Review on Consew 146RB Walking Foot Zigzag Sewing Machine

Consew 146RB Walking Foot Sewing Machine Handles Your Heavy-Duty Projects with Ease, I sew lots of shoes, boots, tents, and bags, so I love a good solid workhorse machine.

My garage workshop is filled with mostly post-bed versions (gifts from a local bootmaker–lucky me!) The Consew 146RB is definitely on my wish list for a flatbed industrial.

This model is best for heavy-duty industrial strength sewings like leatherwork, multiple layers of canvas, shoemaking, tent making, canvas, and leather bag making. You can also use it for sewing nylon webbing for climbing and boating gear, or make wet suits for scuba diving. It comes in several varieties depending on how much space you need between the needle and the head. You can also order double-needle or single-needle walking foot varieties.

 
Let’s discuss the basic model, the Consew 146RB, and then we’ll get into the other versions.

The Consew 146 RB is a single-needle, zig-zag, walking foot machine and sells for about $3000 when discounted online. It comes with the standard 9 1/2 mm clearance between the needle and the head. It runs at a respectable 2500 stitches per minute, and the maximum stitch length is five stitches per inch.

The 146 RB basic model is good for sewing medium to heavyweight fabrics that are difficult to feed, multiple layers of fabric, and for sewing products like wetsuits, shoes and boots, tents, leather bags, and tarpaulins.

You’re going to get a wide zigzag, a nice large bobbin with a horizontal axis transverse rotary hook, and you’ll also get reverse stitching capability. The upper feed mechanism helps avoid slipping when you’re sewing multiple layers of fabric. This machine is going to come with a power stand and a 1/2 hp motor that runs at 1725 rpm, so you have lots of power to get through those thick fabrics.

Some online dealers sell head-only models as well, so be sure you know exactly what you’re getting before placing the order. You’re going to want to look at shipping charges carefully this is a metal machine, as most industrials are, and so it weighs about 70 pounds.

The next model up is the long-arm version, the Consew 146 RBL-1A

You still get a fast 2500 stitches per minute, but the arm length is 20.5 inches so there’s more room for sewing larger items like tents but covers, and sales. You’re going to pay a few thousand dollars for the extra space under the arm, but it’s worth it especially if you’re sewing really large pieces. I frequently sew canvas tents for reenactors and believe me the extra space really comes in handy.

Without it, I need to have an extra person pull the fabric from the other side of the machine. Two people working to sew one piece isn’t very efficient. You can also buy a double-needle version if you need fancy stitching or extra reinforcement on your heavy-duty sewing. When in doubt, I get the double needle and then just take one needle out, if I don’t need two lines of stitching for a particular project.

The US warranty on this on these machines is 90 days labor on defects in materials and workmanship. And the non-US warranty is 30 days for parts and labor. Sometimes you can find extended warranties at different online sites.

Specifications and Features:

Accessories

 

Read more information :

• 146RB-1A-1 Parts Book
• 146RB-1A-1 Instruction Manual
• 146RB Series Spec Sheet (PDF)

Where to Find the Best Price on Consew 146B Industrial Machines:

The low-end model sells for around $3000, and you can run up to $7000 depending on what extra features you require (models 2-A and 3-A have extra stitches added.) Remember this machine weighs around 70 pounds so make sure you check shipping rates.

Please also remember that some websites sell head-only machines, so you don’t get a table or motor with it. If you’re comparing prices and one seems significantly lower than the others, it’s probably a machine head only. If you plan to get the table and motor, be prepared to pay a little extra.

Photo: Amazon and Consew