Mini Walking Foot Vs Industrial Walking Foot Sewing Machine Sailrite and Juki Compared 

What a fine video. Well done clear camera work and intelligent informative commentary. A rare combination. Thank you.

That was a good presentation and evaluation of the Sailrite and it's limitations.

Awesome great info my sewing has always been with a old singer that I took out of its comfort zone way to many times RIP. I will soon be buying a walking foot and this video was the best. Thank you

I've watched several of these videos and am suprised no one has used a thread conditioner of some kind, which would improve the sail rites performance, also no one mentions the knee lift...if you are making cushions a knee lift is must have. I have a sail right and a Singer industrial walking foot, that's forty years old and still sews like a dream! I refer to the sail rite as my on site machine, and he trusty Singer as my best friend. Don't forget needle type an size isn't mentioned and can and will make a big difference in the machines performance.

I tested the Sailrite. Bought a Juki DU-1181n walking foot. The LU-563 is no longer available, and used industrials are hard to find. I make handbags, including 3-4 oz leather. Many bagmakers sell their Sailrite LSZ-1 and buy 'full size' industrials because the presser foot lift height is simply inadequate.

Very helpful! The information and demos were terrific and will help me make a much better purchase of a walking foot machine

I’m learning so much from your videos. Really making me a better operator! Thanks!

Your videos are great. I can tell you put a lot of effort into them and it shows.

Nice video . The little LSZ has its limitations and a place in many of small home shops and boats . For a person with more space and a greater workload , the larger units are the way to go .

Thank you so much…EXACTLY the comparison I was looking for!

What a wonderful review on both products. Thank you for explaining in detail. You helped me so much to make up my mind.

A very good and objective comparison. Thanks.

I came across a cell rate SZ - one a while back, and I absolutely love it. I use it to repair sails, webbing, Fabric it can handle just about anything. I also installed a worker B motor on mine.

Thank you for sharing this valuable information. I sew as well and like your channel Blessings Viewing from the French island St Martin in the Caribbean.

You are a wealth of knowledge and information!! Thank you!!

Thank you Willy .

I had wondered about the Juki. I heard a lot of good but vague comments. Thanks for this!

Thanks for uploading this….. Very informative ⭐️

Very nice comparison. I have the initial basic Sailrite straight stitch bought before the zig zag option was even offered and understand it's shortfalls ..but it is truly portable so you can take it to the dock or even on board. I have used it to sew/replace clear windows in Sunbrella and make Sunbrella curtains and cushion covers and such for our 36 ft Topaz Sportfisher .. it did great. If I was doing upholstery a lot I would love a machine like your Juki. Before I got the Sailrite, I replaced the cushion covers on the dinette and V birth (with piping) using my old 90's Janome Memory Craft work horse which remains strong. Hardest part was handling the large sections of heavy upholstery fabric

This is a great video. Thanks for making it.

Great comparison !

I'm new to the Sailrite, I like how you repeated a number of times how you go to top dead center then just past before you raise the presser foot - it just might sink into my brain I've subbed

I just put a consew and a juki in flight cases,, Case is for amplifiers, ,a 6 unit. 22"x11x 32 tall. Has a lid at each end. Built head into lid. Throttle cable for motor ( servo), mounted on head. Had a barracuda/ sailrite, awesome junk. Hook timing slipped on a blue jeans. Seam.. Set it,sold, it....best boat/ catamaran. machine a juki1508, or similar consew/ Seiko.. 135needles and v207 threads.

I love that Juki. It's quieter than my Bernina.

Very informative video. Enjoyed watching the difference between the machines. Sailrite seems to be loud and rough sounding. The Juki was really quiet and honestly, I was shocked at the difference between the two on how they sounded. Looking at both and what each can perform, I was quite impressed with the Juki.

The juki is a compound machine it's kinda in a different league compared to the sailrite, top and bottom feed however is very effective for thinner mid weight materials/smaller thread and needle size The combo of the 2 is priceless, zigzag needle left or right for zippers and tight spaces, compound for everything else going trough 2 to multiple layers

Great video makes setup a breeze.

This has helped me out. Thank you.

Exactly the comparison I needed. Sailrite does make a model expressly for leather. I think it is the Fabricator. My shop occasionally floods, so portability is a major factor. But that Juki......so very nice. Thank you for the excellent video.

thank you

Great comparison! Would be nice to see how these walking feet do on curved seams. I do patch sewing on leather jackets and vests so am combining dense embroidery stitching/twill fabric/adhesive/leather and lining. I really need a portable machine since my patch sewing is done at events and I am the only one loading the machine, so weight, portability, power, presser foot clearance and slow detailed work. Your comparison helped quite a bit! That Juki is a gem, am jealous!

Great video !! Thank you

I've had my sailrite for a couple of years, and use it all the time. When building or repairing sails, a zig zag stitch is needed/preferred, to handle the stresses on the fabric. An industrial zig zag would cost about $4500 or more (Consew 146RB) so the sailrite is a bargain. That said, I am in process of ordering a Juki 1541 or 1508 for my canvas and leather work but am keeping the sailrite.

Love seeing the comparison. I didnt realise the actual difference in size. I was going to purchase a Sailrite but was too expensive to import where i live. For the same price I got a brand new Typical GC0323 walking foot, in a table with servo motor. Not quite sure if the Typical is as heavy duty as your Juki but I do believe it is a much better machine the the Sailrite I was going to buy

Thanks for this very informative comparison. Few things i noticed in this video. The juki moves the whole fabric with the needle down which i would be a strong and more even way to move several materials vs the Sailrite which only grips the top and bottom of the fabric and moves it. Also the Juki sounds like a well tuned mechanical symphony while the Sailrite sounds like its grinding on rough stones and wants to croak.

Cool shirt. Thanks for the videos!

That Juki was nice and quiet. I appreciate that as some one who lives in an apartment and sometimes sews at night. My old household Singer is noisy, my mother's old 1964 Singer is really loud! I also have a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire, and that one is quiet, but not at quiet as that Juki.

I made five sails for my 1957 28 foot steel sloop with the sailrite and only for that Iook at her with gratitude. Now I’m looking for an industrial machine and, surprisingly, it’s hard, if not impossible, find a walking foot zigzag vintage one. I will opt for a Pfaff 145: easiest to find in my region. You make great videos!

Nice comparison. I had an lsz1 also have industrial machines and the difference in daily use is obvious. The lsz1 is a toy in comparison. Compared to a domestic machine though the lsz1 is an improvement. I ended up selling the lsz1 and was surprised how much it sold for in Australia on an ebay auction. It was enough for me to buy a singer 153 binder with change.

Guess it comes down to, yes price and that life lesson: it’s usually better to be over powered than under powered. Space can just be the compromise. Love Sailrite for what it is. Love the JUZKI sound of relaxed power-punch. Wow. Great demo.

Very impressive comparison! I think my concern would be the struggle with the presser foot and the noise made by the Sailrite. The Juki was a really nice machine! Thank you

Great video. I own a latest version sail rite with worker bee and it's powerful and compact which is what I bought it for. I made a new bimini and enclosure on my boat with it for about $2500,(machine and materials) versus $12,000 quoted. I love having it on the boat with me. Sailrite video's taught me a lot which I am grateful for. if only at home for heavy duty, leather etc I would look for a Juki or comparable.

I love it., nice job.

Looks just like my Thompson mini walking foot I sew veg tan leather with mine all the time but I also have a cobra class 4 and some others but the Thompson has always been a really good machine it will sew up to 3/8” veg tan all day

Never knew they had room under that plate for a “U” bobbin, mine in Juki and Singer (all the same frame/body) can use only “M” bobbins.

Well done! Ty

I have a Sailrite but sure wish I had a Juki nice piece of precision

Great comparaison videos with nice tips ! Your Juki is so clean and sew really nicely. I got the exact same machine/servo/speed reducer. Those old japan made machine are so high quality. Thanks for sharing!!

Very fair review .

I have the newer model of the LSZ-1, with the Worker Bee motor and it is an amazing machine! I would love a Juki, but it is not portable. This is why in my eyes the LSZ-1 Ultrafeed is a "better" more practical machine. Great video!

Yeah, the Juki is nice. I'm getting into Sailrite too, and they're both good as long as you stay within the capabilities of the machine. Thanks!

Great video! Love my Sailrite and its portability. You should check out the new 1/4 hp motor upgrade. Jukis are awesome machines (I want one) and my Bernina is like a member of the family. I have learned the limits of each and its good to have a small fleet for different capabilities. Each has its advantages.... Thanks for sharing⚓

What kind of speed reducer pulley did you use for the Juki? Did you have to cut out the table belt slot like I've seen in another video? How was the installation? Difficult? What kind of servo motor?

I broke 2 Heavy Duty Singer 4452 machines in less than 2 months simply trying to sew hook and loop material to polyester strap material. The Sailrite LSZ-1 was not challenged at all to complete the same sewing. I used a 2 wheel dolly to get the LSZ-1 to my van from the UPS Store where I had it shipped to. I could carry the Singer 4452 Heavy Duty from the store to my van under my arm if I wanted to.

You can certainly hear the difference in construction of the two machines. I love my Juki machines...241 & 1181, and I could never listen to that blue machine all day. It would drive me bonkers sounding like a bearing was ready to seize up. 😂

I never bought a tabled industrial walking foot because I want zigzag. I have always looked at the Sailrite, but you pointed it out- distance between feed dogs and walking foot is’t as good as I’d like. As to power, I suppose one could table the Sailrite and run it from a servo motor, but lose portability. If Sailrite made the Fabricator with zigzag I’d be jumping on it. Great video. My takeaway is that the Sailrite mini can do so much more than a domestic, but falls slightly short on the really heavy stuff.

❎. Thank you. This model Sailrite is a portable. Yes, two different classes. More power than a regular table top home machine. They now offer a speed control motor. 🤺💐

Thanks for this vid. I have been looking at both. most interest is the Sailrite, has zig-zag and its portable. Now they offer a new servo drive, heavy flywheel. makes alot more power and torque and quieter. Each machine has a particular purpose.

I was watching a Sailrite video today and they said when you sew a corner, you should bury the needle and then bring it up 1/8th of an inch, raise presser foot, pivot, lower presser foot and then continue sewing. That way you can ensure the corner stitch will be complete.

Thank you for your great video. I will like to know if I can use light fabric on these machines. I’m looking for a heavy duty sewing machine (with zig zag and straight stitch) that handles light to heavy weight fabrics as well as leather, canvas etc. Thank you.

That old Sail Rite sure does look like my Baracuda 200ZW. This is a great video.

My Sailrite LSZ-1 is in a table with a Servo motor.

I have seen some of the aggressive feet leave marks on the leather, do you use a smooth pressure foot or the knurled ones that Sailrite offers?

Great show if your having trouble falling asleep. This will put you right out

Now it does increase the cost but you can purchase a 550w servo motor with speed reducer for the Ultrafeed from Sailrite. It doesn't come with it stock though and you are pretty much committing to it no longer being a portable machine. So the Sailrite machine can have similar power. It really comes down to price, how loud it is, zig-zag stitch capability, how portable it is, and clearance under the presser foot.

Sailrite does make a sewing machine for leather work, the machine you were using is intended for Dacron, and Sunbrella, however you can use it for leather if needed or lighter materials as well.

Nice indepth comparison, thanks. What servo motor and reduction gearbox did you install? Im looking for a good drive train for my pfaff 1445 :) thank you

Great post! Thank you👍

Did you use the piping foot when you attempted to sew the piping on the Sailrite? I’ve not had any issues with variation using it so it’s odd that you did.

If you put the Sailrite on a table with a servo motor and a speed reducer, it becomes a true mini industrial. The only drawback to the Sailrite is that it’s not at all designed for manufacturing, like a full size is - which makes it an absolutely perfect prototyping or one-off fabricator. With a full setup, it’ll exceed expectations for its size. 👍

The difference in noise level between them is astounding. The Juki sounds like a Rolls-Royce, very smooth and quiet. The Sailrite was very rough, almost grinding sounding.

That was a great and informative video!! I just bought a used Reliable Barracuda 200zw. I’m a quilter who’s got into bag making using vinyl with fabric and interfacing. I have not used it yet but am about to try it out. The only thing I can see immediately that I’m not too thrilled about is the foot that surrounds is gigantic. Making bags I won’t be using more than 1/2” seam allowance and I can see that foot getting in my way. Any idea if a smaller surrounding foot is even available? TYFS!!!

Nice video. For materials such as Sunbrella, sail cover canvas or sail cloth (upholstery weight, v92) which models of Juki or Consew provide zigzag stitching, walking foot as well as straight stitching?

Do you have a video that compares between the Sailrite's Industrial Fabricated sewing machine and a Juki (one that is still made and used not discontinued?)

The machines are clearly for different purposes, the sailrite is specifically designed as a portable machine for yachts and can even be hand cranked with a handle on the monster wheel so it can be taken away on a sailing yacht and used to fix canvas and sails etc even when there is no mains power available. Additionally - and crucially - for use on a boat the zig zag is a must, all sails have zig zag stitching somewhere so if you ever want to repair a sail “on the go” I don’t believe there is an alternative to the sailrite. I guess if money and space were no object you’d keep a sailrite on the boat and a Juki at home. 😊

Hi I have a Singer 111w155 but i really like the idea of zigzag for bar tacking and heavy button holing on heavy denim and duck canvas. Do you think the sailrite would go through seams of about 6 layers thick?

Question: when you were comparing SR to Juki the test piece for sailrite had 5 layers vs 4 for Juki. Is that not correct?

This is an extremely helpful video! I'm currently working on a juki hzl f300. I'm looking to upgrade to industrial/semi industrial. Specs I'm looking for: triple step zig zag, zig zag, straight stitch and reverse stitch all in one machine (if such a machine exists) and option to select LCR needle position. Do you have any suggestions? Servo motor preferred. Thank you in advance

I wish you could do a comparison between the Juki 1541 and the Sailrite Fabricator! That might be a closer comparison!

Thanks for sharing. Can you tell me what model is the Juki? It looks better and easier to sew. I could not find what model is for the Juki.

I got rid of all my clutch motors and went to servo, much much more better control, and no noise

Good video. I've got a newer version of that little Sailrite machine. It's ok but I am somewhat disappointed with it though because of presser foot clearance. My old Kenmore is better in that regard and it has more power too actually even though I'm running a speed reducer on the Sailrite too. Also its feet are wide which interferes getting close to things.

Sailrite also sells a machine with Worker B motor and their Fabricator comes with a Servo motor.

I have a Reliable Barracuda. I'm pretty sure it's the same machine as the LZ1. I think Sailrite just takes the basic machine and does a lot of modifications and improvements to it. I don't think they build them from scratch. I have noticed that the Sailrite LZ presser foot lifts a lot more than mine. I'd like to see how to adjust the walking foot and the presser foot for proper height and tension. Also, your Juki is a compound walking foot, where the needle actually pulls the fabric. It's far superior to the regular walking foot. My Reliable tends to slip with certain materials. But for the money, it's hard to beat.

Thank you very much for your video...I am looking for a machine just like the Yuki but with the zig zag stitch!! Does it exist? Can you suggest one?? Thank you 😊😊😊

Nice comparison. I have the sail rite. Yep noisy and limited capacity. What kind of servo motor is that I used one and it was weak.

Does the portable machine have all metal gears? Just wondering as I cannot find any details to that anywhere.

I saw your profile on Sailrite’s web page and noticed you use the Leather Ultrafeed machine. How does it compare to the LSZ-1? I assume you like it better for leather? I was very interested in the LSZ-1 but after watching this video I’m seriously considering an industrial machine. I like the idea of portability but your video highlighted some shortcomings. I really appreciated this video.

Thanks this is really helpful. Might I be able to ask the HP/Watt/Amp of the Sailrite motor? Thanks again

I like the idea of the sailrite when the power goes out I can keep on sewing and they do have a larger piping foot and they have beautiful stitching. I did not like how you made sailrite stitching closer together they do have a further apart stitching

This is a good review. I think putting on the right foot for the size piping on the Sailrite would have had different results. The Sailrite is not going to keep up with the juki it's just a bigger heavier duty machine. I think ya get both machines. Lol

I got an old Singer 66 and upgraded motor pully and its cheap but not as many fetchers as thous

Hello, I sew bags with light fabrics combined with some vinyl. I would like to buy a JUKI with a walking foot. Which one would you recommend? This video just nailed it. You are a natural teacher, very clear and specific. Thank you very much.

If u had a choice between a Juki LU-563 and a Consew 226 (with both being in equal condition) which would u choose? Other than a nice big bobbin in the Juki r there other features that set them apart?

I have an old 132K6 and it will sew anything from 2 layers of calico (very nicely) to 6mm plywood + carpet and vinyl. I can sew the material straight the door panel on the older cars. It is so old it doesn't have reverse and they still make the same machine today with reverse being the only difference. I am now looking at a Sailrite due to portability and your video has helped and also created some questions. Are the newer ones a little smoother sounding? Anyone had experience with a newer model with the new motor? I can pretty much use any machine and am still wondering if the Sailrite will sew Biminis and Dodgers with ease or is it asking a bit much?

Does the Juki have reverse? I have a Thompson like that Sailrite but mine is considerably quieter.

Is the Juki that was compared a zig zag machine? I’m looking for a really good industrial zigzag

I rather wish i had come across this comparison before today, as it may have impacted my overall decision. I ended up purchasing a Sailrite straight stitch machine last year after hemming and hawing between a used industrial and the SR. I'm not upset with the Sailrite. The newer versions of machine appear to have addressed some of the clearance issues you demonstrated in this video, and getting 4 layers under a new machine is not as difficult as you showed. I think it comes down to the mechanical lift was adjusted to capture some of the manual extra you showed near the end of the video. The challenge is in doing some DIY upholstery projects for automotive, adding a backing foam now takes up all of the increased clearance in the new machine and I return to having similar frustrations overall. I think if it was anything more than a hobby level endeavor, i'd be going back to the bowl of fruit and sampling something different. I remain curious how the Sailrite fabricator machine compares to the likes of newer Consew and Juki machines. It seems the real quality machines for upholstery have all cheapened over the past decade and those of us shopping now are faced with the conundrum of what level of frustration we want to deal with. There don't seem to be many slow speed truly high quality options buying new.

Is there a practical difference in the types of walking foot you show here? The needle feed (triple feed?) machine seems more efficient, like the Sailrite Fabricator. Nice to see the older style Sailrite, it's about the same as the currently marketed "clones", like the REX, Reliable, etc... Also, the outer foot on the Sailrite can always be changed to a deeper cord, and Sailrite has several different styles of feet. The other thing is that the Sailrite foot lift is adjustable up to about 1/2 inch. Same with the clones.

The true value of the Sailrite LSZ is being a Walking-Foot with Zig Zag; the only other usual suspect with that configuration is the Consew-146Rb/Seiko/STAGER....I've had a couple Sailrite's already and couldn't really get past the Class 15 bobbin lol