My husband and I (in the UK) have recently stopped watching TV. Who needs it with videos like this.... I have just become the owner of a Bernina 930 (I've watched your video on that) and I think what I love most about it is the slow speed and controllability. I love sewing slowly!! I think if I could have one other machine it would be one of these Sailrites (but you can't get them here any more) and with this new motor, well, that would be a dream come true. Still I never thought I'd own a Bernina 930 so you never know! Thanks for your informative and highly entertaining videos, Jason.
I'm SO sorry. You drank the KoolAid. You'll regret your decision to not buy a real machine soon enough. et me know how many "work arounds" from Sailrite - it takes to get the machine working correctly.
Hi Jeff, I've been using this LS-1 since 2016. It's been used hard and often. The only issue I've ever had was a broken spring that was replaced under warranty (and that did not effect the function of the machine). I have purchased countless items from Sailrite with zero complaints or problems. For instance, I have their Edge hot knife (purchased by me, not provided as a review sample) and I love it. Rather than show up and throw out vague negative statements, it might be more helpful to others if you would cite specific issues you have experienced. It's entirely possible that there are problems your fellow consumers need to know about, but your comment doesn't help any of us know what they are.
Thanks for this video. It would have been nice to see the Thompson with its standard motor and the Monster II wheel rather than with its standard wheel.
I literally stumbled onto the Thompson PWZ-500 several weeks ago, complete with most of the accessories that it came with. Was bought new in I think 2003 new but now used from the original owner. She passed on and did sewing of sails as her late husband had a sailboat. Bought it at an estate sale for half off the original price they had it it on Sunday. Needs the bigger flywheel to better control the low speed for sure. Need to get it to pick up the bobbin and know it'll do so, but have figured that out just yet. Good to know the Worker B will work fine on the Thompson as much as it does the Ultrafeed so have dully noted it. :-) I do have my late mother's 80's era Husky/Viking 930 I think it is machine that can't pick up a stitch and not without clunking so will need to be serviced I think. A few years ago, had it fine, but been difficult to get it going since then.
are youusing a carbon pile or 'electronic' pedal? carbon pile pedals can give pretty good slow speed, variable control. the large flywheel the sailrites have is like obsolete because what its for is punching through material at slow speeds.. i mean using the existing motor for leather or rubber the large flywheel would be handy but.. the small flywheel goes faster! and its metal, and i like the twist clutch over the posipin. but yeah i might get this motor too, idk
@@chrisprice5806 i have no clue, it's what came with the machine and even Jason brought that up when he did his review of the Thompson in a previous video about it.
I wish they would make a deal with a European reseller. Its ridiculous hou high shipping ant imort costs/taxes are. Mean while keep up the good content, would love to have one of these machines!
@@laurensplompen Where in Europe are you located? I got my LSZ 1 from a German seller ( Nähwelt Schweizer) But be aware: you do pay shipping cost and import tax as well, it is just included in the price. You won't struggle with customs though. But the premium package they will sell, doesn't contain the worker b motor yet, as it isn't available for European plugs yet. I am impatiently waiting
@@hampurista ahhhh brilliant! I'm not in Germany but it's close enough for me! :) thank you so much for the information, I will look into it and there might be a lsz in my future after all :)
Thx Jason . I hope you are doing well.❤. I’m really moving closer to buying a Sailrite machine. I think I will really enjoy it. I can sew off my other machines .
Great review, I have the Thompson and now will soon upgrade. By the way, please also try installing the motor on the Singer 201 with the needed mods. Thanks
When I saw this announced I just about let out an audible yelp. What a great idea. Edit: Thank you for covering the Thompson install. That's exactly what I was hoping for.
This looks amazing. I’ve owned an LSZ1 for four years now and have been really pleased with its performance. I’m based in the UK and the only downside has been the difficulty I’ve found in buying spare parts over the last couple of years. I bought it from Solent Sewing Machines in Portsmouth originally and they used to sell an extensive range of spare parts but sadly this is no longer the case. If anyone in the uk has found a company that stocks spares for these machines please let me know. The only option seems to be importing spares directly from America but the taxes and delivery time means this isn’t really an option. Thanks in advance, Martyn Collins.
Jason, that looks like it gives great control for the machine and so much power as well, you did a great job showing how easy it is to put on the kit and now I want a Sailrite machine to use. Thank you for posting this.
Thank you very much for showing this new motor. I agree with you, that it is a big improvement compared to what you typically can get in the market place. I like the good slow speed control as you do. I know something about electronics and motors, and I am not impressed by the typical speed control you got on domestic and industrial sewing machines. Most servo motors do not work that well and got a rather high lowest speed. I made an electronic control for one of my sewing machines - and I sometimes move it to other machines. I think it got even better control than this, and it is mainly because of a better pedal, so you can change speed very fast. The pedal is controlled more by pressure than by movement. Elna used this kind of pedals for some time 35 years ago. You may have seen the video about it on my channel.
I couldn't agree more, although I can only speak for domestic machines. Years ago I had a New Home machine which was a 1980s model and on that there was a 2 speed control on the pedal, and also you could lift the presser foot to one height and then a bit higher still. I haven't seen those features on other machines I have owned (quite a few). But - I have just become the proud owner of a Bernina 930 and I almost weep with joy over the slow speed and controllability of it!!
@@lizziel4876 i have got a Bernina 910 and I think the motor control is the same as the 930 - I have looked at videos of the Bernina 930. And I agree, that the speed control is better than most machines have got. The electronics of the 910 and 930 do also include the electronic load compensation as this WorkerB have got, so it increases power to motor when it senses higher load in the same way as the WorkerB. But I think that the WorkerB got higher power and in this machine it got lower gearing. These two factors makes the control you see in Jasons video significantly better than my Bernina 910. The lowest speed of the Bernina 910 is about 50 stitches a minute. Because I know about electronics I modified the electronics a bit in the machine, and in this way I could reduce it to about 30 stitches a minute. The Bernina 910 is a cheaper machine with less decorative stitches, no knee lift and perhaps a bit smaller. Otherwise it is very similar.
@@sewingmachinesindetail thank you for that information. The speed control of my 930 is worth every penny that I spent on it! (came with a Horn cabinet too!)
It looks like a great addition or option to an older Thompson PW-200 that I already own. I was looking to upgrade to a different machine or do some kind of gear reduction for better control , this looks like it will work with some retrofitting. Great video and thanks for the great info.
Thanks for the video! I did not know about this motor. I have the zig zag version of this machine and don't use it much. This will change when I get a workerB . Sailrite is sold out now but I'm on the list to get notified when in stock again.
Already have a industrial machine but I don't have a tiny portable industrial sewing machine dang this is a cool machine especially with the monster hand wheel
Wow that IS total control. Thanks for the demo Jason - BTW, don't underestimate your point of view, you're an experienced guy and those of us not so much need the guidance. Thanks.
I really like that light you have on your machine. The slow setting is amazingly slow and great that they use a standard computer power cord for the power. Thanks for the video, that is a great upgrade!
@@nahnahbethr661 Not knowing any details, that sounds like a good price. Particularly if it is a newer LSZ-1, with the upgraded stitch-length/reverse lever and the Posi-Pin engagement system. You can email me at the jason of all trades @ gmail . com (remove the spaces) and we can get into more detail if you like.
@@nahnahbethr661 If the machine is in good working condition I would say it is a great deal. If that machine was bought as a base package you would be $995 for the machine, $269 for the table, and $199 for the servo motor. Keep in mind it may be an older model but should do all the same things as the current model. Just my opinion and I know you didn’t ask me but I wanted to throw it out so you don’t potentially miss a good deal by waiting too long.
Great video... If you are ever making another video on this same subject, you may want to mention that another advantage of using this upgrade with the Monster Wheel is that the additional weight of the Monster Wheel adds a considerable advantage - it gets momentum working on its side, thereby, reducing strain on the motor, which is considerably stronger than the original motor. Michael from Canada
Sailrite is going to sell a ton of these. (I hope and pray they follow through on making the motor available as a separate unit. I'm sure they debated not doing that to sell more Premium Ultrafeed models).
This is awesome. I just got home from picking up a barely used Fabricator, and was looking for presser feet, and saw this. I've been looking for a small servo motor to put on one of my 201's, or my Pfaff 130 for years ( because we all know the only limitation those vintage machines have is the motor.) The worker b looks like it will fill all my ideas I had for those old machines, which can handle much heavier work than the motors will allow. Even though I don't need them to do it, I want to experiment with them. Someone should make a video about it, hint hint.
As soon as I got a WorkerB, I thought about attaching it to a vintage domestic machine, and it seems a lot of others have thought the same thing! I'd like to try it at some point, I just need to find some time lol. If you do it first, let us all know what you think!
Chris, I think you are WAY overstating the difference between a carbon pile pedal and this motor package you have never seen or used before. Clutch motors on industrial machines work "fine," too, but that doesn't mean servo motors aren't better for the vast majority of users.
@@thejasonofalltrades i have a THOR 500watt typical servo motor with a smaller pully on its shaft powering my consew 7360rb-2(drop feed) and comparing the carbon pile i have to the servo i have there is,, clearly a difference; the carbonpile needs some extra stepping to get moving and then let off it a little, it's performance changes with tempature, it can vary its variable control a little while being used. but i can lift and drop the needle on my thompson with a carbonpile pedal fine. no one uses clutch motors i dont think. hey man im looking forward to your tents. a binder attachment like i think you said will make things possible. im just keeping it real about the pedals. i might buy it but not sure how well itll work with my plastic case.
Sailrite has now presented the new WorkerB universal power package (100 - 240 V). This means that it handles all kind of electricity globally. I ordered my WorkerB-package a couple of days ago. Delivery to Sweden in about a week. It will be great to test it in thicker material. I have been waiting for this solution since the WorkerB (100V) came one year ago. In Sweden (and whole Europe) we have 220V.
Hi, I am considering to order the WorkerB from Sailrite as well and I am in Germany. Would you tell me how much you had to pay for Taxes, Customs, Transport, etc. additionally to the selling price?
I've been seriously considering saving up for an LSZ-1. It looks amazing and this motor appears to make it even better! Right now Sailrite only sells the WorkerB on the highest priced package (of course!). The price for that package went up $200 so guessing that's how much it'll cost to buy it separately.
I think it's supposed to come in around $299 for the separate package. Things like this are usually somewhat discounted when purchased as part of the actual machine as opposed to a separate component. And after years of considering it, this motor package has me finally ready to pull the trigger on an LSZ-1 myself! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I don't even sew (yet) and I want one. Great job with the Video. Some day I hope you do a video or 2 on all your machines and what you feel they can and and can't do well and what they are best for. Nice to see you back on my feed, I had to hunt you down. from a fellow Floridian
Great video. What is the Sailrite part name and/or number for the “Jack Drive” reduction gear you needed to add to the Thompson. Nothing on Sailrite website is called Jack Drive. Thanks
Hi Jason, I have been researching industrial walking foot sewing machines and am considering purchasing a sailrite, so thanks for the great videos. I was looking on the Sailrite website and it looks like a worker b motor package is now the standard motor on the ls and lsz machines. Do you know if it is the same motor as in your demo?
Hi! Yes, that is the same motor package. Since this video was made, I have also purchased an LSZ-1 with WorkerB (before it became standard) and I absolutely love it. Making the WorkerB the standard motor seems like the way it should be, there is no reason to buy one with the old household motor. I have a few other videos about these machines you might find informative or helpful, but in short, I really like them. They aren't cheap, but they're very good. I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
I wish they made stronger replacement motors for all external driven sewing machines like the Singer 237. I did find one that was a tad larger,(1.5 watt), but it still can struggle to start a stitch run. The old machines were made tough enough to handle more power.
I think you would like to have a speed reducer, because it ads a lot of the slow speed control and torque. I did that on the Singer 237 and it became a remarkable machine this way. But of cause it will not beat the better feed of these walking foot machines from sailrite. ua-cam.com/play/PLhBGyDo4tov86GVVCUzTF9RyH7HHW_Ha6.html
@@sewingmachinesindetail Yes, low speed high power is what I seek. I bought a commercial machine with a servo motor and it was too fast even set on low. I added a speed reducer to it with difficulty. I am still not happy with where the motor and reducer locations are, (I have the motor in the original position and the reducer behind the machine on top. I would prefer to have both underneath). It is still pretty fast. I would like something with the speed of a leather machine. I have not viewed all of your videos, but I will. I found your video on how to add a speed reducer. ua-cam.com/video/oNsLv1BByN0/v-deo.html
Haha, always nice to see someone gidfy with joy over a well made product! My absolute dream is to get an lz1 here in aus for a reasonable price with the beefy motor set up. Nice one for the video, love it!
Hello Im new to the channel, it's been really insightful to watch your videos, especially about Thompson sewing machines. I recently acquired an old Thompson PW400 and looking to do some modifications, I work leather so I need low-speed control and a good amount of torque, I was wondering about the servo motors and the Sailrite WorkerB Motor Package, which one it's better for the task of small leather goods? Also because I'm on a budget, how different is the Sailrite servo compared to a generic one? would be too hard to adapt a generic one to my Thompson?
I am equally excited with this Sailrite work horse. Just a little good discount will make me grab it. haha.... any tips to convince Sailrite Sales to barge a little?
Unfortunately, I doubt these will go on the 20% rack anytime soon lol. From my limited understanding of it, it sounds like a LOT of work and investment went into making this thing come to light, so it's probably priced as well as it can be. I can tell you that it's worth it, at least to me. I'm working on clearing out a few machines to make room (aka "cash") to buy an LSZ-1 Premium, something I've considered for years but this motor package is pushing me over the edge finally. Thanks for watching!
Hi! The stitch length lever on this machine is one of several improvements to the portable walking-foot machine design Sailrite has made over the years. I believe you can buy the assembly from them to retrofit on older Sailrites or similar machines. All current Ultrafeeds come with that lever, and have for at least 6-7 years (I'm not sure when they started with that lever, but I've had the machine in this video since 2016). It's a HUGE improvement over the old design, in my opinion! I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Great going Jase … will do some pricing research to ship to Australia .. been looking for a HD Servo conversion and this may the ideal upgrade ! take care stay safe 🙏☮️
I came here for noise level, because an older version with old style motor sounded loud. So just a hum, and mechanical sewing noises? That's fine by me.
Does your worker B motor have a lot of side to side movement when its running? I just installed this system on my old Thompson and the whole mounting bracket really flexes back and forth while the motor is running (even when its not sewing through any material).
Hi! I'm sorry for taking so long to reply to this! I have two WorkerBs, and neither exhibit ANY movement that I have noticed. I suggest you reach out to Sailrite if you haven't already.
Jason, Thanks a lot for showing that the Worker B Motor can bolt to the Thompson.. I have the non zig zag version of your thompson and I wonder what the size difference is on the "drive reduction gears" RE: thompson vs the salirite. If you have a second to measure them that would be super helpful.
Hi Jay, sorry for taking so long to reply! I sold both of my Thompsons to buy my new LSZ-1, so I don't have them here to measure. Mine both had an apparently rare larger diameter pulley, so they might be different from yours, anyway. The correct pulley to use with the WorkerB is available from Sailrite, so if you aren't sure, I'd just add one to your order when you get the motor package. I hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the excellent review and demonstration, Jason. Are you able to tell me if this could be used on a standard domestic machine, specifically a Singer 237? Thanks again
I didn't ask Sailrite, so this is pure speculation: I suspect someone with the required skills and motivation could adapt or fabricate a new bracket to fit this to other machines (one would need to either drill and tap some holes in the machine or otherwise find a way to attach the bracket, too). Whether the "gear ratio" would be appropriate without the Sailrite's "jack drive" is another question that would have to be explored (a different pulley might be needed on the motor, perhaps?). In principal, it seems like this could be made to work on other machines. It is absolutely NOT a bolt on, plug-and-play for anything but the Ultrafeed and identical machines. As soon as I got this, I side-eyed my 237, too. I can definitely see how this motor could enhance a robust vintage domestic machine. Thanks for watching and commenting!
As usual another very good video from you. I had a lsz1 and i really liked but found a singer 531B (consew206rb) at a good price so i sold the sailrite, the other sturdy machine i kept is a singer 20u33, and is a good machine for its purpose, do you think the worker b motor would fit a 20u to make it portable? I know i will probably have to fabricate some brackets but is no big deal for me.
Thanks! The WorkerB is specifically designed by Sailrite for the Ultrafeed machines. I suppose a bracket could be made to adapt it to other machines, but I don't know if it would work well or not. Enough people have asked about it that I suspect it's a matter of time before someone tries it lol!
@thejasonofalltrades I have a Thompson PW-301. Will the WorkerB motor work with the plastic Power plus wheel or will I have to get the steel Monster wheel to get it to work?
The WorkerB will come with a specific hand wheel as part of the package. If I'm not mistaken, the power plus and the monster wheel are the same diameter, so if you already have the power plus wheel, you would see much of the same slow speed control due to the overall change in gear ratio from the larger diameter wheel, compared to the WorkerB wheel. Some Thompson machines (apparently very few, but both of mine) came with a larger jack drive pulley, and if you have that, it will need to be changed to the Sailrite one (there's a link to that pulley in the description of this video). I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Hi! Still love it. The latest video on my channel was made using my LSZ-1 with WorkerB, and it was a delight to use, the slow speed control is still impressive. I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Hi Nick, I think if I were blinded as to which motor I was using, I might still be able to pick out the WorkerB. The precision is pretty remarkable. I got a Workhorse motor thinking I would use it on one of my Thompsons, but I didn't realize that the existing motor had to be removed form the machine. I was hoping to easily be able to transition from the Workhorse to portable sewing, but it's a little more involved than I initially thought. For someone wanting an Ultrafeed-style machine to remain portable but also have servo-like power and control, the WorkerB is it. The Workhorse, however, is a fine servo motor, and I plan to use it on one of my industrial machines. My only complaint is I wish Sailrite sold a needle positioner for it. It can take one, but I'm told there is some process to get it to work, it's not just plug-and-play. The motor itself seems to be of noticeably better quality than my cheap amazon motor, and feels smoother in use. If you don't need a needle positioner and are willing to pay a little more for better quality, it's a great servo motor option. I hope that helps, thanks for the question and thanks for watching!
@@thejasonofalltrades Thanks, that makes sense! I've been on the fence between the Workhorse and the WorkerB for a permanent home setup (with their industrial table). If you didn't need to transport the machine around, would you still get a WorkerB, even though it's a bit slower than the Workhorse? Thanks for the discussion and all your videos!
@@growunderashade For me and my uses, I value portability (or versatility) over speed (for an Ultrafeed particularly). For the kind of sewing I do, I rarely need to go particularly fast. Given that, on an Ultrafeed, I would get the WorkerB every time. If I were going to have a machine "permanently" mounted in a table and using an under-table industrial motor, I'd rather just have an industrial machine (for the knee-lift, if nothing else). The only possible exception I can think of is using an LSZ-1 in order to have zig-zag, since walking-foot zig-zag industrials are rare and pricey when you can find one.And frankly, I'd probably still go with the WorkerB in that case anyway.
Best to put the WorkedB on the Thompson, and put the LSZ on the Workhorse servo table. I have a LSZ and I really wish I bought the Fabricator instead. I will probably put mine on a servo table. Im just a bit sad because I bought a portable table and a Monster Wheel, when I really should have got a servo!
Don 't buy the Fabricator either. It's a 111 Clone. You can buy another name brand 111 clone for a lot less money OR buy a used 111 cheap and throw a 120.00 Servo Motor on it. Almost any Singer 111 you buy will literally outlive you. 'course it won't be painted gloss black, but............
Thanks Dustin! I;'m going to use the Workhorse for another industrial machine. My vision for the Sailrite industrial-style Ultrafeed table has always been as a base for multiple machines - I can use any of my Ultrafeed/Thompson machines, Singer 201, Singer 237 and maybe others, but those are the ones I use most. It makes for a versatile platform for my home sewing space, and with the WorkerB motor package, the Workhorse becomes unnecessary in that application. Regarding the Fabricator, while I also lean toward old, used machines, there is something to be said for new, warrantees ones, too. You have to decide what you prefer - hunting the classifieds for a good deal on an old machine in good shape, or just clicking "buy" on Sailrite's website. For some, one of those options is better than another, but both are valid options. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Awesome machine but too expensive for me... have you tried the vintage Pfaff domestic free arm walking foot machines such as the 12** series ? i'm considering to get some of that if i can find it for cheap :)
I haven't tried those particular Pfaff machines, but my understanding is the "walking foot" on those is not quite the same as on a true walking-foot machine. I'd be curious to try one, but I've never gotten the chance yet. Let us know what you think if you find one!
what are the downsides to putting a smaller pulley/cog on the standard motor? Sailrite actually sell a smaller one. This would give better slow speed at the expense of high/fast speed.
I haven't tried a smaller pulley on a standard motor. It might slow the machine down effectively. The WorkerB is hugely advantageous because not only is it capable of sewing extremely slowly (especially with the Monster wheel installed), but the torque is impressive and the speed control at any speed setting is amazing. Plus you can change the speed range with the dial. If you only need to slow your machine, a pulley is certainly more budget friendly, but if you can justify the cost, the WorkerB should be on every Ultrafeed, in my opinion. I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Hi! The machine will fit in a Singer table, but it will not fold (none of the tables I've tried, anyway). I suppose one could be modified to allow it to fold, but it would require some woodworking to accomplish. I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Great review. I'm sold, now to decide on LS or LZ. Anyone care to offer their opinion? Additional cost is not a factor for me. I'm thinking about going with the LZ even though I don't know if I would ever need the zig zag function, but at least it would have that option if needed.
@@thejasonofalltrades Why on earth would you buy one of these machines? I have the Professional and I bought a Tacsew, a few Singer 111 instead so I have Compound Needle Feed. Anything with Zig Zag is Not Compound Feed. The Only Possible reason I can see to buy one of these would be if you were a Contractor doing Dockside Repairs OR you intended to use it on your boat as you traveled around. By the time you buy all the stuff to make it - Industrial Like - you could have bought a sure nuff Industrial that will last forever w/o all the "patches" from Sailrite.
@J Dimeo get the LSZ 1. I got one 6 months ago and love it. Even if you don’t sew anything with a zig zag stitchit is nice to have left, right, and center needle adjustment that you don’t get with the LS1. Also if you have the ability to do a zig zag stitch then you will find reasons to use it. For the other guys comment on not buying a sailright machine, he is talking about something he knows nothing about. The reason you buy a portable walking foot machine like the sailright is if you need a well build capable machine but don’t have room to have a dedicated sewing table up all the time. I did a lot of research beefier buying and that was one of my biggest issues is I needed a powerful machine but had no room for a machine to be set up all the time. There is also the other obvious benefit of it being portable and if that is also a requirement then this is the best option if those are boxes that need to be checked. If they are not issues for you then maybe take the other guys advise of another machine.
The Fabricator seems like a great option, but it is not a portable machine. For someone who lacks the space for a full-size industrial machine, or who needs to move the machine to different locations, the Ultrafeeds are the way to go. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hello, good morning, afternoon or night, I like that engine of 1 / 4workerb package, you can access me where I buy it or online stores and the price, if greetings, I liked your video with that red saliirte straight sewn very well I hope your answer
From a purely technical perspective, this is not a servo motor. In practice, its performance is the same as a servo motor. Compared to a clutch industrial motor or even a household sewing machine motor, it has very precise control. The power is greatly increased over the household sewing machine motor and is comparable to an industrial servo motor. I'm not particularly well-informed on the technical differences between different types of electric motors, but in a blind test I would have thought this was a servo motor based on the way it performs. I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
It depends on what you mean by "cheap." I think the retail price for the separate motor package when it is released will be $299USD. I think it is totally worth that. I'm working on selling off a couple of my machines to fund buying an LSZ-1 with this motor package, but if I already had an LSZ-1, I would definitely be buying this motor for it. You have to decide what you need, and how bad you need it. If you never need incredible slow speed control, the on/off switch doesn't matter to you, etc., then this package may not be worth it to you. If your sewing requires careful but powerful sewing with incredible control, then this might be a bargain. It really depends on what your sewing needs are. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Can you mount that motor on your Vintage Singer? I have Singer 15-90 that is currently running on a 1 amp motor, but I would love to get something a little bit stronger.
Hi! So, no, it will not directly bolt on without serious modifications to the machine. Yes, someone sufficiently motivated and skilled could certainly adapt it somehow. I also had the same thought when I first encountered this motor system, and I can't rule out the possibility that I will try it on a machine one day, but honestly I think it's a bit like putting a V8 engine into a Miata; yes, but can be done, and yes, it can work really well, but in a real practical sense it probably isn't better than just buying a Corvette (or whatever). The low speed control of this motor is EPIC, and it is FAR more powerful than a domestic sewing machine motor. My argument is that for a non-walking-foot machine like a 15-90, feeding is still going to be the weak link. Depending on what you do the most with the machine, it could be ideal, but for general use, I'm not sure the juice would be worth the squeeze. I hope that helps, thanks for the question, and thanks for watching!
Hi you keep saying other machines are knockoffs of sailrite when in fact Sailrite machines are the knockoff even though they are the much better machine in the end.
Hi! My understanding of the situation, and if anyone can show evidence to the contrary I'm all ears, is that Datho manufactured the Thompson Mini Walker as the first machine of this design (incorporating a walking-foot mechanism into a portable machine). Sailrite (again, as I understand it) licensed the design to produce their own version, and then refined the design further. Apparently Datho still exists but no longer produces the Thompson machines. If all of that is correct, then I don't consider the Sailrite to be a "clone" or a "knock-off." The current model of the Toyota Supra is a good example; Toyota, rather than invest in the design and tooling to produce an entirely new car, procured the rights to produce (essentially) their own version of the BMW Z4. It isn't a copy of the Z4 (or a clone, or knock-off), but rather a car based on the Z4, with license granted to produce it. Again, my understanding of the situation is that every other variant of the mini walking foot machine is an unlicensed copy. I don't know what the current state of patent is on any part of the design, or whether any of the clones violate any patent. I believe that they are all taking advantage of design and tooling they did not produce themselves, but that were intended to be used to manufacture Sailrite (and possibly Thompson) machines. There is a reason all of those machines cost less than a Sailrite; some think it's because Sailrites are overpriced, I think it's because they are taking advantage of the road that was paved by Sailrite and Thompson. I could be misinformed or just plain wrong about all of this. Part of my opinion is formed by my own views, which may not be aligned with anyone else's on this subject. My position is and always has been that Sailrite contributes a lot of innovation and support to the market in the form of new developments (like the WorkerB), excellent customer support and widely sharing information for free through their UA-cam channel and website. I prefer to buy from them for those reasons, and the fact that I think their machines are better in numerous ways than the similar machines on the market today. I hope that helps, thanks for watching and commenting!
@@thejasonofalltrades Hi As for the design and production of this machine, I should be the clearest. I am the manager who is actually responsible for R&D. Mr. Thompson delivered the first manual sample machine to me. I do the production optimization work that is most suitable for the product. For this reason, I have been Go to Texas twice and visit Mr. Thompson. Sailrite has made many quality improvements and more user-friendly improvements for the Walking Foot machine. So Sailrite is an improvement (optimization) of the Walking Foot machine. Sailrite machine cost is much higher than other machines. This is an indisputable fact. The higher part will not be discussed today. I have these machines. I know the cost better than ordinary people. So the price of Sailrite machine is reasonable.
SewLine SL146-9 is better than the sailrite machines because you have a 9" needle to base instead of 7" and sewline and other thompson parts are all compatable.. i think the zigzag pushrod is the same in the 7". all the needle assmbly parts are the same. sailrite machines are overpriced and sell with the same terrible pedal[as sewlines:/], get a carbon pile for real analog control. i used a light steel wool to take the sewline lettering off and its left with nothing but nice industrial off-white paint. i dont want a blue or red machine. lime green maybe. sailrite is just as much a knockoff to sewline's offering to many. i like the small flywheel and traditional clutch style. my machine does more stiches per min than a sailrite because of the flywheel. sailrite makes fine profits ok and if they wanted to make More upgrades for the thompson they could. i bought the thread tensioner and stich length plate and like 250$ or so in purchases from them - and i didnt even buy their machine. dudes, this machine is a part of what they sell and... make a 9" arm man! and sorry i do like the small metal (not plastic) flywheel. at 12:52 jason shows his old motor and his old pedal. if he had a carbon pile pedal he could eaisly get slow up and down position control with the help of a hand and single stich control with just the foot pretty easy. he used an electronic foot pedal which are all crap and a joke really. sailrite is a cool company. ive bought from them and might buy this motor too, its quiet!
Hi Chris, I'm told the motor package should be available separately in the fall of 2021 (I think October, but don't quote me on that). I do want to correct you that while the Sailrite Ultrafeed is based on the Thompson Mini-Walker, Sailrite has made significant innovations and changes to the machines. The Sailrite Ultrafeed is not a knock-off of Sewline machines; I believe the opposite is the case. I disagree with the idea that Sailrite machines are overpriced; the research and development costs of innovations like this motor package are immense, and overseas factories don't have to incur those costs when they just copy others' designs. Paying less for something copied from someone else doesn't mean the original is overpriced, it means you are rewarding a company for stealing intellectual property, while penalizing the innovator who made the product possible. We all have to make decisions based on our own budgets and ethics, but I personally won't buy any of the look-alike machines. I think Sailrite brings a lot to the table in terms of value, customer support and innovation, and this motor package is yet another example of their importance to this market.
@@thejasonofalltrades yeah i hand it to MAtt for the stich plate adjuster and being the purveyor of quick thompson gear. i havent tried the posi-pin or his machine but... yeah,, its the same machine man. his patents and alterations (ive seen his literature) are limited to some feet to the chasis, the flywheel... i dont think anything else. all the parts on his machine are not just interchangable but the serializations for parts are identical(i found this out what comparing manuals)im all about supporting Matt and his crew, they are decent people. but its like, i have supported them. like 300$ already. and they have a whole shop of gear they dialed in how they want. im not gonna be kind and not say their machine isnt the best because it isnt. i have 2" of extra bed size, my machine came wth a small highspeed wheel and after all teh upgrades and s&h was done it was like a 800-900 machine with case and nice pedal and fixins. you even said his machines were overpriced man. you got a job to do but im not here to tote the line too bro. your channel kicks ass man and Matt can get over it.
@@thejasonofalltrades dude i remember you saying how you used to think they were good deal but later you feel they have a high price tag. they are overpriced ok. sailrite is a great site. and.. i spent a good amount easily when i shopped there sailrite doesnt own thompson machine design. so others are not look alikes, ok.
I invite you show me where you hear me saying "I used to think they were cheap but later I feel they have a high price tag." Since WAY before I ever owned a machine, I have been very public in my positive opinion of Sailrite. Are they cheap? No. Very few things in the world worth having are. For the record, I'm preparing to sell off my Thompsons to buy a Sailrite LSZ-1 Premium. Not because it's cheap (it isn't), but because it's awesome. I appreciate your comments, but I respectfully disagree with many of your claims.
@@thejasonofalltrades no it was more like "i like thompsons but sailrites are expensive and cheaper means can be had" why do you wanna spend extra for a 7" bed when 600$ gets you a 9" zigzag thompson? i even have a plastic case for mine. you talked about how you spent only [so little] on your machines and now gonna get a premium kit... even though you should have plenty of extra fixins for the machine... i just,, well id say "i dont understand" but i think i understnad.
www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-WorkerB-Power-Pack-Motor-System-110V
@@thejasonofalltrades thanks for the reply. Don't all of the offerings from Sailrite come with that upgrade now? Specifically, the leatherworker?
That was fun.
Sailrite picked the right guy to portray this new item.
Thanks JP!
Purchased mine yesterday. Sailrite is an amazing example of how to build a GREAT American small business.
My husband and I (in the UK) have recently stopped watching TV. Who needs it with videos like this.... I have just become the owner of a Bernina 930 (I've watched your video on that) and I think what I love most about it is the slow speed and controllability. I love sewing slowly!! I think if I could have one other machine it would be one of these Sailrites (but you can't get them here any more) and with this new motor, well, that would be a dream come true. Still I never thought I'd own a Bernina 930 so you never know! Thanks for your informative and highly entertaining videos, Jason.
Very helpful now that I decided to upgrade my LSZ, instead of getting a leather flatbed!!❤ thank you
Sailrite owes you a sale. I have been on the fence for a few years about buying their machine. I just bought one that comes with this motor package.
I'm SO sorry. You drank the KoolAid. You'll regret your decision to not buy a real machine soon enough. et me know how many "work arounds" from Sailrite - it takes to get the machine working correctly.
@@jeffdenig705 I believe your first sentence is correct.
I have not seen any negative videos about their products. Perhaps you have one?
Hi Jeff, I've been using this LS-1 since 2016. It's been used hard and often. The only issue I've ever had was a broken spring that was replaced under warranty (and that did not effect the function of the machine). I have purchased countless items from Sailrite with zero complaints or problems. For instance, I have their Edge hot knife (purchased by me, not provided as a review sample) and I love it.
Rather than show up and throw out vague negative statements, it might be more helpful to others if you would cite specific issues you have experienced. It's entirely possible that there are problems your fellow consumers need to know about, but your comment doesn't help any of us know what they are.
Now you talking I put a motor pkg on my Juki 3 years ago after hurricane Irma and it works great your going to love it.
I just spoke with Sailrite 299.00 and available in October
Thanks for this video. It would have been nice to see the Thompson with its standard motor and the Monster II wheel rather than with its standard wheel.
Finally put the Worker B on my LSZ-1, with the Monster 2 balance wheel that I already had on it. Yes it is a game changer. Thank you for this video.
I literally stumbled onto the Thompson PWZ-500 several weeks ago, complete with most of the accessories that it came with. Was bought new in I think 2003 new but now used from the original owner. She passed on and did sewing of sails as her late husband had a sailboat. Bought it at an estate sale for half off the original price they had it it on Sunday. Needs the bigger flywheel to better control the low speed for sure. Need to get it to pick up the bobbin and know it'll do so, but have figured that out just yet. Good to know the Worker B will work fine on the Thompson as much as it does the Ultrafeed so have dully noted it. :-)
I do have my late mother's 80's era Husky/Viking 930 I think it is machine that can't pick up a stitch and not without clunking so will need to be serviced I think. A few years ago, had it fine, but been difficult to get it going since then.
are youusing a carbon pile or 'electronic' pedal? carbon pile pedals can give pretty good slow speed, variable control. the large flywheel the sailrites have is like obsolete because what its for is punching through material at slow speeds.. i mean using the existing motor for leather or rubber the large flywheel would be handy but.. the small flywheel goes faster! and its metal, and i like the twist clutch over the posipin.
but yeah i might get this motor too, idk
@@chrisprice5806 i have no clue, it's what came with the machine and even Jason brought that up when he did his review of the Thompson in a previous video about it.
I wish they would make a deal with a European reseller. Its ridiculous hou high shipping ant imort costs/taxes are. Mean while keep up the good content, would love to have one of these machines!
Agreed. If they had a reseller here in EU I would buy a an LSZ-1 so fast my wallet wouldn't know what hit it.
@@laurensplompen Where in Europe are you located? I got my LSZ 1 from a German seller ( Nähwelt Schweizer) But be aware: you do pay shipping cost and import tax as well, it is just included in the price. You won't struggle with customs though. But the premium package they will sell, doesn't contain the worker b motor yet, as it isn't available for European plugs yet. I am impatiently waiting
@@hampurista ahhhh brilliant! I'm not in Germany but it's close enough for me! :) thank you so much for the information, I will look into it and there might be a lsz in my future after all :)
Thx Jason . I hope you are doing well.❤. I’m really moving closer to buying a Sailrite machine. I think I will really enjoy it. I can sew off my other machines .
Great review, I have the Thompson and now will soon upgrade.
By the way, please also try installing the motor on the Singer 201 with the needed mods. Thanks
When I saw this announced I just about let out an audible yelp. What a great idea. Edit: Thank you for covering the Thompson install. That's exactly what I was hoping for.
This looks amazing. I’ve owned an LSZ1 for four years now and have been really pleased with its performance.
I’m based in the UK and the only downside has been the difficulty I’ve found in buying spare parts over the last couple of years.
I bought it from Solent Sewing Machines in Portsmouth originally and they used to sell an extensive range of spare parts but sadly this is no longer the case.
If anyone in the uk has found a company that stocks spares for these machines please let me know. The only option seems to be importing spares directly from America but the taxes and delivery time means this isn’t really an option.
Thanks in advance,
Martyn Collins.
Jason, that looks like it gives great control for the machine and so much power as well, you did a great job showing how easy it is to put on the kit and now I want a Sailrite machine to use. Thank you for posting this.
Thanks so much, Brett!
Thank you very much for showing this new motor. I agree with you, that it is a big improvement compared to what you typically can get in the market place. I like the good slow speed control as you do. I know something about electronics and motors, and I am not impressed by the typical speed control you got on domestic and industrial sewing machines. Most servo motors do not work that well and got a rather high lowest speed. I made an electronic control for one of my sewing machines - and I sometimes move it to other machines. I think it got even better control than this, and it is mainly because of a better pedal, so you can change speed very fast. The pedal is controlled more by pressure than by movement. Elna used this kind of pedals for some time 35 years ago. You may have seen the video about it on my channel.
I couldn't agree more, although I can only speak for domestic machines. Years ago I had a New Home machine which was a 1980s model and on that there was a 2 speed control on the pedal, and also you could lift the presser foot to one height and then a bit higher still. I haven't seen those features on other machines I have owned (quite a few). But - I have just become the proud owner of a Bernina 930 and I almost weep with joy over the slow speed and controllability of it!!
@@lizziel4876 i have got a Bernina 910 and I think the motor control is the same as the 930 - I have looked at videos of the Bernina 930. And I agree, that the speed control is better than most machines have got. The electronics of the 910 and 930 do also include the electronic load compensation as this WorkerB have got, so it increases power to motor when it senses higher load in the same way as the WorkerB. But I think that the WorkerB got higher power and in this machine it got lower gearing. These two factors makes the control you see in Jasons video significantly better than my Bernina 910. The lowest speed of the Bernina 910 is about 50 stitches a minute. Because I know about electronics I modified the electronics a bit in the machine, and in this way I could reduce it to about 30 stitches a minute.
The Bernina 910 is a cheaper machine with less decorative stitches, no knee lift and perhaps a bit smaller. Otherwise it is very similar.
@@sewingmachinesindetail thank you for that information. The speed control of my 930 is worth every penny that I spent on it! (came with a Horn cabinet too!)
Cool, this brings the portable machine into a whole new realm of usefulness.
It looks like a great addition or option to an older Thompson PW-200 that I already own. I was looking to upgrade to a different machine or do some kind of gear reduction for better control , this looks like it will work with some retrofitting. Great video and thanks for the great info.
There is a LSZ-1 with the worker b that was delivered yesterday afternoon waiting at home for me. I can’t wait, thanks.
Great Video. I am looking to improve a Singer 237, and looking to hot rod my machine with this system.
I subscribed!!!! Had to, watched one video and could tell you're a genuine guy
Thanks for the video! I did not know about this motor. I have the zig zag version of this machine and don't use it much. This will change when I get a workerB . Sailrite is sold out now but I'm on the list to get notified when in stock again.
Already have a industrial machine but I don't have a tiny portable industrial sewing machine dang this is a cool machine especially with the monster hand wheel
Wow that IS total control. Thanks for the demo Jason - BTW, don't underestimate your point of view, you're an experienced guy and those of us not so much need the guidance. Thanks.
Thanks, Colin!
I really like that light you have on your machine. The slow setting is amazingly slow and great that they use a standard computer power cord for the power. Thanks for the video, that is a great upgrade!
Thanks for watching!
The light is available on Sailrite's website. It's excellent.
I am Very impressed. I love the speed control and the table.
Jason, great video. I bought a lsz1 about 6 months ago and can’t wait to buy one of these for my machine. Complete game changer.
Yeah, this is finally pushing me over the edge to buy an LSZ-1, too!
Jason there is LSZ-1 for sale in my area
For $800 and it has a table and servo motor included in the full package -- is this a good deal?
@@nahnahbethr661 Not knowing any details, that sounds like a good price. Particularly if it is a newer LSZ-1, with the upgraded stitch-length/reverse lever and the Posi-Pin engagement system. You can email me at the jason of all trades @ gmail . com (remove the spaces) and we can get into more detail if you like.
@@nahnahbethr661 If the machine is in good working condition I would say it is a great deal. If that machine was bought as a base package you would be $995 for the machine, $269 for the table, and $199 for the servo motor. Keep in mind it may be an older model but should do all the same things as the current model. Just my opinion and I know you didn’t ask me but I wanted to throw it out so you don’t potentially miss a good deal by waiting too long.
Great video... If you are ever making another video on this same subject, you may want to mention that another advantage of using this upgrade with the Monster Wheel is that the additional weight of the Monster Wheel adds a considerable advantage - it gets momentum working on its side, thereby, reducing strain on the motor, which is considerably stronger than the original motor.
Michael from Canada
Thanks for the additional info!
Sailrite is going to sell a ton of these. (I hope and pray they follow through on making the motor available as a separate unit. I'm sure they debated not doing that to sell more Premium Ultrafeed models).
i just spoke to a maria i beleive from Sailrite: begining of october the kit will be available and it will sell for "Around 300".
I was going to ask the same thing. A retrofit package. Can’t wait.
This is awesome. I just got home from picking up a barely used Fabricator, and was looking for presser feet, and saw this. I've been looking for a small servo motor to put on one of my 201's, or my Pfaff 130 for years ( because we all know the only limitation those vintage machines have is the motor.)
The worker b looks like it will fill all my ideas I had for those old machines, which can handle much heavier work than the motors will allow.
Even though I don't need them to do it, I want to experiment with them. Someone should make a video about it, hint hint.
As soon as I got a WorkerB, I thought about attaching it to a vintage domestic machine, and it seems a lot of others have thought the same thing! I'd like to try it at some point, I just need to find some time lol. If you do it first, let us all know what you think!
Thanks, Jason. You sold me . I am calling Sailrite.
They told me appx October 1, between $250-$300 ("but don't quote them").
(coughs)carbon pile foot pedal still works fine for slow/variable control(ahem)
Chris, I think you are WAY overstating the difference between a carbon pile pedal and this motor package you have never seen or used before. Clutch motors on industrial machines work "fine," too, but that doesn't mean servo motors aren't better for the vast majority of users.
@@thejasonofalltrades i have a THOR 500watt typical servo motor with a smaller pully on its shaft powering my consew 7360rb-2(drop feed) and comparing the carbon pile i have to the servo i have there is,, clearly a difference; the carbonpile needs some extra stepping to get moving and then let off it a little, it's performance changes with tempature, it can vary its variable control a little while being used.
but i can lift and drop the needle on my thompson with a carbonpile pedal fine.
no one uses clutch motors i dont think.
hey man im looking forward to your tents. a binder attachment like i think you said will make things possible. im just keeping it real about the pedals. i might buy it but not sure how well itll work with my plastic case.
Oh man.....I'm gunna have so much money into this LSz1....
Sailrite has now presented the new WorkerB universal power package (100 - 240 V). This means that it handles all kind of electricity globally. I ordered my WorkerB-package a couple of days ago. Delivery to Sweden in about a week. It will be great to test it in thicker material. I have been waiting for this solution since the WorkerB (100V) came one year ago. In Sweden (and whole Europe) we have 220V.
Hi, I am considering to order the WorkerB from Sailrite as well and I am in Germany. Would you tell me how much you had to pay for Taxes, Customs, Transport, etc. additionally to the selling price?
I've been seriously considering saving up for an LSZ-1. It looks amazing and this motor appears to make it even better! Right now Sailrite only sells the WorkerB on the highest priced package (of course!). The price for that package went up $200 so guessing that's how much it'll cost to buy it separately.
I think it's supposed to come in around $299 for the separate package. Things like this are usually somewhat discounted when purchased as part of the actual machine as opposed to a separate component.
And after years of considering it, this motor package has me finally ready to pull the trigger on an LSZ-1 myself!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@thejasonofalltrades Ya I thought about that after writing the comment. But 1/3 off the price is pretty good. More than I'd expect for sure.
I don't even sew (yet) and I want one. Great job with the Video. Some day I hope you do a video or 2 on all your machines and what you feel they can and and can't do well and what they are best for. Nice to see you back on my feed, I had to hunt you down. from a fellow Floridian
Thanks Tim!
I'm so jealous you got that
Great video. What is the Sailrite part name and/or number for the “Jack Drive” reduction gear you needed to add to the Thompson. Nothing on Sailrite website is called Jack Drive. Thanks
It's linked in the video description. Here's the link again, though!
www.sailrite.com/Idler-Pulley-for-Ultrafeeds
Thanks for the demonstration.
Hi Jason, I have been researching industrial walking foot sewing machines and am considering purchasing a sailrite, so thanks for the great videos. I was looking on the Sailrite website and it looks like a worker b motor package is now the standard motor on the ls and lsz machines. Do you know if it is the same motor as in your demo?
Hi!
Yes, that is the same motor package. Since this video was made, I have also purchased an LSZ-1 with WorkerB (before it became standard) and I absolutely love it. Making the WorkerB the standard motor seems like the way it should be, there is no reason to buy one with the old household motor.
I have a few other videos about these machines you might find informative or helpful, but in short, I really like them. They aren't cheap, but they're very good.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
I wish they made stronger replacement motors for all external driven sewing machines like the Singer 237. I did find one that was a tad larger,(1.5 watt), but it still can struggle to start a stitch run. The old machines were made tough enough to handle more power.
I'm not going to lie, I have wondered if I can somehow rig this to my 237 lol.
I think you would like to have a speed reducer, because it ads a lot of the slow speed control and torque. I did that on the Singer 237 and it became a remarkable machine this way. But of cause it will not beat the better feed of these walking foot machines from sailrite. ua-cam.com/play/PLhBGyDo4tov86GVVCUzTF9RyH7HHW_Ha6.html
@@sewingmachinesindetail Yes, low speed high power is what I seek. I bought a commercial machine with a servo motor and it was too fast even set on low. I added a speed reducer to it with difficulty. I am still not happy with where the motor and reducer locations are, (I have the motor in the original position and the reducer behind the machine on top. I would prefer to have both underneath). It is still pretty fast. I would like something with the speed of a leather machine.
I have not viewed all of your videos, but I will. I found your video on how to add a speed reducer. ua-cam.com/video/oNsLv1BByN0/v-deo.html
Haha, always nice to see someone gidfy with joy over a well made product!
My absolute dream is to get an lz1 here in aus for a reasonable price with the beefy motor set up.
Nice one for the video, love it!
Hello Im new to the channel, it's been really insightful to watch your videos, especially about Thompson sewing machines.
I recently acquired an old Thompson PW400 and looking to do some modifications, I work leather so I need low-speed control and a good amount of torque, I was wondering about the servo motors and the Sailrite WorkerB Motor Package, which one it's better for the task of small leather goods? Also because I'm on a budget, how different is the Sailrite servo compared to a generic one? would be too hard to adapt a generic one to my Thompson?
I am equally excited with this Sailrite work horse. Just a little good discount will make me grab it. haha.... any tips to convince Sailrite Sales to barge a little?
Unfortunately, I doubt these will go on the 20% rack anytime soon lol. From my limited understanding of it, it sounds like a LOT of work and investment went into making this thing come to light, so it's probably priced as well as it can be. I can tell you that it's worth it, at least to me. I'm working on clearing out a few machines to make room (aka "cash") to buy an LSZ-1 Premium, something I've considered for years but this motor package is pushing me over the edge finally.
Thanks for watching!
Great video, thanks. Where did you get the “stitch size lever” on the machine? Was than an optional accessory?
Hi! The stitch length lever on this machine is one of several improvements to the portable walking-foot machine design Sailrite has made over the years. I believe you can buy the assembly from them to retrofit on older Sailrites or similar machines. All current Ultrafeeds come with that lever, and have for at least 6-7 years (I'm not sure when they started with that lever, but I've had the machine in this video since 2016). It's a HUGE improvement over the old design, in my opinion!
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Great going Jase … will do some pricing research to ship to Australia .. been looking for a HD Servo conversion and this may the ideal upgrade ! take care stay safe 🙏☮️
Thanks mate!
If only Sailrite would do a Class 3, I could stay in the Sailrite family
I came here for noise level, because an older version with old style motor sounded loud. So just a hum, and mechanical sewing noises? That's fine by me.
Any idea when the the stand alone motor package might be available?
I believe October of 2021 is when it is planned. Sailrite will certainly drop a video or send out an email if you're on their email list.
Does your worker B motor have a lot of side to side movement when its running? I just installed this system on my old Thompson and the whole mounting bracket really flexes back and forth while the motor is running (even when its not sewing through any material).
Hi!
I'm sorry for taking so long to reply to this!
I have two WorkerBs, and neither exhibit ANY movement that I have noticed. I suggest you reach out to Sailrite if you haven't already.
Jason, Thanks a lot for showing that the Worker B Motor can bolt to the Thompson.. I have the non zig zag version of your thompson and I wonder what the size difference is on the "drive reduction gears" RE: thompson vs the salirite. If you have a second to measure them that would be super helpful.
Hi Jay, sorry for taking so long to reply!
I sold both of my Thompsons to buy my new LSZ-1, so I don't have them here to measure. Mine both had an apparently rare larger diameter pulley, so they might be different from yours, anyway. The correct pulley to use with the WorkerB is available from Sailrite, so if you aren't sure, I'd just add one to your order when you get the motor package. I hope that helps!
Thanks for watching!
Pretty cool.
Thanks for the excellent review and demonstration, Jason. Are you able to tell me if this could be used on a standard domestic machine, specifically a Singer 237? Thanks again
I didn't ask Sailrite, so this is pure speculation: I suspect someone with the required skills and motivation could adapt or fabricate a new bracket to fit this to other machines (one would need to either drill and tap some holes in the machine or otherwise find a way to attach the bracket, too). Whether the "gear ratio" would be appropriate without the Sailrite's "jack drive" is another question that would have to be explored (a different pulley might be needed on the motor, perhaps?).
In principal, it seems like this could be made to work on other machines. It is absolutely NOT a bolt on, plug-and-play for anything but the Ultrafeed and identical machines.
As soon as I got this, I side-eyed my 237, too. I can definitely see how this motor could enhance a robust vintage domestic machine.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks very much for your detailed reply, Jason. I was definitely hoping for a plug-and-play solution. Thank you for clarifying
As usual another very good video from you. I had a lsz1 and i really liked but found a singer 531B (consew206rb) at a good price so i sold the sailrite, the other sturdy machine i kept is a singer 20u33, and is a good machine for its purpose, do you think the worker b motor would fit a 20u to make it portable? I know i will probably have to fabricate some brackets but is no big deal for me.
Thanks!
The WorkerB is specifically designed by Sailrite for the Ultrafeed machines. I suppose a bracket could be made to adapt it to other machines, but I don't know if it would work well or not. Enough people have asked about it that I suspect it's a matter of time before someone tries it lol!
Waiting Patiently....
dude you are totally the maria from sailrite i spoke to.
I was going to buy at least one retirement present for myself. Now I know I need two.
@thejasonofalltrades I have a Thompson PW-301. Will the WorkerB motor work with the plastic Power plus wheel or will I have to get the steel Monster wheel to get it to work?
The WorkerB will come with a specific hand wheel as part of the package. If I'm not mistaken, the power plus and the monster wheel are the same diameter, so if you already have the power plus wheel, you would see much of the same slow speed control due to the overall change in gear ratio from the larger diameter wheel, compared to the WorkerB wheel. Some Thompson machines (apparently very few, but both of mine) came with a larger jack drive pulley, and if you have that, it will need to be changed to the Sailrite one (there's a link to that pulley in the description of this video).
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Three years later? Whats your opinion?
Hi!
Still love it. The latest video on my channel was made using my LSZ-1 with WorkerB, and it was a delight to use, the slow speed control is still impressive.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Hey Jason, thanks for the video! How would you compare this to the workhorse servo motor from Sailrite?
Hi Nick,
I think if I were blinded as to which motor I was using, I might still be able to pick out the WorkerB. The precision is pretty remarkable.
I got a Workhorse motor thinking I would use it on one of my Thompsons, but I didn't realize that the existing motor had to be removed form the machine. I was hoping to easily be able to transition from the Workhorse to portable sewing, but it's a little more involved than I initially thought. For someone wanting an Ultrafeed-style machine to remain portable but also have servo-like power and control, the WorkerB is it.
The Workhorse, however, is a fine servo motor, and I plan to use it on one of my industrial machines. My only complaint is I wish Sailrite sold a needle positioner for it. It can take one, but I'm told there is some process to get it to work, it's not just plug-and-play. The motor itself seems to be of noticeably better quality than my cheap amazon motor, and feels smoother in use. If you don't need a needle positioner and are willing to pay a little more for better quality, it's a great servo motor option.
I hope that helps, thanks for the question and thanks for watching!
@@thejasonofalltrades Thanks, that makes sense! I've been on the fence between the Workhorse and the WorkerB for a permanent home setup (with their industrial table). If you didn't need to transport the machine around, would you still get a WorkerB, even though it's a bit slower than the Workhorse?
Thanks for the discussion and all your videos!
@@growunderashade For me and my uses, I value portability (or versatility) over speed (for an Ultrafeed particularly). For the kind of sewing I do, I rarely need to go particularly fast. Given that, on an Ultrafeed, I would get the WorkerB every time. If I were going to have a machine "permanently" mounted in a table and using an under-table industrial motor, I'd rather just have an industrial machine (for the knee-lift, if nothing else). The only possible exception I can think of is using an LSZ-1 in order to have zig-zag, since walking-foot zig-zag industrials are rare and pricey when you can find one.And frankly, I'd probably still go with the WorkerB in that case anyway.
Best to put the WorkedB on the Thompson, and put the LSZ on the Workhorse servo table. I have a LSZ and I really wish I bought the Fabricator instead. I will probably put mine on a servo table. Im just a bit sad because I bought a portable table and a Monster Wheel, when I really should have got a servo!
Don 't buy the Fabricator either. It's a 111 Clone. You can buy another name brand 111 clone for a lot less money OR buy a used 111 cheap and throw a 120.00 Servo Motor on it. Almost any Singer 111 you buy will literally outlive you. 'course it won't be painted gloss black, but............
Thanks Dustin! I;'m going to use the Workhorse for another industrial machine. My vision for the Sailrite industrial-style Ultrafeed table has always been as a base for multiple machines - I can use any of my Ultrafeed/Thompson machines, Singer 201, Singer 237 and maybe others, but those are the ones I use most. It makes for a versatile platform for my home sewing space, and with the WorkerB motor package, the Workhorse becomes unnecessary in that application.
Regarding the Fabricator, while I also lean toward old, used machines, there is something to be said for new, warrantees ones, too. You have to decide what you prefer - hunting the classifieds for a good deal on an old machine in good shape, or just clicking "buy" on Sailrite's website. For some, one of those options is better than another, but both are valid options.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Awesome machine but too expensive for me... have you tried the vintage Pfaff domestic free arm walking foot machines such as the 12** series ? i'm considering to get some of that if i can find it for cheap :)
I haven't tried those particular Pfaff machines, but my understanding is the "walking foot" on those is not quite the same as on a true walking-foot machine. I'd be curious to try one, but I've never gotten the chance yet. Let us know what you think if you find one!
what are the downsides to putting a smaller pulley/cog on the standard motor? Sailrite actually sell a smaller one. This would give better slow speed at the expense of high/fast speed.
I haven't tried a smaller pulley on a standard motor. It might slow the machine down effectively. The WorkerB is hugely advantageous because not only is it capable of sewing extremely slowly (especially with the Monster wheel installed), but the torque is impressive and the speed control at any speed setting is amazing. Plus you can change the speed range with the dial. If you only need to slow your machine, a pulley is certainly more budget friendly, but if you can justify the cost, the WorkerB should be on every Ultrafeed, in my opinion.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Great add
sorry, ad
I cannot find it on the sailrite site.
www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-WorkerB-Power-Pack-Motor-System-110V
with this machine fold in to a singer table
Hi!
The machine will fit in a Singer table, but it will not fold (none of the tables I've tried, anyway). I suppose one could be modified to allow it to fold, but it would require some woodworking to accomplish.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Great review. I'm sold, now to decide on LS or LZ. Anyone care to offer their opinion? Additional cost is not a factor for me. I'm thinking about going with the LZ even though I don't know if I would ever need the zig zag function, but at least it would have that option if needed.
I would definitely do the LSZ if money isn't a limiting factor. I'm planning on one for myself!
@@thejasonofalltrades Why on earth would you buy one of these machines? I have the Professional and I bought a Tacsew, a few Singer 111 instead so I have Compound Needle Feed. Anything with Zig Zag is Not Compound Feed. The Only Possible reason I can see to buy one of these would be if you were a Contractor doing Dockside Repairs OR you intended to use it on your boat as you traveled around. By the time you buy all the stuff to make it - Industrial Like - you could have bought a sure nuff Industrial that will last forever w/o all the "patches" from Sailrite.
@J Dimeo get the LSZ 1. I got one 6 months ago and love it. Even if you don’t sew anything with a zig zag stitchit is nice to have left, right, and center needle adjustment that you don’t get with the LS1. Also if you have the ability to do a zig zag stitch then you will find reasons to use it.
For the other guys comment on not buying a sailright machine, he is talking about something he knows nothing about. The reason you buy a portable walking foot machine like the sailright is if you need a well build capable machine but don’t have room to have a dedicated sewing table up all the time. I did a lot of research beefier buying and that was one of my biggest issues is I needed a powerful machine but had no room for a machine to be set up all the time. There is also the other obvious benefit of it being portable and if that is also a requirement then this is the best option if those are boxes that need to be checked. If they are not issues for you then maybe take the other guys advise of another machine.
@@milo4seassons Thanks for the feedback. Going with the zig-zag model.
@@thejasonofalltrades Thanks!
If your going to get a sailrite get the fabricator if you plan on only using straight stitch
The Fabricator seems like a great option, but it is not a portable machine. For someone who lacks the space for a full-size industrial machine, or who needs to move the machine to different locations, the Ultrafeeds are the way to go.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Hello, good morning, afternoon or night, I like that engine of 1 / 4workerb package, you can access me where I buy it or online stores and the price, if greetings, I liked your video with that red saliirte straight sewn very well I hope your answer
do u sell these machines?
I do not, they are available from Sailrite.com. Thanks for watching!
is the WorkerB motor a servo motor or a DC motor?
My understanding is that it is a computer-controlled DC motor.
@@thejasonofalltrades I ordered a DC motor for my Family Sew. I want to see if I can set it up with a potentiometer/rheostat.
Is it also called a servo motor?
From a purely technical perspective, this is not a servo motor. In practice, its performance is the same as a servo motor. Compared to a clutch industrial motor or even a household sewing machine motor, it has very precise control. The power is greatly increased over the household sewing machine motor and is comparable to an industrial servo motor. I'm not particularly well-informed on the technical differences between different types of electric motors, but in a blind test I would have thought this was a servo motor based on the way it performs.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching!
Fantastic means not cheap?
It depends on what you mean by "cheap." I think the retail price for the separate motor package when it is released will be $299USD. I think it is totally worth that. I'm working on selling off a couple of my machines to fund buying an LSZ-1 with this motor package, but if I already had an LSZ-1, I would definitely be buying this motor for it. You have to decide what you need, and how bad you need it. If you never need incredible slow speed control, the on/off switch doesn't matter to you, etc., then this package may not be worth it to you. If your sewing requires careful but powerful sewing with incredible control, then this might be a bargain. It really depends on what your sewing needs are.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Can you mount that motor on your Vintage Singer? I have Singer 15-90 that is currently running on a 1 amp motor, but I would love to get something a little bit stronger.
Hi!
So, no, it will not directly bolt on without serious modifications to the machine. Yes, someone sufficiently motivated and skilled could certainly adapt it somehow.
I also had the same thought when I first encountered this motor system, and I can't rule out the possibility that I will try it on a machine one day, but honestly I think it's a bit like putting a V8 engine into a Miata; yes, but can be done, and yes, it can work really well, but in a real practical sense it probably isn't better than just buying a Corvette (or whatever).
The low speed control of this motor is EPIC, and it is FAR more powerful than a domestic sewing machine motor. My argument is that for a non-walking-foot machine like a 15-90, feeding is still going to be the weak link. Depending on what you do the most with the machine, it could be ideal, but for general use, I'm not sure the juice would be worth the squeeze.
I hope that helps, thanks for the question, and thanks for watching!
@@thejasonofalltrades, ok. Ty so much for such a thorough explanation.
Hi you keep saying other machines are knockoffs of sailrite when in fact Sailrite machines are the knockoff even though they are the much better machine in the end.
Hi!
My understanding of the situation, and if anyone can show evidence to the contrary I'm all ears, is that Datho manufactured the Thompson Mini Walker as the first machine of this design (incorporating a walking-foot mechanism into a portable machine). Sailrite (again, as I understand it) licensed the design to produce their own version, and then refined the design further. Apparently Datho still exists but no longer produces the Thompson machines.
If all of that is correct, then I don't consider the Sailrite to be a "clone" or a "knock-off." The current model of the Toyota Supra is a good example; Toyota, rather than invest in the design and tooling to produce an entirely new car, procured the rights to produce (essentially) their own version of the BMW Z4. It isn't a copy of the Z4 (or a clone, or knock-off), but rather a car based on the Z4, with license granted to produce it.
Again, my understanding of the situation is that every other variant of the mini walking foot machine is an unlicensed copy. I don't know what the current state of patent is on any part of the design, or whether any of the clones violate any patent. I believe that they are all taking advantage of design and tooling they did not produce themselves, but that were intended to be used to manufacture Sailrite (and possibly Thompson) machines. There is a reason all of those machines cost less than a Sailrite; some think it's because Sailrites are overpriced, I think it's because they are taking advantage of the road that was paved by Sailrite and Thompson.
I could be misinformed or just plain wrong about all of this. Part of my opinion is formed by my own views, which may not be aligned with anyone else's on this subject. My position is and always has been that Sailrite contributes a lot of innovation and support to the market in the form of new developments (like the WorkerB), excellent customer support and widely sharing information for free through their UA-cam channel and website. I prefer to buy from them for those reasons, and the fact that I think their machines are better in numerous ways than the similar machines on the market today.
I hope that helps, thanks for watching and commenting!
@@thejasonofalltrades Hi
As for the design and production of this machine, I should be the clearest. I am the manager who is actually responsible for R&D. Mr. Thompson delivered the first manual sample machine to me. I do the production optimization work that is most suitable for the product. For this reason, I have been Go to Texas twice and visit Mr. Thompson.
Sailrite has made many quality improvements and more user-friendly improvements for the Walking Foot machine. So Sailrite is an improvement (optimization) of the Walking Foot machine.
Sailrite machine cost is much higher than other machines. This is an indisputable fact. The higher part will not be discussed today. I have these machines. I know the cost better than ordinary people.
So the price of Sailrite machine is reasonable.
SewLine SL146-9 is better than the sailrite machines because you have a 9" needle to base instead of 7" and sewline and other thompson parts are all compatable.. i think the zigzag pushrod is the same in the 7". all the needle assmbly parts are the same. sailrite machines are overpriced and sell with the same terrible pedal[as sewlines:/], get a carbon pile for real analog control. i used a light steel wool to take the sewline lettering off and its left with nothing but nice industrial off-white paint. i dont want a blue or red machine. lime green maybe. sailrite is just as much a knockoff to sewline's offering to many. i like the small flywheel and traditional clutch style. my machine does more stiches per min than a sailrite because of the flywheel. sailrite makes fine profits ok and if they wanted to make More upgrades for the thompson they could. i bought the thread tensioner and stich length plate and like 250$ or so in purchases from them - and i didnt even buy their machine. dudes, this machine is a part of what they sell and... make a 9" arm man! and sorry i do like the small metal (not plastic) flywheel. at 12:52 jason shows his old motor and his old pedal. if he had a carbon pile pedal he could eaisly get slow up and down position control with the help of a hand and single stich control with just the foot pretty easy. he used an electronic foot pedal which are all crap and a joke really.
sailrite is a cool company. ive bought from them and might buy this motor too, its quiet!
Hi Chris,
I'm told the motor package should be available separately in the fall of 2021 (I think October, but don't quote me on that).
I do want to correct you that while the Sailrite Ultrafeed is based on the Thompson Mini-Walker, Sailrite has made significant innovations and changes to the machines. The Sailrite Ultrafeed is not a knock-off of Sewline machines; I believe the opposite is the case. I disagree with the idea that Sailrite machines are overpriced; the research and development costs of innovations like this motor package are immense, and overseas factories don't have to incur those costs when they just copy others' designs. Paying less for something copied from someone else doesn't mean the original is overpriced, it means you are rewarding a company for stealing intellectual property, while penalizing the innovator who made the product possible.
We all have to make decisions based on our own budgets and ethics, but I personally won't buy any of the look-alike machines. I think Sailrite brings a lot to the table in terms of value, customer support and innovation, and this motor package is yet another example of their importance to this market.
@@thejasonofalltrades yeah i hand it to MAtt for the stich plate adjuster and being the purveyor of quick thompson gear. i havent tried the posi-pin or his machine but... yeah,, its the same machine man. his patents and alterations (ive seen his literature) are limited to some feet to the chasis, the flywheel... i dont think anything else. all the parts on his machine are not just interchangable but the serializations for parts are identical(i found this out what comparing manuals)im all about supporting Matt and his crew, they are decent people.
but its like, i have supported them. like 300$ already. and they have a whole shop of gear they dialed in how they want. im not gonna be kind and not say their machine isnt the best because it isnt. i have 2" of extra bed size, my machine came wth a small highspeed wheel and after all teh upgrades and s&h was done it was like a 800-900 machine with case and nice pedal and fixins. you even said his machines were overpriced man. you got a job to do but im not here to tote the line too bro. your channel kicks ass man and Matt can get over it.
@@thejasonofalltrades dude i remember you saying how you used to think they were good deal but later you feel they have a high price tag. they are overpriced ok. sailrite is a great site. and.. i spent a good amount easily when i shopped there
sailrite doesnt own thompson machine design. so others are not look alikes, ok.
I invite you show me where you hear me saying "I used to think they were cheap but later I feel they have a high price tag." Since WAY before I ever owned a machine, I have been very public in my positive opinion of Sailrite. Are they cheap? No. Very few things in the world worth having are.
For the record, I'm preparing to sell off my Thompsons to buy a Sailrite LSZ-1 Premium. Not because it's cheap (it isn't), but because it's awesome.
I appreciate your comments, but I respectfully disagree with many of your claims.
@@thejasonofalltrades no it was more like "i like thompsons but sailrites are expensive and cheaper means can be had"
why do you wanna spend extra for a 7" bed when 600$ gets you a 9" zigzag thompson? i even have a plastic case for mine. you talked about how you spent only [so little] on your machines and now gonna get a premium kit... even though you should have plenty of extra fixins for the machine... i just,, well id say "i dont understand" but i think i understnad.