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Presser foot pressure.
JillyBean333   Intermediate MN USA Member since 2007 Posts: 933	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/30/12 2:30 PM So, I know this has been discussed at length, but it's not all that easy to find machines anymore with adjustable presser foot pressure. I've had one or two machines in here which don't have the pressure adjustment...but I'm not clear why companies think this doesn't matter? And then it seems if you choose an electronic/computerized model there's no adjustment. How much extra can this really cost? Also, does anyone have any tips for getting over thicker/heavier stuff when you have no pressure adjustment? I think the motors in even some of the lower end models can handle some fairly heavy fabrics...it's just that pressure adjustment is missing. ------ JillyBean http://craftysupreme.etsy.com
andye   Beginner VA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 928	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/30/12 3:01 PM My old machine (Riccar 571e) had pressure adjustment-- unfortunately, this was the part that broke-- a little plastic piece translated a twist of a knob into various amounts of pressure on the presser foot spring-- when I learned that my newest machine (Bernina 330) wouldn't have this, I thought-- good, one less part to break. On the latest electronic machines, there's actually some cost savings associated with not having a door for changing the bulb, which means that a door has to be added for changing the pressure-- or a extra motor, and some means of controlling that motor.
SouthernStitch   Advanced USA Member since 2002 Posts: 5858	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/30/12 3:46 PM Jilly, The Bernina 300 series as you know, doesn't have it. My 350 is fine as it is - a little on the light side actually. This is good for piecing quilts. I am curious if they did that on the 350 on purpose since it is the *piecing edition*. However, I really don't miss it on this machine. There are times I know when I am going to want more pressure, but for now it's okay. Put it this way -- if it's got no adjustment for this - I'd rather it be set on the lighter than heavier side. ------ Bernina 730E, 350PE Babylock Audrey Singer 201, 221FW Viking 6570 When life gives you green velvet curtains, make a green velvet dress.
JillyBean333   Intermediate MN USA Member since 2007 Posts: 933	Login to reply to this post In reply to SouthernStitch Like this post Date: 1/30/12 4:17 PM Actually, I was helping one of the neighbors with her new machine today...and it's like a $300.00 Janome machine. Anyway, no adjustment...but I think I figured out what the issue is and it's not the pressure. We tried sewing some really thick stuff...a karate belt to be exact. She wanted to sew the stripes. This machine has a white viking-style ankle that the feet snap into the front. Well, on the thick stuff, the belt wasn't moving (and you want the stripe right up to the very end) because the ankle was ending up far lower than the belt itself...so fabric wouldn't move anyway I just butted another part of the belt behind to get it started as close to the edge as possible, this worked well. So I'm just not exactly sure whether this is a foot pressure issue or more just poor engineering. Other than that it sewed smoothly and didn't hiccup on the very thick belt material. ------ JillyBean http://craftysupreme.etsy.com
Soolip Advanced CA USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1658	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/30/12 4:26 PM It's a mystery to me why it's left off. It's a basic and necessary feature. I would prefer it that the pressure was infinitely adjustable, rather than in numbered increments — and I don't know of one brand of domestic machine currently made that allows you to adjust the pressure in this way. Bernina has left this feature off their machines for decades, starting with the 700 series mechanicals. I remember that in the classes we had with our 930s, the dealer said it was "automatic" and that we would never have to worry about adjusting it. This proved to be completely false, as I later learned with some ruined bridesmaid dresses and a jacket lining. Now it's available on their higher-end machines, so they realize it's at least a selling point. I don't need all the fancy stuff that comes with their higher-end machines though. I would consider buying a Bernina if their 300 series had this feature. They don't, so I won't. My Janome-made Elna has the feature, but there are only three settings. I think the newer machines have more settings, which would be helpful.
Lena Merrin Expert/Couture AUSTRALIA Member since 2009 Posts: 307	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/30/12 7:31 PM When I first bought my industrial Juki the foot pressure was so strong it was crushing glass pin heads into the dust... ------ www.thesewingspace.com
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 2002 Posts: 5451	Login to reply to this post In reply to JillyBean333 Like this post Date: 1/30/12 7:35 PM Ah! You made a "leader" that helped the fabric under the presser foot. Your issue was two fold--foot pressure, and engineering. But all machines nowadays are engineered the same way. They now work with 'box feed', which moves in a box fashion and has a tendency to "burp" on thick fabrics, or jam altogether. The older machines used to have a feed in a rolled motion, which didn't have the jamming problems. The way I know this is I bought a Janome after using vintage Singers for many years, and this is what Janome told me. ------ "Having to squeeze the last drop of utility out of the land has the same desperate finality as having to chop up the furniture to keep warm" -- Aldo Leopold "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit!" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln
Soolip Advanced CA USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1658	Login to reply to this post In reply to Miss Fairchild Like this post Date: 1/30/12 8:05 PM I've never been crazy about box feed. Bernina introduced it on the 930s. It was their first machine that did forward/reverse motion stitches, and the idea was that because the feed dogs were in full contact with the fabric longer than with an elliptical feed, the feed was more accurate. This is probably true for forward/reverse stitching, but it also creates problems for regular forward motion sewing. Namely, it's more difficult to maneuver curves, especially when coupled with the wider feed dogs of a zig zag machine. The 930 only has a 4.5mm stitch width. I can't imagine box feed on a 7mm or 9mm machine. It might be fine for stitching long straight lines — but sewing collar bands or curved cuffs? No. My computerized machine behaves in the way you describe — it has difficulty going from a few layers of fabric to many. The stitches change length no matter the pressure. My 201 from 1954, straight stitch, elliptical feed, sails over humps no problem, and it's only got a .5 amp motor compared to the 1.5 amp motor on the Janome. The 930 had this problem too, so I would imagine it's something to do with the engineering of the newer machines.
aliann1   Intermediate CO USA Member since 2007 Posts: 174	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/30/12 9:15 PM Hmmm.....isn't box feed one of the features that's touted on the Juki Exceed series? I thought it was a good thing, but now I'm confused.
Miss Fairchild   Advanced USA Member since 2002 Posts: 5451	Login to reply to this post In reply to Soolip Like this post Date: 1/30/12 9:19 PM Quote: My computerized machine behaves in the way you describe — it has difficulty going from a few layers of fabric to many. The stitches change length no matter the pressure. My 201 from 1954, straight stitch, elliptical feed, sails over humps no problem, and it's only got a .5 amp motor compared to the 1.5 amp motor on the Janome. Bells are ringing here... I have a 301 that can take anything I can throw at it--multiple seams on a patchwork leather purse, denim, etc. I always bring that out when I have to sew thick hems. My ultra modern Janome 6500 burps and balks, and it has a 7 mm stitch width--a real PITA! ------ "Having to squeeze the last drop of utility out of the land has the same desperate finality as having to chop up the furniture to keep warm" -- Aldo Leopold "And no, now that you asked, I didn't enjoy that play one bit!" Signed, Mrs. Lincoln

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