Elements Refined

Sewing Machine Review: Artisan 797 AB Industrial Walking Foot

Several months ago I realized I needed an industrial sewing machine. My Pfaff 130 was too cumbersome to use and the Alphasew is not flexible enough for the sewing I have been doing. I wanted a machine with a straight stitch, reverse and walking foot. Since I wasn’t using it, I sold the Pfaff 130.

I watched craigslist for about a month before a machine showed up that fit my needs – the Artisan 797AB. The price was $300.00 And although the machine had obviously been well used, it was not to the point that the paint was worn off. You have to push a lot of fabric through a machine to wear the paint off from a sewing machine, so I feel that I can estimate the amount of wear on the inside components by the amount of paint left on the outside.

During my search, there were few walking foot machines to choose from. Most of the machines out there are standard non walking foot machines or are too worn to be reliable.

A Closer Look at Artisan 797AB:

Fortunately, I was able to download a PDF owners manual for my new (used) machine from their website at http://www.artisansew.com. The manual is quite complete and along with the basics also includes information on how to adjust the hook timing, feed dog adjustments. etc. Having the manual makes a huge difference in learning to use the machine, which is a real bonus.

The basic specifications for the Artisan XX machine are:

• Medium to heavyweight fabric and leather

• 2000 maximum SPM

• 8mm maximum stitch length

• Presser foot lift 7/16”

• 14-22 needle which should be adequate for thread sizes from 33 to 138

• M size big bobbin

• Full rotating hook

• Lubrication by oil bath

• Reverse lever

Tension and thread path are well controlled on the Artisan 797 AB

The walking foot is a great help when sewing heavy fabric. It helps to eliminate slippage.

Differences Between Home and Industrial Machines:

One of the main differences between a home sewing machine and an industrial machine is the way the motor is constructed. Most industrial machines use a 1/2 horsepower motor that always runs at full speed.

Most industrial sewing machines have a 1/2 horsepower motor

When you press the foot pedal it actuates a clutch that engages the machine. This really takes some getting used to. When I started using the machine, I was worried that I might never get used to the power and speed of the machine. It takes very little pressure to get the machine up to the full speed of 2000 stitches per minute. After a month though, I am getting used to it and now I really appreciate the speed and smooth operation of the machine.

There is an oil pan below the machine and a full rotary hook driven by a geared shaft

This machine is listed as being suited to sewing medium to heavyweight fabrics. I tested it using a #14 needle and #40 thread and it performed quite well on fabric that has some “body” to it. It doesn’t work well on extremely light silky fabric, yet has no problem with heavier fabric and #92 thread. It doesn’t bog down at all on anything that will fit under the presser foot. The tension is very forgiving and stays adjusted on many different thicknesses of fabric.

Things to Know:

There are a few downsides to an industrial machine though:

• Big and HEAVY, not at all portable.

• Needs special needles and bobbins.

• Not as flexible as a home machine as far as attachments and stitches (it won’t sew button holes for instance)

• A learning curve to get used to the faster speed and power.

These disadvantages are far outweighed by the benefits this type of machine has to offer. I’m extremely happy with the performance of this machine and I’m glad I bought it.

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I currently own four sewing machines. Each one offers some desirable features, but none of them have all of the features I would like. If you already own or can borrow a sewing machine, I would suggest trying it. Most outdoor gear projects can be sewn on any home sewing machine without too much trouble.

If you need to purchase a machine, I recommend looking at an older, used, all mechanical machine. These older machines are usually made of metal and with a little care will last for many years. Most machines will sew a straight stitch forward and reverse. A good addition is a zig zag stitch. The zig zag stitch is good for strengthening high stress areas like shoulder straps.

Kenmore 1802

Kenmore model 1802

• It’s about 30 years old and I use it for most of my outdoor projects.

• The frame is made of aluminum, so it is relatively light compared to some of the cast iron framed machines.

• It has a variety of stitches but I find the straight stitch, zig zag, four step zig zag (stretch stitch) to be very useful. I use the stretch stitch more than the zig zag for bar tacking shoulder straps.

• The oscillating shuttle is not as reliable as rotary. An oscillating shuttle rotates back and forth, a rotary shuttle rotates in one continuous motion. Almost all industrial machines use a rotary shuttle.

Pfaff 130

Pfaff model 130

• This is my oldest machine- at least 40 years old and is often referred to as a semi-industrial machine because it has heavy duty parts.

• It has a rotary shuttle and is very smooth.

• One problem with machines this old is the insulation on the power cord and motor is often brittle or completely gone. This can be a safety hazard so be aware.

• The biggest problem with this machine is its lack of ergonomics. You have to tilt the head back to change bobbins and the reverse lever is slow to use.

• It doesn’t sew in reverse very well.

Pfaff 1471

Pfaff model 1471

• I don’t know the age of this machine, but it is totally computerized and has an unlimited number of stitches. It appears to be made mostly of metal and has a rotary shuttle.
• It sews very smoothly and I have had very few problems with skipped stitches and poor tension.
• I don’t use any of the fancy stitches, because I bought it primarily for the pseudo walking foot (Pfaff calls this feature IDT). I really like the IDT for sewing slippery light weight nylon. Fabric creep is a real problem with silnylon and other high tech fabrics.
  

  Pfaff IDT

• I have doubts about the longevity of this machine because of the electronics.

Alpha Sew

Alphasew Heavy Duty Machine

• This machine has a zig zag stitch and a true walking foot.
• It’s very heavy duty and is made with a cast iron frame.
• It uses an oscillating shuttle and is more prone to skipping stitches.
• This is one of many clones of this type of machine on the internet, the best are made in Taiwan.
• This machine is very inexpensive and works well enough for very heavy fabrics and thread.
• It’s important to note that I do not recommend this type of machine for light weight outdoor gear.