buying industrial sewing machines on s

buying industrial sewing machines on okay is a bit of a trick since you arent right there to check them out. Its not as easy with industrials to just turn the hand wheel and if its free turning its a good machine. I have bought machines which have self oiling systems and some which gee without certain key parts. make sure you ask if its a self oiler,if it has gauges,if the throat plate is in tact with no bends and no obvious places of wear. Some throat plates are nearly impossible to get if the machine is over 8 to 10 years old. Be careful too if you are going to be sewing leather and canvas that the machines throat plate has a hole big enough to take a 18 to size 23 needle.
make sure you ask if the bobbin and casing is intact. This can also be a nightmare and waiting game if the machine is lacking this in an older machine. It can take sometimes up to 8 weeks to order in some bobbins and casings. if a machine gees with the manual it is a definate plus. union special charges 25.00 just to get a copy of a vintage model manual.
make sure if you are a newbie to buying a industrial that if the machine gees with a 220 3 phase motor that it says that it is able to be converted otherwise you are paying shipping for a motor that is useless to you. 220 3 phase motors cannot be used in your home or most shops.
a good brand new 110 motor is only 85.00 with a one year warranty. make sure you get a few extra needles withyour purchase to get you going until you can order in the right needles as ordering needles can also be a little difficult and a waiting game. a package of 100 needles can run you up to 100.00 but most packages run around 30.00 . some needles to older machines ma not be kept in stock anymore and very hard to get like on most older union specials. not all machines take the same needles for instance I bought a union special and it take a gys needle which none of the sewing machine parts place all the way throughout atlanta even had in stock and upon checking it takes up to 4 to 6 weeks just to get them in. make sure you know the size needle you need to work with your particular materials and do not allow a seller to tell you that you can make the hole bigger in the throat plate at a metal shop ...been there done that got the throat plate home and it allowed me to sew for only 20 minutes before breaking. the machines they used to drill the hole larger made the throat plate weak. so make sure that you get the right needles and the right throat plate to fit your needles. so if you win a machine on okayand you ask the seller if the throat plate allows a 23 needle and it doesnt you know you better order a new throate plate now if you are going to be sewing multiple layers of leather and denim. make sure you have neeldes to fit the plate! order those too if the dont gee with the machine. before even bidding you should call your local sewing machine parts store to see if they have parts for this machine! make life easier.learn from my mistakes.
The most important thing is to make sure that the seller knows the machine. has a return or exchange policy and will make good for an missing parts.
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