OldSewinGear News Reviews & How To's

How to use a Singer Special Disc

5/15/2013

Singer Special Disc #16

Ever wondered how to use a Singer Special Disc?

It's actually pretty simple!

First, select the stitch pattern you want to use. There are 24 discs available for the Slant-o-Matic and early Touch & Sew machines. They are numbered 0-23, with 0 being standard zigzag and 23 being basting stitch.

Next, open the lid on the top of your machine:

Check to see if there is already a disc in the machine:

500 disc compartment WITH disc

500 disc compartment WITHOUT disc

Singer 401 stitch selector knob.

If there is already a disc in the machine, you will need to remove it before inserting the disc of your choice.

To remove or insert a disc you may need to adjust the knob or lever settings on your machine.

If you have a 401, 411, 500, or 600 model, make sure the stitch selector is NOT on "Special."

Singer 600 stitch selector levers

Singer 500 stitch selector knob

403 stitch width lever

If your machine is a 403, 503, or 603 model, set the stitch width lever to "S" or "STR".

Grasp the raised center portion of the disc firmly and pull straight up. There's no special trick to this. As my dad always says, "Pull hard and it'll come easy."

Now you're ready to insert your chosen disc. Line up the holes in the disc with the two posts in the disc compartment.

Press disc firmly into place. There should be a slight click when it's fully seated.

Let's look at it in motion:

Next, readjust knobs & levers for Special Disc sewing.

For 401, 411, and 500 machines, set large center knob at "B" on the left and "Special" on the right. For 600 machines, set the upper stitch selector lever at "Special" and the lower stitch selector lever at "B". Then set stitch width lever to desired width.

For 403, 403, and 503 machines, set stitch width lever to desired width.

Finally, adjust the stitch length lever to desired density. Special Disc patterns typically look best when sewn at the shortest stitch length possible.

That's it! You're ready to sew. It's really that easy.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend getting a copy of the instruction manual for your machine. Singer offers free downloads of most manuals on their website: htty://www.singerco.com/accessories/instruction-manuals

24 Comments

Singer 401 vs 403...Which is the machine for me?

6/28/2012

22 Comments

So you have a project or cottage industry and you need a heavy duty sewing machine. You've heard you should get a Singer 401, but can't find one that fits your budget. Then you see a 403 and wonder...what's the difference?

Good question. The simple answer is that 401 was top-of-the-line and 403 the next step down. But what does that really mean?

Let's compare:

401 Slant-o-Matic
Fully Automatic

Features:
        Slant needle
        Rotary hook
        Steel Gears
        .72 Amp direct drive motor
        Double-thread capacity tensioner
        Double capacity needle clamp
        Special Disc compartment
        25+ stitch patterns built in

403 Slant-o-Matic Special
Semi-Automatic

Features:
        Slant needle
        Double thread capacity tensioner
        Double capacity needle clamp
        Rotary hook
        Steel Gears
        .72 Amp direct drive motor
        Special Disc compartment
        No built-in stitch patterns

Inside the 401:

Note the stack of steel cams at center right. These are the "built-in" stitch patterns. Special Discs are not required for zig-zag and over 25 other patterns. However, Special Discs 1-5 are additional designs not built-in on the 401 and can also be used in conjunction with built-in stitches to produced additional "Combination" stitches, such as scalloped zig-zag.

Inside the 403:

Note the absence of steel cams. Unless a Special Disc is inserted the machine will only produce straight stitch.

So which machine is better?

The bottom line is: it all depends on what kind of sewing you will do. Both models have the same motor, the same steel-gears, and the same basic design.

If all you need is heavy duty straight or zig-zag stitches, go with 403. It is simpler to operate and a little less noisy because it has fewer moving metal parts. And you can still do decorative stitching with a set of Special Discs.

If you need maximum artistic freedom, go with the 401. It's harder to use at first, but once you get familiar with the controls, you will enjoy the variety and flexibility of built-in stitches. And you get the prestige of owning "top-of-the-line" if that matters to you.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

22 Comments

How to use a Singer Special Disc

Singer 401 vs 403...Which is the machine for me?

So which machine is better?

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How to use a Singer Special Disc

Singer 401 vs 403...Which is the machine for me?

So which machine is better?

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