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| Singer:20U73 (Sewing Machine) | | Viewed 643 time(s) | | Review rated Very Helpful by 3 people | | Reviewed by: | lincatz | 
| | About lincatz | | ON CANADA | | Member since: 9/13/06 | | Reviews written: 1 | | Sewing skills:Expert/Couture | | sewing machines reviewed: 1 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 5/19/09 11:01 AM | | Approx price paid: | $1200 | | Had this machine for: | 2 years | | Recommended? | Yes | Features
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
- Adjustable Needle Position
- Embroidery Machine
| | What lincatz likes about this machine
The 20U73 is a true industrial machine with separate motor, table, light and sewing machine head. It's large, bulky and decidedly not pretty. What it lacks in looks it more than compensates for in durability and function. It will run eight hours a day seven days a week in a commercial workshop setting without any problems, which is how I use mine.
It does the basics, straight stitch and zig zag -and it does both to perfection. Width and length can be fine tuned using dials and levers. None are marked but there are so few that it's easy to remember which knob does what function. Stitch quality is reliably consistent whether using straight or zig zag. The machine gives professional, high quality results.
My machine came with a high speed clutch motor, which means I can operate it at any speed, from a full 1400 stitches per minute to a slow almost-barely moving speed. It takes practise and the dealer recommended practising speed control with no needle or thread in the machine until I got a feel for the foot pedal. I took advantage of the dealer's lessons so I could safely operate this machine with as few problems as possible. It was a worthy investment in my time.
It comes with a knee lift for the presser foot. This is a time saver when working pockets, collars, or anything that requires pivoting and turning. Needle up and down is not automatic, it's controlled using the side wheel. This is not an issue for me, I prefer controlling the machine this way. You can infinitely adjust the pressure on the presser foot and the tension control is manual, meaning you can fine tune both upper and bobbin tension to ensure a perfectly balance stitch no matter what you are sewing. Bobbin capacity is huge, it's not difficult to wind and the bobbin case is easy to thread and install into the machine.
The 20U also has a special feature that isn't as well known as its use as a commercial machine. It is an excellent free motion embroidery machine. The high quality zig zag can be used for satin stitching and the feed dogs can be completely removed and the needle bed plate changed to a smooth embroidery plate. As a bonus, the knee pedal can be changed from a presser foot lifter to a controller for the width of the zig zag stitch. You can change the width of the stitch while sewing by pressing on the knee control. This allows for a new level of creative freedom and expression in free motion embroidery.
A wide variety of needles are available for the machine, from super fine needles for light as a feather silks to heavy cutting points for garment leather to high strength thick needles for canvas. You must use proper industrial needles, household needle with the flat backs will not work in this machine. This machine can handle fabrics from soft silks to garment leathers and denims. It is NOT a heavy duty upholstery or luggage leather machine, it is for fashion sewing, dressmaking and light to medium heavy garment fabrics. There is also a variety of needle bed plates and different sizes and types of feed dog plates, coarser for heavy fabric, fine for fine fabrics and a standard all purpose feed dog.
I bought from a dealer and he comes to the shop once a year to keep it in tip top running order. Every part inside the machine can be repaired and replaced, so a broken gear or one knob that's stripped won't render the machine useless. It should be repaired and serviced by a professional. My sewing machine technician is like a member of my team, he keeps all my machines purring and humming.
In conclusion, this machine is best suited to anyone who does a lot of sewing everyday and requires a fast and reliable machine that will hum along without complaint. It isn't fancy, but it does its job. Overall, a wise investment and it's on the asset side of my business balance sheet. What lincatz does not like about this machine
No automatic buttonholer, they are done manually by twisting knobs and sliding the needle position lever. It's far too fiddly for me and the size can be inconsistent so I got a Pfaff 3656 or whatever the model number was specifically for buttonholes. The original factory installed motor was loud until I had the technician switch it to a Reliable Sew-Quiet motor. It's not portable and it looks like a factory machine. There's a wide variety of feet available, but they are pricier than feet for domestic machines. I find most of the time I use the all purpose foot or the zipper foot, I seldom need the other feet. | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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| Reader Comments | | Mufffet | 5/19/09 | Thanks for a great review on an industrial machine. Lots to learn here. | | * * * | | catsmeow | 5/19/09 | I truly enjoyed reading your excellent review of an industrial machine. These types of machines are constantly coming up for sale on my local CL by people who were using them in their homes. Thanks for your review. | | * * * | | maryl | 5/19/09 | Yes, thank you. I am always so curious about industrial machines, and your very complete review was an education for me to read. And a pleasure! | | * * * | | downs | 5/19/09 | your review was enlightening. I never tried an industrial machine, I really was surprised to hear that the feet we more expensive than for the domestic ones, I paid alot of money for my
sewing machines. It sounds like you really enjoy your machine. Happy sewing. | | * * * | | lincatz | 5/22/09 | I forgot to mention that the learning curve for manipulating the stitch width controller is quite steep and requires a lot of practise in coordinating the foot controlling the speed and the knee controlling the width. I almost embroidered my hand once. My technician told me to place a wooden block under the pedal to prevent it from going full speed while embroidering. The guy's a genius, when I embroider the block prevents me from sewing "pedal to the metal" which is my usual speed. | | * * * | | 301A | 7/31/09 | Enjoyed your review. I have been sewing with an older 20U33 with a nice quiet servo motor. Replacing the clutch motor with the servo was the best thing I ever did. It's my main machine now. ('cept for buttonholes.)
Anyway I am surprised that you find the feet expensive. I have purchased several feet for mine way cheaper than domestic feet. I love the compensating feet for perfect edge stitching. I don't think the set cost much more than $1-$2 per foot. I also ordered cording feet very inexpensively. You need to search online for high shank industrial feet. Most all will work on the 20U if you are using straight stitch only. | | * * * |
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