What Is the Difference Between a Domestic and an Industrial Sewing Machine?

If you’re new to sewing and DIY home projects, you may be wondering what the differences are between a sewing machine designed for home use and a sewing machine built to withstand industrial levels of demand. Even accomplished sewers may not know the distinct differences between these two types of sewing machines.

Differences Between Domestic and Industrial Sewing Machines

Are there any fundamental differences between industrial and domestic sewing machines?

The answer is yes, but if you’re interested in increasing your sewing knowledge, it’s important to know precisely how these types of machines differ. That way, you can determine whether a domestic sewing machine fits your demand or if you’ll need an industrial sewing machine instead.

Here are a few of the details that differ from domestic to industrial machines. Find out what they mean for you as an amateur or professional sewer.

Materials

All sewing machines are designed to create stitching on a variety of material types. However, most domestic sewing machines are designed with the casual DIY sewer in mind. This means that your domestic sewing machine may not be equipped to deal with thick, heavy-duty materials.

It’s safe to assume that the majority of domestic sewing machines can work successfully with commonplace household materials like silk, cotton, and other lightweight fabrics. Fabrics like these are often used for clothing, pillows, blankets, drapes, and similar items, which many smaller-scale sewing machines are designed for.

If you’re a DIY sewer, but you want to have the ability to work with heavier fabrics, there are many mid-range models to choose from that can handle thicker fabrics as long as you have the right needles, thread, and presser feet.

If you regularly work with heavy, thick materials like denim, leather, or nylon, or you simply have a constant flow of sewing work that might overload a smaller machine, an industrial model sewing machine might be the right choice for you.

Components

One of the key differences between industrial and domestic sewing machines is the expected output of work between the two.

While domestic machines are usually designed to perform simple fabric repairs and simple DIY sewing projects with no more than an hour of use at a time, industrial machines are built for highly motivated or professional sewers who are likely to be at their machine for multiple hours per day.

That’s why domestic and industrial machines have very different internal components. Industrial sewing machines have much larger motors than their domestic counterparts, which is one of the reasons why industrial machines tend to be larger and heavier.

Industrial machines also have more heavy-duty internal mechanisms that are built to last. For this reason, industrial sewing machines are always priced at a higher rate than smaller, less durable machines designed for casual use.

If sewing is part of your profession or you’re very passionate about the craft, this difference in price is a worthwhile investment, as industrial machines have much more to offer in terms of performance and longevity.

Purpose

As you can tell, domestic and industrial sewing machines are built for very different circumstances and users.

The primary purpose of a domestic sewing machine is to be user-friendly and allow beginner and intermediate sewers to complete DIY projects easily. Conversely, the primary purpose of an industrial sewing machine is to take on heavy project loads with a wide variety of materials and be prepared to work at a steady pace for hours.

If you’re a casual sewer or just learning how to use a sewing machine, the output rate of an industrial machine may be unnecessary for your needs. Additionally, you probably do not need to invest in an industrial machine if you complete projects only once in a while.

Find Sewing Machines, DIY Project Materials, and More at GoldStar Tool

Whichever type of sewing machine is best for you, you can find the exact model to meet your needs at GoldStar Tool. Find sewing machines and parts, DIY project ideas, and all the materials you could need when you visit us today.