sewing banners

[Robert Lambie]

i use a heat welder for big banners and tape for smaller ones as seen in my video demo…

[Gavin MacMillan]

Sorry to hi-jak but…

Rob, at what size to you change to heat weld? And how does it compare for time and ease of doing? I’m using tape for all banners just now and it’s fine till I go over 5m as that’s the biggest bench we have and it’s a pain when it starts over hanging onto the floor and I have to go in sections. (don’t know much about heat welding, so any info would be good)

Any tips on this welcome!

G

[Chris Dowd]

We use our heat welder for almost all banners (even small ones) it just gives a better finish than tape (in my opinion).

We do still use tape (for pole pockets etc.).

Treat a large banner just like you would a small, we did a 9900mm double sided on Friday on a 2400mm bench, do it in manageable sections and you’ll have no problem.

[Robert Lambie]

this thread may help on this gavin/Ian as i have attached two videos on it.
you will need quicktime player to view, quicktime player is a free download.

http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … ht=cyclone

[Gavin MacMillan]

Cheers Rob

G

[terry sheban]

Ian:

Sorry this reply is so slow coming – I wasn’t following the posts for a while.
No one answered your question about sewing banners. We have been sewing banners for more than 20 years so we are somewhat biased – but yes you can set up a banner sewing area for about the same cost as a small heat welder. I am convinced sewing is much more versatile, faster, and you will not ruin any banners by melting them. The most common complaint I hear about sewing is that the equipment is finicky and unreliable. That simply is not true if you buy the proper equipment. A modern sewing machine is highly reliable and has almost no maintenance. You need a commercial walking foot machine – these are typically used by upholsterers. With them you can hem banners, sew in ropes, d-rings, pole pockets, and join banners. There are many other things you can sew with a single needle walking foot but starting with banner hemming is an easy learning curve.

[Ian Bingham]

Hi
We purchased a walking foot machine a month or so back £299 new, one of the best things Ive ever got. 10 mins easy, banner folded hemmed and eyeleted, looks really good and strong when done
Cheers all

[Jason Xuereb]

Ian,

Is it easy to do? I never did sewing at school but I should of. Plenty of nice girls in that class.

Do you need any sewing experience to keep it straight etc?

I wouldn’t have the slightest clue when it comes to sewing.

[Bill McMurtry]

I have mine sewn down the road at the local upholstery shop. They do a good job and it only costs me about $30 to have a 4M x 1M banner sewn including eyelets installed. I’d rather be working on the next job 😉

[Jason Xuereb]

Same Bill although I get them courierd to and from me. I just wanted to know if it was easily done.

[Ian Bingham]

Hi
Well I got myself a walking foot machine, great machine only 299 new, We run a few embroidery machines, but i have no experience of sewing but i found it really easy! I have done about 20 banners now and have the stitched in about 2-3 mins, then eyelet them would recomend it to anyone, and its not just banners it can sew
If you havent got one Get one Great Fun
Ian

[Philip Houston]

Hi Ian!

What make of machine have you bought & have you a contact for the supplier.

Much thanks
Philip

[terry sheban]

I’m going to comment of a few of the recent posts on this topic. First of all I’m curious what make of sewing machine Ian purchased for L299? I’m guessing it’s a portable walking foot. A full size commercial would cost more like 600-1000 pounds if my dollar pound conversion is correct. Nothing wrong with a portable – they don’t take up much space and can be easily moved – they don’t have the pulling power of a full sized so you have to feed larger banners into it instead of expecting the machine to pull them through. To answer the question about sewing straight. Yes, it does take a little practice to fold the hem and keep it straight but once you learn to guide the banner into the machine it comes pretty quickly.
I understand Phillip’s comment that he’d rather take the sewing to an upholsterer and work on the next job. For many shops that’s the most profitable use of manpower but if you’re producing 5 or 6 banners a week and paying L30 each the payoff on a sewing machine would come quickly. Also you are no longer dependent on someone else who may be too busy to get work back quickly. You suddenly have the capability of printing and sending out work the same day.
Someone asked about sewing machine models – not sure what all is available over there but in the U.S. the most common walking foot models would be a Consew 206, a Juki 1541, and an Artisan 618. There are many more brands like Brother, Seiko, Pfaff, and Feit, and all of them are well suited to sewing banners.

[Ian Bingham]

Hi

Just to answer, its not a portable machine, you can not lift the thing!, its a Chinese import, from a company called JOYS, its a little rough and ready, nothing flash, but it dose a great job, It was bought for 299 inc vat inc delivery, it did need some assembling, but 2 hours later i was stitching away, it is very fast, with its own self feed oil well, stand ect… One of the only things you need to watch is you dont go too fast as it could melt the thread, there is a speed limiter but not found that yet, lastly it is self feeding, no need to push it through, one thing with it though the shuttles are a bit fiddly to fit, aprt from that GREAT
Ian

[terry sheban]

Ian: That’s an incredible price..I’ve never heard of Joys in the States – I’ll have to research that. The thread should not melt when you’re sewing – not sure what’s going on. We use a thead with the U.S. designation of B-69- nylon – also not sure what you mean when you say the shuttles are fiddly? Do you mean it’s difficult to get the bobbin and bobbin case into the proper area? Most machines have a lot of clearance for putting in the bobbin cases. I’ve had one self-oiler that sounds similar to yours that had a very small clearance. When you find the needle position where the bobbin case will go in, mark the handwheel position with some china marker and also mark the body of the machine next to the handwheel so you know exactly the needle position where there is the most clearance for the bobbin. I hope you understand what I’m talking about.

Terry Sheban

[Ian Bingham]

Heres the web site http://www.joyssewingmachines.co.uk/

Yep know what you mean about the shuttle but we use embroidery machines and they are sew(excuse the pun) easy to change, you have to lift the machine back and get the right needle position to change the shuttle and with it being heavy thread they only last about 3 banners befor you have to change it, just about getting the hang of the possition
Ian