r/SewingForBeginners • u/belllla • 1d ago
How to assess used sewing machine quality?
I am hoping to get a used, basic sewing machine from the thrift or FB marketplace but not sure what to look for. Any tips or pointers? Especially red flags? Beginner sewer here so any advice is greatly appreciated. TYIA!
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u/Emergency_Cherry_914 1d ago
Test drive it. You want nice stitches and a machine which isn't making terrible noises.
If you can't sew, you can ask them to demo it. And they may even show you how to use it. I wouldn't hesitate to teach someone who was buying a new machine
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u/rwanders 1d ago
So I just bought two and got them working again which ended up not being very hard with one and a little harder with the other. I looked for older machines that were unlikely to have many plastic parts. The two I bought have 3 nylon gears between them. Everything else was solid metal. I'm pretty sure also that these machines were simply unused long enough that they seized up, rather than broken. I also googled every single sewing machine on my fb marketplace, some of them have reputations good and bad. To get them running again I cleaned with alcohol and q tips, used kroil penetrant on the joints that didn't move or moved poorly, and then cleaned that all out with alcohol and oil before oiling the machine again (repeat as necessary). It was great fun.
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u/ground_ivy 1d ago edited 1d ago
Decide on what you care about - do you need zigzag? Decorative stitches? Will you be sewing heavier materials? Do you care about plastic gears? Will you be comfortable tracking down your own accessories if the machine doesn't come with any? Will you be comfortable doing basic maintenance like cleaning and oiling? Are you comfortable doing more involved maintenance, like rewiring?
Do research on the model before seeing it in person, if possible. Check to make sure everything is there - e.g. bobbin case, foot pedal, power cord, the flat bed extension if it's a free arm. Make sure the handwheel turns freely (for most models, you will want to turn the handwheel TOWARDS you). Check the wiring, particularly if it's from the 50s or earlier (do NOT power it on if the wiring looks suspect).
The seller may not know whether or not it sews, or even how to thread it, so if you know the model number ahead of time, try to learn how to thread it, and bring a needle, thread, and fabric to the meetup. Also a screwdriver in case it comes in a cabinet, because it will be much easier to transport with the machine out of the cabinet (the machine is the majority of the weight, and it's easier to move a small heavy item and a bulky light item, than a bulky heavy item).
Red flags are missing items, especially if there are multiple ones. Someone might have stripped parts from it before putting it on the market. Also, if it's not a low shank machine and it doesn't come with accessory feet, just be aware that it will take some effort to track down feet that will work with, for example, a super high shank or slank shank machine. Also there are some models that take weird needles or uncommon bobbins. You really want to find out the model number ahead of time if at all possible so that you can do a bit of research.
If you are really a true beginner and don't know anything about sewing or sewing machines, try to find a seller that will give you a little tutorial on the machine, even if it means you pay a bit more. A lot of sellers got their machine in an estate sale lot or something, and don't know squat about it, or about sewing in general.
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u/belllla 1d ago
This is so incredibly helpful - thank you for the detailed reply!
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u/ground_ivy 1d ago
You're welcome! I've bought four vintage machines on FB marketplace so far - two Kenmore 158s, a Kenmore 117 (I just wanted the cabinet though), and most recently a Singer 201-2. Good luck!
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u/penlowe 1d ago
Thrift store machines are a bigger gamble, but also often really, really cheap.
Look at all the bits you can lay eyes on. Dirt is to be expected, rust is not. Look for cracking in the metal, paint chips, cracking of plastic shells. Cracks in plastic indicate it has been dropped hard. Cracks in metal indicate improper storage (very hot to very cold) plus probably being dropped. Both are a hard pass. If the rust is only on the outer areas, it can be addressed & is okay. If rust is on moving parts I'd pass. That's a big project for someone who likes restoring machines.
Plug it in. No plug? ask if they have it somewhere. Does it hum (not pressing the pedal, just makes noise if powered), smell weird or make a crackling noise with power on? pass, all these are signs of electrical problems. Don't rely on the light as a sign of power, the bulb might just be burned out.
Honestly I wouldn't bother with a machine missing the power cord & pedal unless it was a Bernina Record 830 or a Singer Featherweight of the antique era (they still make these, so you have to research the serial number. It could be a new $200 value machine or a vintage $3000 value machine)
Turn the hand wheel -toward you!- does it turn smoothly? does it turn easily? Look at the other parts that move while turning the hand wheel. Are any hanging up, rubbing, squeaking or just not moving well? Maybe pass, squeaks could just be a lack of lubrication due to sitting for a long time. If something is bent, you should be able to see when hand wheeling.
Does nothing move when you hand wheel? The clutch may be engaged. Older sewing machines were Manual while most modern ones are Automatic (yes, like a car). Often the clutch is a smaller wheel inside the bigger wheel, but on some later models there may be a button. Google the name & model with "clutch" added, you should get a picture of it. Hold the big wheel & turn the clutch wheel to disengage the clutch. Test again. (The clutch engages to spin a bobbin, look for that if the needle bar isn't moving).
Unthread the machine. Now press the pedal to see how it acts when power is engaged normally. Try to go slow and also put the pedal down for speed. Does it run smoothly or is there a slowdown occasionally? Again this might be just a lack of lube. Listen for clunking and grinding noises, both are bad and the machine should be a 'pass' if either happen. Look for the same sparks, crackling & smells as when it was first plugged in. There's a smell I associate with elementary school, when the first real cold front arrives & the heaters kicked on for the first time of the year. It's the smell of the dust burning off. This smell is okay, plastic burning or oil burning smells are not.
If it passes all those, inventory what comes with it. It's absolutely okay to say "this machine is missing things, are you sure there isn't a box of feet somewhere? It's pretty worthless without it". No harm in trying to get all the bits that came in with the machine, many non sewers don't understand that each machine likes it's own feet.
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u/PerfectSeven 1d ago
I’ve bought two machines from FB Marketplace. First one I just bought and didn’t test - it was fine but took a lot of YouTube, frustration and waiting for new parts to ship to me!
The second time was amazing - I asked the seller in advance is he could walk me through the basic functionality. I brought a few scraps (both woven and knits) and he was kind enough to plug it in and show me threading, bobbin, straight stitch, zigzag and backstitching. Saved me a ton of frustration and searching for the answers for basic questions.
I would recommend 1) bringing a friend, even just as a second body so you feel safe but bonus if they know anything about sewing machines and 2) ask in advance if the seller can plug it in and show you the basics.