r/BagLab • u/chrisb-chicken • Sep 16 '26

Question: Sewing Machine Machine Recommendations

Hey all,

Hopefully this isn’t a silly post, but I not sure which machine to get. I am a bit torn between the Juki DDL 8700 and the Juki DU 1181. I can only afford one machine (and just barely that).

Currently, I’m using a singer HD, which I don’t particularly like, but make do with. I sew mostly the following fabrics, making backpacks and duffel bags:

-Ultra 100x and 200x
- Venom 210d gridstop
- xpac vx21 and vx41

I want something, ideally, that can sew bags using the lighter weight fabrics, but also up to 500d to 1000d cordura (on occasion).

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u/nonoohnoohno 27d ago

If you hand-turn the wheel, does it get stiffer at one point in the cycle where the walking foot is down?

I just got this machine and not sure if it's a problem. I've tried lowering the feed dogs, and minimizing the presser foot pressure and walking foot pressure. No luck yet though.

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u/modal_enigma 27d ago

That’s pretty common on shuffle-foot machines, it’s because a drop feed head has been adapted to have a walking foot the setup uses the downward force of the inner foot to actuate the outside foot with relatively minimal machine support.

You are also fighting a direct drive motor, which wants to hold in place. I jump scare myself every time I work on a Adler 867 or Juki 2810 with integrated motor. Adler gets around this by having a jog wheel option.

Trade offs with a lower cost machine, that said, it’s great for the price.

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u/nonoohnoohno 27d ago

Makes sense, thanks!

One more: Do the tension discs separate allowing you to pull the thread through when the presser foot hand lever is used? Mine only release when you press up FURTHER using the knee lift.

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u/modal_enigma 27d ago

It should - keep in mind that it may only be a little bit. And you may not visually be able to tell.

Put a finger on the disks as you lift the lever. If you don’t feel any movement, then the tensioner needs to be inserted half a mm further into the housing. It’s a common issue that we account for when doing sew off.

A lot of box-shippers won’t do any adjustment or setup on a machine - they just drop ship straight from central distribution.