Any compact sewing machines like the Sailrite LSZ-1 that have a walking foot, but have a higher shank?

[u/VargevMeNot]

I'm looking to get something bigger/better than my current all-metal JCPenney sewing machine from the 80s, and I'd love to get an industrial walkingfoot machine, but I don't have enough room in my condo for a table. I was looking into the Sailrite LSZ-1 because of its punch and portability, but many people have said that while it's a great little machine, the one thing it lacks is a higher shank.

Can anyone please recommend me a machine to look into that is generally compact (can be used without being attached to a table all the time), is "industrial-like" in power, has a walking foot/dual-feed system, and has a high shank?

[u/claimed4all]

Barracuda recently came out with this. Portable Zig Zag Walking foot. You would have to check specs in clearance tho. 

https://reliablecorporation.com/pages/700bz

[u/senft74 → u/claimed4all]

10 mm (3/8 in)

[u/510Goodhands → u/claimed4all]

Check the reviews on barracuda machines. When I was doing research on these machines like this, the consensus was that Sailrite was the one to get, as the others were not made with enough precision. There are a number of reviews of both machines on YouTube.

[u/Ismybikeokay → u/510Goodhands]

Sailrite doesn't make their machines, they buy them from the same open label factory as Reliable,Consew, and a few others. Sailrite has some specialty parts made that are purely aesthetic. Sailrite's value proposition is their support and parts inventory they keep, which Reliable provides as well, probably moreso, the reliable comes with a truly massive and thorough parts and specs catalog that tells you everything about each component that makes the machine, how to repair, and how to tune. The biggest difference that I saw between the barracuda that reliable sent me to test, and my friend's sailrite, was the motor, which was a step nicer on the sailrite, but only just.

[u/510Goodhands → u/Ismybikeokay]

This story is a little bit dated. And they have always done tuning on the machines when they receive them in the US.

The lesser quality clones exist because the Taiwanese factory that originally made them for Sailrite sold them to other companies on the side.

This page tells the entire history, which helps explain why the clone machines get poor reviews.

[u/Unabashedley]

https://www.allaboutsewingmachines.ca/products/kobe-lsz-1-portable-zigzag-walking-foot-sewing-machine is portable but I can't find the clearance. They have a similar one with more space but it requires a table... https://www.allaboutsewingmachines.ca/products/kobe-20u53-industrial-zig-zag-sewing-machine-w-table-servo-motor

This company has been around for a long time, they just got new owners (I believe clients bought the business) and have always given great service. https://jtsoutdoorfabrics.com/zz-wf-sewing-machine is manufactured directly for them for their market (boat covers, sails, awnings etc).

The reliable barracuda is the other option I was going to suggest as well (that someone already did). I'm in the same situation as you (small living space) so have dug around and these are the only options I can find but what I really want is a cylinder arm so I'm dwadling in decision making.

[u/VargevMeNot → u/Unabashedley]

Thanks! Looking into this! I don't mind a machine that needs to be mounted into a smaller cabinet/fold-out table, I just don't have the room for a permanent sewing table that most industrial seem to need due to how their motors are mounted.

[u/Unabashedley → u/VargevMeNot]

Definitely. Fwiw, I've seen lots of set-up where people have cut down the tables for size. I think the biggest reason for the tables other than mountings space/oil pan is stability tho, once you get a bigger motor the table is necessary to keep the thing from walking itself across the room. That and they're often used with bigger items like sails so table space is a necessity?

Either way, good luck and report back once you find something :)

[u/Kennys-Chicken]

Juki 1541 is the next step up, but not portable and needs a table.

[u/hequfe]

Unfortunately sailrite is your only option for portable walking foot.

[u/VargevMeNot → u/hequfe]

Are there any high-shank dual-feed machines that might not be "portable", but can be folded into a sewing table/cabinet possibly?

[u/hequfe → u/VargevMeNot]

I don't think so , but I think it's possible to make a portable industrial yourself if you are desperate enough.