Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Private_collector]

After several disappointments, an inexpensive industrial sewing machine has finally fallen my way. Buying from Gumtree can be sooooo frustrating, when you email about an advertised item, only to get a 'sorry it's sold' email several days later. Worse when sellers don't even offer that courtesy!

I have been looking for a good, heavy-duty, sewing machine for some time now. The positive side of such delays is that knowledge increases with each potential purchase. For example, I found that although the machines im looking at are 'industrial', they are not automatically suited to doing heavy materials. In fact, the high speeds that industrial machines run at, make them quite unsuitable for thick material such as canvas, vinyl, and leathers. The High speed places undue stress on the needle, and friction can heat the needle to failure or bending. Heavy/thick materials often have feed problems with the standard teeth sets, or can jamb if pressure not correct.
dsc_1025-resized-960.jpg dsc_1026-resized-960.jpg dsc_1027-resized-960.jpg
This is the machine I bought. It cost me $250, and required another all-day sortie to go get it. Unlike home machines, industrial ones are driven by a much larger motor, usually located under the bench. Standard motors are designed to run really fast, and that speed needs to be greatly reduced. This can be done cheaply, by swapping the pulley on the motor for a smaller size. Smallest I found was 40mm. You can see the size difference, in photo below. Another drive belt is required with change in pulley size.
dsc_1029-resized-960.jpg
With speed significantly reduced, it's time to improve the ability to handle thick materials. Once again, this can be done easily and cheaply. Installing a heavy duty feed dog (set of teeth) and cover plate is quick and only cost $15 in parts! You can easily see the dramatic difference in size between STD and heavy duty sets. Lots of extra grip gained here!
dsc_1022-resized-960.jpg
I want to do a couple more mods, and then I will start using my new toy.

[Mike K]

That is a nice machine !

I bought a Consew with the walking foot . I spent ages battling with the touchy clutch and the horrid high speed . After many frustrating hours I was sort of getting semi skilled and I could do reasonable stuff. Trouble is, after you leave it for 6 months you have to re learn how to control it .

I ended up doing this mod . It now does around 2 stich per second , not 60 .
I made the small pullies on my lathe .

You can do quite a lot on a domestic machine . I bought 2 Janome's from the op shop and they are great for seat covers .

I live in a horse mad area, and there are horse rug repairers here , they all seem to use the old Singer 132 K6 . The K6 was a classic and they are still worth 2$k or more

BTW a VMVC member is a car upholsterer by trade and he gives lessons to any members willing to have a go Mike

[Private_collector]

Hi Mike,

I really wanted a walking foot machine, but they are out of my $$$ range for now. Maybe next year. I do like the speed reduction system you have used. I saw similar sets on a couple of the sewing machine retailer sites. I tried my machine before I changed the pulley, and i am amazed anyone could sew that fast!

My clutch control ability needs work too. Might consider changing to a digital step motor when I can afford it. With those you just dial up the RPM you want. Fairly cheap to buy, but not cheap enough for me just yet!

[motto]

I was shown an ex-government sewing machine one time belonging to a fellow in northern NSW. The machine was built for canvas work and was of very heavy construction. The intriguing part was that it was capable of doing two parallel rows of stitching at the same time. I didn't know prior to visiting this fellow that such a thing existed.

David

[Private_collector]

Yeah David, it's a two pronged needle that does that. Looks like a little tiny bicycle front forks! I don't know if the sewing machine HAS to be a special type to use them though. I would have liked to been able to do that for my canvas, in some areas such as joining pieces across rear canopy. I can make two passes for that effect, but I have no expectation they will be parallel.

[Private_collector]

I was talking a a lady yesterday, who has a long sewing history and once ran classes teaching novices to machine sew. I have been having trouble setting up my machine, and must have been doing something wrong with the path of upper thread. After asking me a number of questions, the most likely problem was identified, and I will try again this weekend. That lady also told me that a standard industrial sewer (not the kind that carries poo away ) can actually work with the twin needle spoken about in a previous post. It does sound tricky to prepare the machine, requiring two threads to be loaded up top, with seperate threads to each of the two needle points. Only one thread is used in the bobbin. Once I have a few successful hours experience, I may buy one of the twin needles and try what was described to me. Having two lines of stitching laid down at once would be a HUGE advantage. I fear it will be an extremely long time before I can sew two individual lines of stitches parallel. Perhaps never!

A good friend, and fellow MLU membr, Andy Cusworth, has give me a nice big piece of canvas, in the form of a green tarpaulin. Although I have not yet measured accurately, I hope there is enough canvas to make the roof, door skins, side curtains, and possibly even the rear window cover or/and front window covers (x2). It's all very exciting, I must say. Learning something new and making something tangible from that knowledge is always very pleasing.

To aid my canvas work, I would be most appreciative of any photos other members may be able to post, which show parts of canvas roof panel or canvas doors.

Thankyou!

[Mike K]

Tony

I have a WW2 Chev cab 13 side curtain , the Aust. pattern one, probably made by GMH ( the plans are on Keith's OLD CMP site somewhere ) . The stitching on it is horrible, it must have been sewed by a beginner , it is that bad its a wonder it didn't fall apart . I don't know if they had inspectors at the factory but he sure missed this one . I also have cab 12 Canadian side curtains and the stitching is rather ordinary , but not as bad as the Aust. one . On the other hand , I have a WW2 Aust. 108 radio set cover and it is very nicely made, perfect stitches . Mike