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[Ron Henningsen]

On a daily basis, sometimes several times a day, I go on-line looking for another walking foot uphostery sewing machine. Once in a while I see a listing for a walking foot machine and it will list it as having zig zag also on it.
I never see this for any of the brands we associate with the common brands discussed on this forum.
My question is does anyone make a true walking foot upholstery sewing machine that has a zig zag feature? I don't want this feature but would hate to pass on a backup machine simply because it was listed as having this feature.
Thanks for any information.

[Mtl_Biker]

I don't know what other requirements you might have but perhaps the Sailrite LSZ-1 is worth looking at. I bought mine even though I already had a flatbed machine (Consew RB206-5) and cylinder arm (Techsew 2750 Pro) and I absolutely love it. I didn't have much need for the zig-zag feature but I found it's really very useful in terms of being able to move the needle position from left, to center or to right. And that often saves me from having to change to a different presser foot. And the support from Sailrite is top notch.

The drawbacks are a domestic-size bobbin and unless you sink it into a table (I bought one of their special tables) it's hard to do large assemblies. Much easier if you can keep it all flat. A plus is that it's quite portable.

I really do love that machine. And if it had been my first machine I probably would not have bought my Consew. I would have most likely added the cylinder arm machine though. (There's no one machine that's perfect for every task.)

Hope this is of help.

[MalcolmM]

You would find a double needle machine more useful for upholstery and boat/rv covers before a zig zag machine. If you are repairing sails then a three step zig zag machine is valuable, but for upholstery and tarps not so much. No walking foot zig zag machine will be able to accept any of the commonly available presser feet used in upholstery construction, so that's a big liability for that type of machine.

I have a zig zag garment machine and use it for overcasting edges of cotton canvas, but for constructions seams my straight stitch walking foot machines are what I use. I regularly break needles on the zig zag machine and virtually never on my straight stitch machines, also keeping a ziz zag in alignment is something you have to consider.

My 0.02$

[Adam12]

The walking foot/ZZ machines are not triple feed like a singer 111, they have a walk like the sailrite portables. Consew 146 is one example.

[John]

I believe the Adler 867 Mtype is a walking foot machine that is zig zag capable. Its my understanding that the purpose of the Zig Zag if for seams that require a certain amount of stretch. Mostly used for making things like sails for boats.

[MalcolmM]

The "stretch" issue with ZZ for sails used to be more of an issue decades ago, but today modern Dacron sailcloth and poly thread doesn't stretch much at all, unlike cotton which stretches a great deal when wet. Nylon is used for spinnakers, and stretches a lot so nylon thread is used as well for those specific sails.

The modern ZZ for sails is a "4 point" and the advantage is a stitch is dropped in-between the inside and outside stitch which is usually 12+mm in width, also very strong acrylic seam tape is used to bond the lap seam together as well. the advantage being only one row of stitching has to be sewn per seam for most sails so it's a production productivity issue really. Today 2~3 rows of straight stitches would likely be just fine, but takes 2~3 times longer to sew. Sails are now sewn with a lap seam, cotton used to be fully rolled to prevent fraying.

I believe parachutes and hot air balloons are sewn with a double needle and use a folder to make a fully felled seam. Those products stretch a lot in use but the straight stitch, with nylon thread is just fine. I've never seen a test, but sailcloth sewn with a double needle is likely just as strong as a 4 point zz stitch.

[John]

@MalcolmM You have an impressive knowledge of so many different areas of upholstery. Thank you for sharing. I always learn something from your posts!

[MalcolmM]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm trying to learn what I can and got started with industrial sewing from your tutorials, very helpful.