Singer 20U Review

June 29, 2012 Singer41

The Singer 20U is an industrial sewing machine that is a favorite among
professional tailors, dressmakers, upholstery and drapery specialists and teachers.

It is a hard worker, capable of not only providing hours of uninterrupted work with no
respite, but providing uniform straight and zigzag stitches in all types of fabrics as
well as leather, suede, fur, canvas, and vinyl.
The Singer 20U comes in various models. This particular mode, the 13, is an earlier
version, somewhere around 30 to 40 years old.
It sews about 2,000 straight stitches per minute and is capable of rendering zigzag
stitches at the same rapid rate of speed.
At A Glance
Rarely do you see an industrial sewing machine in a private home when the user is
not sewing for a living, but we found one in Florida home.
The Singer 20U, an industrial sewing machine
For some reason, the machine was left behind in a vacant house and this lucky
home sewer was in the right place at the right time. She allowed us to drop in to
review her Singer 20U.
This Singer 20U came already installed on a four foot by two foot table with a
convenient bobbin winding mechanism mounted to the right of the machine head. It
has a cone thread spindle mounted on the table as well.
A convenient bobbin winding mechanism
When the machine was delivered, the accessories drawer was filled with
screwdrivers, extra bobbins, spare presser feet, a seam guide, and needles of
varying sizes.
The adjustable height table has a 36 inch ruler conveniently located on front. The
power switch is conveniently located on the lower right front and an accessories
drawer on the left.
There is a convenient knee lift to raise the presser foot when your hands are
occupied with an intricate sewing task and the on-board gooseneck lamp makes it
easy to see what you are doing, whether threading a needle, working on a project
that requires tiny stitches, or working with hard to see mono filament thread.
We observed that the machine head does not have any sort of cover to protect it
from dust and debris. We’re not sure if one was included originally, but the owner
told us that she intends to make a cover for her machine within the near future.
Even though this is a tough machine, it deserves to be protected from environmental
debris just as much as any other sewing machine.
This machine is as fast as greased lightening. It sews approximately 2,000 stitches
per minute.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, stay away from this monster because you could
easily get hurt trying to figure out how to operate it. But like riding a bicycle, once
you get the hang of working on this powerful sewing machine you will never forget.
Features
Newer models of the 20U industrial series look a lot like the 13 but have lots many
more standard features. Features included on the 20U13 include:
◦ An adjustable reverse stitch lever on the front panel, enabling the user to
quickly execute reverse or locking stitches.
◦ Adjustable stitch length controlled by an easy to maneuver dial on the front
panel
◦ The ability to create extra wide zigzag stitches, up to 12mm.
◦ Three needle positions – left, right and center – making it possible to create
many different decorative stitches.
Working on the Singer 20U
Threading the Singer 20U was only mildly challenging. As veteran home sewers, we
were accustomed to working on older machines with extra steps in the threading
process.

A separate bobbin winder is an advantage

It took only a few moments for us to thread this machine without even referring to
the owner’s manual.
While later models have more user-friendly on board features, the one we had the
opportunity to review does not. The bobbin winder, for instance, is not attached to
the machine or built in.
Instead, a separate bobbin winder is mounted to the right of the machine head. It is
a convenient feature, in that the user can wind bobbins without having to disengage
the balance wheel or disable the needle.
While this was an unexpected surprise, the owner explained that she quickly came
to understand that having the bobbin winder separate from the machine could
actually be an advantage when working on large projects.
It took us a little bit of time to figure out how to wind bobbins on this ancient looking
contraption, but after a few tries, we got the bobbin to work, and were amazed at
how easy the process was once we mastered it.
As we sewed on this machine, we simultaneously wound several bobbins. No doubt
this will make it possible to save lots of time because users can have all the bobbins
they need to finish big sewing projects without interfering with their actual sewing
time.

Zigzag and stitch width regulator screws

Reaching beneath the table to insert the bobbin case was a bit tricky. Until we were
able to get used to this maneuver, we literally got down on our knees in order to see
what we were doing.
After a few tries, we adjusted and were able to accomplish this task with a bit more
grace.
One thing we did not particularly like, however, was that it was necessary to use a
screwdriver to loosen the balance wheel and disengage the needle.
Before long, we realized it was necessary to use the screwdriver to use the zigzag
function and to change the needle plates and feed dogs as well.
We concluded that although the owner’s manual specifically instructs users to use
screwdrivers to accomplish these tasks, it is possible to leave the machine set so
that the zigzag and stitch width regulator screws could remain loosened enough to
facilitate easy shifting from straight to zigzag stitches without having to continuously
stop to reset screws.
After we discovered that little trick, we were able to sew uninterrupted at a whirlwind
pace. We put a pair of casual pants together in less than five minutes.
Three separate upper tension dials
Of course, that did not include the elastic waistband and hem, but five minutes to
assemble a pair of pants is pretty good in our book. Putting in the hem and the
waistband only took another few minutes.
The only other thing that slowed us down was the discovery that there were not one,
or two, but three separate upper tension dials and they are stacked together in one
place.
There is no way around this one. Whenever it is necessary to adjust tension, the
user must painstakingly set all three dials until they get the desired balance.
Even with this slight inconvenience, imagine how much you could accomplish in just
one day if you were making your entire wardrobe on the Singer 20U.
Fabrics

◦ Natural fibers/cotton-linen-wool
◦ Fine fabrics/silk-satin-taffeta/velvet
◦ Knits
◦ Synthetic fabrics/blends-rayon-polyester
◦ Upholstery
◦ Leather/suede
◦ Fur
◦ Reptile skin/suede
◦ Canvas/Twill
◦ Plastic/Rubber
◦ Extra thick fabrics or multiple layers
Accessories
Luckily, the previous owner kept nearly all of the original accessories intact over the
years.

Singer 20U’s utility drawer

When we opened the utility drawer, we found the original accessories kit containing:
◦ an owner’s manual
◦ a screwdriver key
◦ a package of replacement needles
◦ two needle plates – one for straight stitching and one for zigzag and darning
stitches
◦ a separate bobbin case containing nine extra bobbins
◦ three presser feet
◦ one for straight stitching
◦ one for zigzag stitching
◦ one open foot for darning and other specialty stitches
Singer 20U accessories kit
According to the owner’s manual, a zipper foot and hemmer foot were also included,
but were nowhere to be found when we inspected the contents of the drawer.
However, we did find a zip lock bag filled with screwdrivers in an assortment of
sizes.
Maintenance

After each Once Each

Monthly* As Needed
use Year**

Clean race hook and feed dogs

 Wipe head with soft dry cloth

Wipe head with soft damp

cloth

Lubricate

Service by sewing machine

repair professional

* more often if the machine is used for extended periods of time or if used frequently

**more often if the machine is used heavily or if it is not operating properly

Tying Off The Loose Ends

The Singer 20U is definitely not for the fainthearted sewer. It is an ultra powerful
machine that can make it possible for the home sewer to whip up an entire wardrobe
in a single day.
It is also noisy. The clutch motor hums incessantly from the time the switch is turned
on until about 20 or 30 seconds after it is turned off. This is possibly the biggest
drawback to this machine.
In addition to being annoyingly noisy, it is anything but energy efficient. The machine
itself sews quietly. If it were not for the motor, we would give it an excellent rating as
far as acoustics is concerned.
When it comes to features, the Singer 20U is average. Like nearly all industrial
sewing machines, it is limited in stitch options.
After all, if you can operate an industrial sewing machine, you should be able to
create your own decorative stitches without having to rely upon a set of graphics
and push buttons to help you along the way.
The need for a screwdriver to execute even minor sewing functions is a drawback,
but not one that is insurmountable. As described above, we figured out a way to get
around all of that.
However, the owner observed that when she is finished sewing she tightens all of
those screws until she is ready to use the machine again.
The stand alone bobbin winder is interesting. It wasn’t especially easy to learn to
operate this attachment, but once we got the hang of it, we were thrilled with this
feature.
Never before were we in a position to see so many bobbins wound and ready for
use in such a little bit of time. Then, there’s the trick of inserting the bobbin case.
Inserting the bobbin case
Reaching under the sewing table to put the bobbin case on its pin is awkward at
first, but quite simple once you get used to the process.
To sum it all up, beginners and even intermediate sewers should stay away from
this machine or any other industrial sewing machine for all that matters.
It is super fast and extremely challenging for a new or inexperienced sewer. This
machine wouldn’t even be in a home such as this if it were not for the fact that the
owner happens to know someone who knows someone.
She is indeed lucky to have a machine as incredible as this… especially since she is
one of those rare people who still make nearly everything she wears and takes great
pleasure in doing so.
It’s not hard to envy this woman. She now has the ultimate sewing room – a
veritable dream come true for anyone who loves to sew.
After a little bit of on-line research, we learned that just about anyone who wants
one of these great machines can get one for themselves for just under $1,000.
But as we stated above, don’t even consider any machine in the Singer 20U series
unless you are a seasoned sewer who is comfortable with a truly fast and genuinely
heavy duty sewing machine.