etc and all the Sailrite accessories fit and has operated faultlessly for the last couple of years. Bought just the machine head, fits into the old school Singer wooden base and also into the old treadle tables if you wanted to set up in your workshop for a larger job. Also find the foot control to be cheap and nasty, Sailrite tell me the "Worker B" servo is intended to be offered in 240v in the future. A lot of the Sailrite accessories such as the magnetic LED light and Swingaway binder attachments can be sourced online at about half of Sailrites prices. Love the Hans Christian.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Hi Doug. Thank you for that information. W.

[@jakezarbrezhoneg4110]

👌🏻 Merci, Wendy and Magnus.🙏

[@LifeinaNutshell]

You’re welcome Jakez. W.

[@paralogregt]

Sailrite now have a speed controller on their new machines which gives you much more control.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks for the comment. I suspected that they may have updated the foot controller since we bought our Sailrite. That’s good to hear. We love the machine. W.

[@Sailspirit99]

Unfortunately only for 110V 😢 still. And costs $299.

[@martinbowskill5511]

Bloody hell I'm off to remove the head off my old Rodeo. Now that's easy hahaha cheers n beers Marty

[@fredfish8918]

You need to find a sponsor for a beer brewing set up for your boat :)

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Now that’s a dam fine idea, but... Magnus already has a pretty good brewing setup on board! We are never devoid of beer! Thanks for watching. W.

[@fredfish8918]

@@LifeinaNutshell Love watching you .You never ask for anything . And you bake bread on a oven that rocks. And baking in that environment is something to be impressed with :)

[@bzrider29]

I agree with you about the foot pedel. I see the new machine has speed control. I am not sure why they do not offer just the reostat switch . I also wonder about an upgrade to the cheap plasic pedel

[@whotknots]

"No I've got you" Wendy is such a sweetie.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks Whotknots. W.

[@iainlyall6475]

blimey i love that machine and i don't sew or have a boat :-) now, can you get a battery operated light? do they have a manual foot pedal? i remember me mum using an 'old' singer with manual pedal, but that was a table mount system. how long did it take for the least experienced sewer of you two to get comfortable with it?

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Magnus took a couple of hours. W.

[@stbarry1954]

Love it....

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thank you. W.

[@paulkube3901]

Make up a platform for the controller that has no slip feet and a heel rest

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks Paul. That’s a great idea! W.

[@bryanhollingsworth4921]

Wendy my secret for foot peddle control is sewing barefoot

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Hi Bryan. Great idea! W.

[@clementihammock7572]

I think Sailrite should adopt the old Singer 15K hand crank, better leverage.

[@honorharrington4546]

Sounds like it is built like an old Singer, and that's not a bad thing. Shame about the speed control being almost unusable, that turns any machine into a fight instead of a pleasure. . Variable speed drills have been doing slow speeds for decades so for an expensive machine like Sailrite to fail at this is bizarre.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Hi Honor. You definitely get used to it after a while. I’m still happy with the idea of being able to sew sails at sea with no power which is the main reason we chose this machine. W.

[@delukxy]

If Sailrite can't sort out the foot pedal there are plenty of other ones about that you can use from other makers. Some have, say 10 clicks from off to fast so you don't have a problem with dirty/burnt tracks. There are lots of "vintage" rheostat foot controllers out there. Some may need a refurb but YT shows how easy that is to do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHjJY3d8hsmWeLM

[@daveallen63]

I was going to suggest the same thing, and it really isn't difficult to retrofit.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thank Deluk you so much for that information. I’ll look into it. W.

[@LifeinaNutshell]

Thanks Dave. Definitely worth looking into. W.

[@mchaves7663]

Deluk, which model/brand would have 10 speeds? Thanks

[@delukxy]

@@mchaves7663 Sorry, no idea.

[@borys2767]

Is it made in China? Or the USA?

[@LifeinaNutshell]

USA

[@versatec1]

Even a spear gun... I know a guy who sails the high seas with a spear gun and he just gets invited onto millionaires yachts.... that's how he lives by giving them his fish

[@idahosagebrush5662]

Price any good industrial zig-zag walking foot machine and you'll see Sailrite isn't really so expensive, and everyone loves their customer service... Does Sailrite offer a electronically controlled motor option like many industrial machines offer? If they don't they should offer the option, if they can work it out... I cringe when watching anyone using a Sailrite machine because of having to use those motors designed in the 1920's with heavy material. As easily as that machine spins freely when spinning the balance wheel, the weak motor is the only problem with controlling it. After watching it sew, I was surprised how It spins without load like any well built industrial machine with good bearings used throughout. How about having electronically controlled constant power at any speed, from slowest to fastest with precise control. The motor on my wife's (larger) walking foot machine has one and it also has a voltage switch and speed range selector knob so it doesn't accidentally take off at 4000 stitches per minute on her. Industrial sewing machine electronic motors have got a lot smaller since I used to work on commercial machines many years ago, but are surprisingly more powerful.

[@Sailspirit99]

Sailrite has recently introduced a new motor for slower more power sewing: WorkerB® Power Pack Motor System (110V).