The Bernina 950 home industrial that I had did an excellent zig zag stitch. I researched before I bought it and it does an excellent satin stitch, as well. That's an extremely close, tight zig zag. I sold it when I stopped sewing flags. Now, it makes horse blankets. You are correct, you will never find Cordura at a big box retail fabric store. The 200 denier (D, as you say) fabric I used for reversible banners/flags was only available online and in bulk. Don't forget the bobbin tension, too, in this project. The top and bottom tensions need to be balanced. Remember: Tighten what is loose and loosen what is tight. I've been sewing since I was 9 years old and I'm now 70 and LOVE TO SEW. Great video and a good beginning.
I tell you what I am Bloody glad he did too. I cant find %90 of what you guys stock in Australia and if I do its so over priced. Thank you Chris and Rockywoods Fabrics.
For cutting synthetic “tactical fabric” I cut it with a hot knife I made by replacing the solder tip in my old Weller 200w soldering iron with 10 AWG copper wire with the edge hammered to a sort of flat surface.
I used 100% cotton thread for bag, tent and hamoc building. Made in Italy. Worked wonders on 1680D Codura. I would say more than the type, don't cheap out and take thread made for your goal
@@DarkMetalFabrication my man in all honesty id take that offer up asap. Even if its just for the feature however i highly doubt youll be leaving empty handed if you know what i mean.... hell they may even have sewing machine in mind for you thats been used and they wanna give you. You help us... karma says they might help you more then you think. However i do realize the moving process and getting your life and job set back up isnt easy. Regardless, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFO!! Luckily my aunt owns a sewing machine repair shop with plenty of older and newer models to choose from and free for me so thank you for narrowing it down 👌
Hi. Nice video. You should use 92 polyester thread for outdoor cushions, automotive and the gear that you make because polyester is UV resistant and last a lot longer then Nylon tread.
Hello I been sewing Cordura 1000 for about 20 year I work for spec up in the pass working with back pack for military and now i end up with 11 sewing machines the company that I wass working it's close...thank you for sharing your work..have a great blessing day
trying to start a business and am self teaching design and fabrication, patterning and sewing too, would love to know if you have machines that you may not need, I could give you contact info if you have interest in possibly getting one or two machines out the door, depending on specs and price etc
Great video with a lot of good info. I have coveralls made from Cordura that Use for cave exploring. they are great except they are starting to show signs of wear. I haven't found anyone who can make the fixes I need, so I thought I'd try it myself. The first thing I have to do is replace the zipper. As I said, I haven't found anyone locally who will touch this. Sooooo, before I get in too deep, is this something that you can do? Or maybe one of your viewers????? If not, I'm diving in....
Bonded polyester thread is as good or better than bonded nylon. Polyester thread had greater abrasion resistance and for outdoor applications it will have better UV and mildew resistance.
I used to use office clips and straight pins to hold my fabric together... now they make specific clips for sewing... you can find them by searching for "wonder clips."
Hi! I came here to learn about sewing with Cordura. I am making a shooting cushion for a friend with 600 denier cordura. Thank you for the video with all the tips. What stitch length do you suggest for sewing with 600 denier cordura?
I have a question! Have you ever used Kevlar thread to stitch the cordura and would you think it would be better then the braided nylon? Sweet sewing machine! Thanks for the vid, 👍 and subscribed.
That’s a White 77, a classic fine dressmaking machine. It wasn’t engineered for six layers of Cordura. It will break eventually, likely by stripping the timing bolt. You need to be careful not to bog down and overload a domestic machine. Any machine with more than a straight stitch is NOT industrial, it’s a domestic machine. Industrial means factory - where different stitches are done on different machines. Plenty of older machines that are only straight stitch are domestic machines, don’t be confused by internet myths and scammers. If it has two stitches - home machine for clothes. If it’s one straight stitch, look it up.
Wow Chris love your channel! Cant wait to see more…I can tell your a man of precision and detail your videos are the evidence of that. I am looking to start Cordura and the only question I had is what sewing machine would you recommend that “does it all” including such things as ZIG ZAG’s? My budget is around 1800.00….. any suggestions?
Thank you for watching, I'm glad your enjoying it. Years ago, when I upgraded to my Consew, it was a little bit over $1100 new and shipped to my house. If I had to do it again, I would have gotten a used double needle Consew. The double needle gives you a lot more options, especially with upholstery. If you absolutely want new, I would still recommend a Consew. My machine has never failed me, or not sewn anything I put under it.
I like to get my Cordura from a company called Rockywoods out of Colorado. I have the link up above in the video description. Its a great company. The shipping takes a few days longer than your bigger stores but you get a better selection and I think the quality is worth the wait.
@@DarkMetalFabrication Btw, I see a lot of canvas seams sewed with another material that looks like it is some kind of reinforcement or maybe an accent color. Is this functional? I've been looking for some rolls of this material but can't seem to find it. Is it webbing of some kind?
Chris, Excellent video! I have a project that I’m trying to prototype. I found a White 77 here locally in Dallas, TX that I bought used, had it fixed up with new wiring for a great deal too. Question for you on the bonded nylon - what size do you use? I’ll be sewing 1000 denier nylon. Thanks!
It depends on the machine. I have a Pfaf 1540 I bought used for $175. It’ll sew through 8 layers of 1000D Cordura using V69 thread with no issues. Other than It’ll only sew larger stitch length which is fine. Anything smaller than 4mm and the bobbin side turns into a tangled mess.
An industrial. I would look at the Bernina 950 home industrial. It has an external motor (very important to avoid overheating) and the motor speed is adjustable, slow to very fast. I had one and loved it. Sold it because I didn't need it any longer, but wish I still had it. Personal experience with that machine, not affiliated with Bernina at all. I researched a lot before my purchase in 2002.
Hi Chris. Have you ever found that you've needed a walking foot when sewing multiple layers? I'm just about to get into sewing buttstock pouches, but looking for a new sewing machine first.
Hey Peter, while the walking foot is great, I started on old metal Singers that had no problem getting through several layers of curdura. I still use a Singer Feather weight for small projects. I just made sure to have the right needle and the right thread for the material.
Thanks for replying. I'm using bonded nylon thread from Tactical Concealment and a size 18 needle. My eye is currently on a Juki 8700, my domestic Brother machine went kaput in the middle of a prototype.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I finally got my Juki 8700. While I can't do small zig-zag bartacks with this machine, I've found with the former Brother that about three to four forward/reverse stitches hold up really well. I made a cobra-style ghillie and leg chaps a few years ago that's all still in one piece.
Bonded polyester is a great option, and can definitely be used. For projects that wont be exposed sun very often, I like to use bonded Nylon since its stronger than polyester. Also, polyester can get dry rot after several years if its not taken care of. Hope this helps, thanks for watching and for mentioning the polyester option.
@@DarkMetalFabrication Huh... Thanks for the information. That makes me reconsider using polyester. There is a third option though, and now you have me curious. How does polypropylene compare? I plan on making some outdoor gear for camping and hiking that mimics the military gear that I have.
I love sewing with v69 bonded nylon. I can’t break it even if I try. There’s no lint to gunk up the machine like polyester that keeps breaking on me. The most difficult thing I encountered was thread tension. Make sure to learn about that. If your thread is making a bird’s nest usually your top tension is too low. If the thread sits on top of the seam the tension is too low.
I use only nylon thread. G.I. military nylon thread when I can find it. Most load-bearing gear (backpacks, bags, etc.) have the seams on the inside and are not exposed to the elements.
Hi Chris, great video! I just had a quick question. Been having some issues sewing that perfect straight stitch on this fabric on my Adler 167 industrial machine using a 134-135 (Nm 110/18) needle. Have done all the usual thing to see what might be causing this problem and wondered if it could be solved by using the 100/16 needle you mentioned? Thanks
6:10 re: the machine only does straight stitching - I have looked on Consew's website and as far as I can tell, they don't make walking foot machines that do both straight and zigzag. You can get zigzag walking foot machines, but apparently those don't do straight stitching!
Nice vid, thanks. I'm looking to source rolls of 60" 330D Kryptek Typhon cordura for some projects, do you know of any distributors that carry these materials in those quantities? Thanks !
Can someone please tell me how well abrasion resistance 600d polyster is. Many riding jackets & pants in India are made of 600d polyster with Invista cordura on shoulder, elbow, knee & shin area. I am aware Invista cordura is more abrasion resistance, but how much normal 600d polyster is at withstanding abrasion resistance.
For sewing cordura, do you find it necessary to bind the edges or cut with a hot knife to prevent it from fraying, and seams coming apart? I find conflicting information concerning this.
Hey Travis, when it comes to edging cordura, I always try to plan my cuts to minimize rough edges, and for the ones I do end up with, I typically burn the edges, but depending on the project, I may sew them together. My next video will be more about edging cordura.
If it is a small pouch or bag I would just melt/burn the edges. The largest item I have seen done this way were storage bags, laundry bags, sleeping bag pouches. Anything larger I would attach binding tape/grosgrain ribbon. This would require an attachment for your machine. Also, If the fabric your using is coated (waterproofed). The coating helps in reducing fraying of the edges.
If you look for specific "DWR" or back coated Cordura, typically 1000D (eBay you can find it by the yard, etc.) it cuts very nicely with a metal ruler straight edge and utility knives and is not prone to unraveling as it is "coated" on the back. Once you have used DWR/coated backed Cordura you will not want to use other fabrics.
The best thread to use is a size 33 or 45 nylon thread. You can use this thread on a regular home machine if you don't have a industrial sewing machine.
Newer ones use more plastic inside and have smaller motors, the older have all metal insides and have stronger motors. I think I paid $1100 for the Consew that I use, I found the older machine for free on Craigslist, someone just wanted it out of their home.
Have had way better results with Universal needle, the jeans needle's really struggled on my 1000D fabric. I guess the fabric even if 1000D is different enough to warrant different needles.
Aaaand, the tension for Cordura is the thing I needed to know about haha. Naturally we can't answer that question because that would be too helpful. All I get is bird nesting on the under side no matter how tight, or how loose I set my tension. :/ Good video. The bonded nylon thread was a good tip though.
Man, I get that. When I made that video, it was a different company and it was exciting to watch a group of vets become so successful, but it did turn into something else. But thanks for watching the video, I'm glad you liked it.
The Bernina 950 home industrial that I had did an excellent zig zag stitch. I researched before I bought it and it does an excellent satin stitch, as well. That's an extremely close, tight zig zag. I sold it when I stopped sewing flags. Now, it makes horse blankets. You are correct, you will never find Cordura at a big box retail fabric store. The 200 denier (D, as you say) fabric I used for reversible banners/flags was only available online and in bulk. Don't forget the bobbin tension, too, in this project. The top and bottom tensions need to be balanced. Remember: Tighten what is loose and loosen what is tight. I've been sewing since I was 9 years old and I'm now 70 and LOVE TO SEW. Great video and a good beginning.
Hi Chris. I'm with Rockywoods Fabrics. I just wanted to thank you for mentioning us. Loved the video!
I tell you what I am Bloody glad he did too. I cant find %90 of what you guys stock in Australia and if I do its so over priced. Thank you Chris and Rockywoods Fabrics.
I love your company! I would love to work with Rockywoods
I'm looking at rockywoods fabrics products now! Thanks for the info
I've used Rockywoods for years, seriously the best!
@@DarkMetalFabricationshould we choose cordura bags or polyester with suede mix bags?
For cutting synthetic “tactical fabric” I cut it with a hot knife I made by replacing the solder tip in my old Weller 200w soldering iron with 10 AWG copper wire with the edge hammered to a sort of flat surface.
You can find proper blades for those now. I use a 100W it is enough but you need to go full power to cut 1680D
I used 100% cotton thread for bag, tent and hamoc building. Made in Italy. Worked wonders on 1680D Codura. I would say more than the type, don't cheap out and take thread made for your goal
Great video! I've been making fabrics for 10 years,But I never knew how to sew the Cordura fabric. Thanks
Hi Chris! We'd like to feature you on our Instagram channel. Can't find any contact information for you though, please let us know!
Hey Cordura, sorry it's taken so long for a response. I'm not on IG yet, at least officially. I have just moved and am getting set back up again.
@@DarkMetalFabrication my man in all honesty id take that offer up asap. Even if its just for the feature however i highly doubt youll be leaving empty handed if you know what i mean.... hell they may even have sewing machine in mind for you thats been used and they wanna give you. You help us... karma says they might help you more then you think. However i do realize the moving process and getting your life and job set back up isnt easy. Regardless, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFO!! Luckily my aunt owns a sewing machine repair shop with plenty of older and newer models to choose from and free for me so thank you for narrowing it down 👌
Servo motors are the best! So quiet! You can also use silicone spray on your machine bed to make the fabric glide more easily.
Hi. Nice video. You should use 92 polyester thread for outdoor cushions, automotive and the gear that you make because polyester is UV resistant and last a lot longer then Nylon tread.
Very helpful video, I've been thinking about getting into tactical sewing for a long time!
It definitely a useful skill. Thanks for watching, I'm glad you liked the video!
You will be invaluable in the trenches, soldier. We need combat tailors.
Hello I been sewing Cordura 1000 for about 20 year I work for spec up in the pass working with back pack for military and now i end up with 11 sewing machines the company that
I wass working it's close...thank you for sharing your work..have a great blessing day
You have machines for sale?
trying to start a business and am self teaching design and fabrication, patterning and sewing too, would love to know if you have machines that you may not need, I could give you contact info if you have interest in possibly getting one or two machines out the door, depending on specs and price etc
Great video with a lot of good info. I have coveralls made from Cordura that Use for cave exploring. they are great except they are starting to show signs of wear. I haven't found anyone who can make the fixes I need, so I thought I'd try it myself. The first thing I have to do is replace the zipper. As I said, I haven't found anyone locally who will touch this. Sooooo, before I get in too deep, is this something that you can do? Or maybe one of your viewers????? If not, I'm diving in....
Thanks for taking the time to give insight
This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to share this info.
Bonded polyester thread is as good or better than bonded nylon. Polyester thread had greater abrasion resistance and for outdoor applications it will have better UV and mildew resistance.
I used to use office clips and straight pins to hold my fabric together... now they make specific clips for sewing... you can find them by searching for "wonder clips."
Hi Chris, the video is informative and very helpful. Also, you are very cute :P
Hi! I came here to learn about sewing with Cordura. I am making a shooting cushion for a friend with 600 denier cordura. Thank you for the video with all the tips. What stitch length do you suggest for sewing with 600 denier cordura?
I have a question! Have you ever used Kevlar thread to stitch the cordura and would you think it would be better then the braided nylon? Sweet sewing machine! Thanks for the vid, 👍 and subscribed.
That’s a White 77, a classic fine dressmaking machine. It wasn’t engineered for six layers of Cordura. It will break eventually, likely by stripping the timing bolt. You need to be careful not to bog down and overload a domestic machine. Any machine with more than a straight stitch is NOT industrial, it’s a domestic machine. Industrial means factory - where different stitches are done on different machines. Plenty of older machines that are only straight stitch are domestic machines, don’t be confused by internet myths and scammers. If it has two stitches - home machine for clothes. If it’s one straight stitch, look it up.
Can you explain the Needle sizes for 1000D 600D 400D. PU coated and PVC Coated material wise??
Wow Chris love your channel! Cant wait to see more…I can tell your a man of precision and detail your videos are the evidence of that. I am looking to start Cordura and the only question I had is what sewing machine would you recommend that “does it all” including such things as ZIG ZAG’s? My budget is around 1800.00….. any suggestions?
Thank you for watching, I'm glad your enjoying it. Years ago, when I upgraded to my Consew, it was a little bit over $1100 new and shipped to my house. If I had to do it again, I would have gotten a used double needle Consew. The double needle gives you a lot more options, especially with upholstery. If you absolutely want new, I would still recommend a Consew. My machine has never failed me, or not sewn anything I put under it.
@@DarkMetalFabrication thanks Chris!
Great video. Where do you like to source your cordura and the nylon for the seam reinforcements?
I like to get my Cordura from a company called Rockywoods out of Colorado. I have the link up above in the video description. Its a great company. The shipping takes a few days longer than your bigger stores but you get a better selection and I think the quality is worth the wait.
@@DarkMetalFabrication Awesome. Thanks for the info. I should have looked in the description.
@@DarkMetalFabrication Btw, I see a lot of canvas seams sewed with another material that looks like it is some kind of reinforcement or maybe an accent color. Is this functional? I've been looking for some rolls of this material but can't seem to find it. Is it webbing of some kind?
Chris,
Excellent video! I have a project that I’m trying to prototype. I found a White 77 here locally in Dallas, TX that I bought used, had it fixed up with new wiring for a great deal too. Question for you on the bonded nylon - what size do you use? I’ll be sewing 1000 denier nylon. Thanks!
Hey Scott, thanks for watching! For thread, I like to use Strongbond 40 Bonded Nylon Thread. I usually order it from Rockywoods fabrics or Amazon.
@@DarkMetalFabrication thank you sir!
Great info. Thanks for making this!
hey Chris, I was wondering when you mean multiple layers, is that more than two, or can I sow 2 layers with a regular machine? thnx
You need a heavy duty or industrial sewing machine. I bought a Singer 44S at walmart. It's doing on the condura I ordered.
It depends on the machine.
I have a Pfaf 1540 I bought used for $175.
It’ll sew through 8 layers of 1000D Cordura using V69 thread with no issues.
Other than It’ll only sew larger stitch length which is fine.
Anything smaller than 4mm and the bobbin side turns into a tangled mess.
What size and type of needle would be best for a tactical sowing kit. For webbing and codura. Thank you
How big of a machine would I need to sew 1000d cordura with 1/2 foam? Thanks for the help.
An industrial. I would look at the Bernina 950 home industrial. It has an external motor (very important to avoid overheating) and the motor speed is adjustable, slow to very fast. I had one and loved it. Sold it because I didn't need it any longer, but wish I still had it. Personal experience with that machine, not affiliated with Bernina at all. I researched a lot before my purchase in 2002.
Hi Chris. Have you ever found that you've needed a walking foot when sewing multiple layers? I'm just about to get into sewing buttstock pouches, but looking for a new sewing machine first.
Hey Peter, while the walking foot is great, I started on old metal Singers that had no problem getting through several layers of curdura. I still use a Singer Feather weight for small projects. I just made sure to have the right needle and the right thread for the material.
Thanks for replying. I'm using bonded nylon thread from Tactical Concealment and a size 18 needle. My eye is currently on a Juki 8700, my domestic Brother machine went kaput in the middle of a prototype.
Juki's are awesome machine's, you will enjoy sewing on it.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I finally got my Juki 8700.
While I can't do small zig-zag bartacks with this machine, I've found with the former Brother that about three to four forward/reverse stitches hold up really well. I made a cobra-style ghillie and leg chaps a few years ago that's all still in one piece.
@@peteramon33 awesome! Congrats on getting the Juki
Why nylon instead of polyester thread? Isn't polyester better for UV, water, and overall durability?
Bonded polyester is a great option, and can definitely be used. For projects that wont be exposed sun very often, I like to use bonded Nylon since its stronger than polyester. Also, polyester can get dry rot after several years if its not taken care of. Hope this helps, thanks for watching and for mentioning the polyester option.
@@DarkMetalFabrication Huh... Thanks for the information. That makes me reconsider using polyester. There is a third option though, and now you have me curious. How does polypropylene compare? I plan on making some outdoor gear for camping and hiking that mimics the military gear that I have.
I love sewing with v69 bonded nylon. I can’t break it even if I try. There’s no lint to gunk up the machine like polyester that keeps breaking on me. The most difficult thing I encountered was thread tension. Make sure to learn about that. If your thread is making a bird’s nest usually your top tension is too low. If the thread sits on top of the seam the tension is too low.
I use only nylon thread. G.I. military nylon thread when I can find it. Most load-bearing gear (backpacks, bags, etc.) have the seams on the inside and are not exposed to the elements.
Thank you Mate that was very helpful.
Hi Chris, great video! I just had a quick question. Been having some issues sewing that perfect straight stitch on this fabric on my Adler 167 industrial machine using a 134-135 (Nm 110/18) needle. Have done all the usual thing to see what might be causing this problem and wondered if it could be solved by using the 100/16 needle you mentioned? Thanks
My local shop sells that very useful chalk as 'dressmaking chalk', but I call it 'bear hunting chalk' just to butch it up a bit.
6:10 re: the machine only does straight stitching - I have looked on Consew's website and as far as I can tell, they don't make walking foot machines that do both straight and zigzag. You can get zigzag walking foot machines, but apparently those don't do straight stitching!
Nice vid, thanks. I'm looking to source rolls of 60" 330D Kryptek Typhon cordura for some projects, do you know of any distributors that carry these materials in those quantities? Thanks !
Can someone please tell me how well abrasion resistance 600d polyster is. Many riding jackets & pants in India are made of 600d polyster with Invista cordura on shoulder, elbow, knee & shin area. I am aware Invista cordura is more abrasion resistance, but how much normal 600d polyster is at withstanding abrasion resistance.
Wouldn't 1680D Ballistic Nylon be a little tougher?
Same deal when stitching ballistic nylon?
For sewing cordura, do you find it necessary to bind the edges or cut with a hot knife to prevent it from fraying, and seams coming apart? I find conflicting information concerning this.
Hey Travis, when it comes to edging cordura, I always try to plan my cuts to minimize rough edges, and for the ones I do end up with, I typically burn the edges, but depending on the project, I may sew them together. My next video will be more about edging cordura.
If it is a small pouch or bag I would just melt/burn the edges. The largest item I have seen done this way were storage bags, laundry bags, sleeping bag pouches. Anything larger I would attach binding tape/grosgrain ribbon. This would require an attachment for your machine. Also, If the fabric your using is coated (waterproofed). The coating helps in reducing fraying of the edges.
If you look for specific "DWR" or back coated Cordura, typically 1000D (eBay you can find it by the yard, etc.) it cuts very nicely with a metal ruler straight edge and utility knives and is not prone to unraveling as it is "coated" on the back. Once you have used DWR/coated backed Cordura you will not want to use other fabrics.
I was wondering If I could be able to sew a patch into 500 Denier Cordura, but I can't find a video on it.
The best thread to use is a size 33 or 45 nylon thread. You can use this thread on a regular home machine if you don't have a industrial sewing machine.
Do you certain pouch for sale
Why are old machines better? How much did the industrial machine cost on ebay?
Newer ones use more plastic inside and have smaller motors, the older have all metal insides and have stronger motors. I think I paid $1100 for the Consew that I use, I found the older machine for free on Craigslist, someone just wanted it out of their home.
Awesome video thank you
Have had way better results with Universal needle, the jeans needle's really struggled on my 1000D fabric. I guess the fabric even if 1000D is different enough to warrant different needles.
Good stuff to know!
Thanks Erik, I hope everything is going well for you!
Yeah Chris, life is good.
I am cuting master cordura 15 year experience please job
Aaaand, the tension for Cordura is the thing I needed to know about haha. Naturally we can't answer that question because that would be too helpful. All I get is bird nesting on the under side no matter how tight, or how loose I set my tension. :/ Good video. The bonded nylon thread was a good tip though.
what machine is that you are using ?
The first one is a White Rotary Series 77, the newer one is a Consew 206RB-5
Great this make for thanking that
Binder clips... clamshell clips are different
Like your vid , but no black rifle coffee.
Man, I get that. When I made that video, it was a different company and it was exciting to watch a group of vets become so successful, but it did turn into something else. But thanks for watching the video, I'm glad you liked it.
Is cordura 500d bulletproof with a lot of layers?
What size needle do I use?
-juki DDL-5550N
I use a 140/22 for sewing cordura on my Consew
@@DarkMetalFabrication I bought 100/16 and 110/18. Will this work or should I go higher
@@DarkMetalFabrication I also bought nylon thread #69
It wont hurt to try. Without a higher number, you may run into issues with several layers. I would recommend getting a higher number when you can.
@@DarkMetalFabrication what foot should I use?
count how many times he said Cordura Hahhhaaah holy fk man
Screw BRCC.