this is a frustrated rant warning regarding this machine... so read on with that in mind.
Having followed this and other Strongarm threads on SB, I purchased a machine 2 weeks ago, and thought it appropriate to give so feedback here about the machine.
I'll preface it by saying at the outset I really want this machine to be great, and will persevere and hope to be corrected but for now....
The Strongarm can only be best described as a POS not very nice machine. Much like a fake Rolex, you can sort of see what they are getting at, but it's not quite there and it soon becomes evident where the shortcuts are. I know I didn't pay full rolex price, but at nearly $1000 for the power kit, a roll of thread and 10 spare needles, you'd want to think it would do a good go at sewing. I can handle dodgy castings, and rough finish, it's a sewing machine.
So after 2 weeks here's a hands on description:
- The Powerwheel kit includes a hardcase, which the machine secures on via a pair of hinges. The poor casting of the machine base does not allow correct positioning of the machine, meaning a poor fit with the machine not sitting flush. No a big problem, but not nice either.
- I'd be reluctant to store this case onboard any form of timber boat, as the cheap plywood had borer holes in a previous life.
-Machine arrived with no powerkit flywheel (sent to another customer)
No drama, another promptly send express post. Thanks
- Fitting the powerwheel uses allen head grub screws in lieu of clutch washer to transmit drive. Using these however, removes any ability to disengage the drive when winding bobbins. No massive drama, except in my case when loading the bobbin for the first time, the (empty) shuttle decides to come out past the retaining holder and crash the machine. Enter 'machine retiming'' no.1.
This brings me to the real machine drawbacks. Basically, it's pretty 'soft'' for want of a better word. If the machine experiences any form of resistance, eg thread binds at the needle eye, the machine goes out in sympathy and chucks the timing out. At the very least, it will change the drive arm height rather than break anything. Sounds good in theory, but in practice you have to nurse the thing along just to keep sewing, and it wimps out way before your girlfriend/wife/greaty aunty's machine would have.
Bear in mind we are only talking about single thickness sunbrella, onto single thickness webbing. For the techs, V138 and size 20 recommended needle.
Even sewing reversing and sewing over existing thread can introduce enough of a resistance to generate a dummy spit.
So on a new machine, how much time would you expect to have to spend playing around with machine retiming/setup adjustments compared to actual sewing? 70/30, even 50/50. Sorry, but the small pockets of joy actually sewing something are far overshadowed by the frustration of a the next 15 minutes unjamming, rethreading, and retiming the needle.
As it's a new machine, I expect to have to read the manual. I've done that, actually both the manuals as supplied. It's threaded correct. I understand about bobbin tension, and can actually get a nice, even, and strong stitch when it does want sew. By the way, you are always going to want to sew on the longest stitch length, the machine does not really go long enough by far. The machine is oiled. Needles have been replaced incase. Bobbins have been respooled. I can handle learning any idiosyncrasies of a new machine, that fine, but at the end of the day, it's got to sew.
Also, don't worry about Zig Zag, lets get it to straight stitch first.
This is in no way a reflection on the Australian importer, and at this stage, these comments have not been addressed to them directly. (Why not (?), So far, I think it's just like the 'fake rolex'', it looks like it should but fails when it comes to actually doing the job. I think it's intrinsically related to how the machine has been put together, not anything at the importer level) As mentioned above, I totally want this machine to do as it should, as it's not everyday you can afford to make this sort of purchase.
I welcome any advice or suggestions from anyone with any experience with this machine as to what I may be doing wrong.
I plan to continue to try for a little longer and successfully coax the machine into cooperating, and understand it is only new and may indeed improve with a little use. If it's deemed as totally unfit for purpose, then i'd be looking to return the machine
At the moment, if someone asked if i'd recommend one, I'd have to say, ah probably not. Go the real thing if you can justify it, or just purchase a basic machine from Spotlight. It will sew much better than a Strongarm.
Any update or feedback will be posted here if an outcome is achieved.
Rant over, thanks SB.
