I'm considering an upgrade from hand stiching to a sewing machine.
Currently I am hand stiching 2-4oz soft temper crome tan.
I have an old kenmore 158.13250 no manual.
I use for tent canvas but the top and bottom materials slip when working with leather. A walking foot was sugested but I would suspect the machine would not operate well for this level work.
What machine would you sugest? make and model
What features should I look for?
How much should I expect to pay?
My budget is about 200
What questions should I ask if buying used from Evil-bay?
At this point I'm looking at kenmore, Singer, and Necchi.
I can get parts for these brands through my local leather shop.
Tippmann is out due to budget.
? on machine sewing leather
Well, I don't know about brand names because my industrial heads are not branded. They use some singer parts if I remember correctly.
I spent 400 for two used heads and a table in... 95? 96? Sometime around then.
Over the next five years or so, I then proceeded to spend about $1200 in repairs on them.
The moral of my story is that for $200 I don't think you're talking industrial machine.
I think you need to save up some more money. The walking foot isn't going to come cheap. Plus, with an industrial machine you get a much longer stitch length. Mine go close to 1/4", which is really nice for leather, since you're not making such small perforations, and it stays stronger. I prefer it for tents, too, since I had a tent catastrophically fail once because it had been done with a home machine and had small stitches.
Another thing to be considered with industrials is that if the machine has enough ass behind it you don't need to use the triangular leather needles. I find that using a #20 or #22 round needle in a huge machine helps to keep the stitches from ripping the leather.
Plus, the industrial machines have a pulley on the back instead of a weak little knob. A friend came up with the idea of U-bolting a handle on the pulley, so I can hand crank leather on it.
If you're not going to save up for industrial, then I'd say just see what the thrift stores have to offer. Old metal cased (and geared!) machines are regularly available for $40 and under, and they should do 2 layers of 2 oz just fine (until it breaks, but it was $40, so just get another one). But you're not finding a walking foot that easily that way.
I spent 400 for two used heads and a table in... 95? 96? Sometime around then.
Over the next five years or so, I then proceeded to spend about $1200 in repairs on them.
The moral of my story is that for $200 I don't think you're talking industrial machine.
I think you need to save up some more money. The walking foot isn't going to come cheap. Plus, with an industrial machine you get a much longer stitch length. Mine go close to 1/4", which is really nice for leather, since you're not making such small perforations, and it stays stronger. I prefer it for tents, too, since I had a tent catastrophically fail once because it had been done with a home machine and had small stitches.
Another thing to be considered with industrials is that if the machine has enough ass behind it you don't need to use the triangular leather needles. I find that using a #20 or #22 round needle in a huge machine helps to keep the stitches from ripping the leather.
Plus, the industrial machines have a pulley on the back instead of a weak little knob. A friend came up with the idea of U-bolting a handle on the pulley, so I can hand crank leather on it.
If you're not going to save up for industrial, then I'd say just see what the thrift stores have to offer. Old metal cased (and geared!) machines are regularly available for $40 and under, and they should do 2 layers of 2 oz just fine (until it breaks, but it was $40, so just get another one). But you're not finding a walking foot that easily that way.
Stuff I will trade for: PWM controllers, steel sheet/rod/bar (4130/410/1050/toolsteel), ITC, casting supplies, wood tools, silver, oxpho blue, gun stuff (9luger/357mag/12g/7.62x54R/22LR), hammers, stakes, or pitch me!
Well, curiosity got me and I had to go searching... it seems like there are middle-ground machines out there that weren't really around last time I searched ebay.
This is pretty much exactly what I have...
But it doesn't have reverse. It just stitches.
However, I can put two layers of 8oz vegtan through it no problem.
I think the 200 dollar stuff I'm seeing I'd trust to thin leather, but I gotta tell you, it's nice to do a flat-felled seam and just blow right through eight layers of sunforger.
Given that I've had to replace single gears that cost $300, I'd be looking at new machines, too, if at all possible.
This is pretty much exactly what I have...
But it doesn't have reverse. It just stitches.
However, I can put two layers of 8oz vegtan through it no problem.
I think the 200 dollar stuff I'm seeing I'd trust to thin leather, but I gotta tell you, it's nice to do a flat-felled seam and just blow right through eight layers of sunforger.
Given that I've had to replace single gears that cost $300, I'd be looking at new machines, too, if at all possible.
Stuff I will trade for: PWM controllers, steel sheet/rod/bar (4130/410/1050/toolsteel), ITC, casting supplies, wood tools, silver, oxpho blue, gun stuff (9luger/357mag/12g/7.62x54R/22LR), hammers, stakes, or pitch me!
Go over to leatherworker.net and ask on the sewing machine forum, if you have not done so already.
People over there really know their stuff on this subject.
People with the kind of knowledge that runs the gamut from which new machine to pay full price on to which old machine to pick up for a song, to where to get parts and how to repair either one.
While I'm still waiting for my new machine to arrive, I used the sewing forums at leatherworker.net as my research to determine which one to buy.
People over there really know their stuff on this subject.
People with the kind of knowledge that runs the gamut from which new machine to pay full price on to which old machine to pick up for a song, to where to get parts and how to repair either one.
While I'm still waiting for my new machine to arrive, I used the sewing forums at leatherworker.net as my research to determine which one to buy.
Gavin Kilkenny
Proprietor
Noble Lion Leather
hardened leather armour and sundry leather goods
www.noblelionleather.com
Proprietor
Noble Lion Leather
hardened leather armour and sundry leather goods
www.noblelionleather.com
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Johann Lederer
- Archive Member
- Posts: 2746
- Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:08 am
- Location: East Kingdom, PA
I have an anciet Singer 121 and a 129 that sew suede and chrome tan Chap leather pretty easily. I agree with HG Kilkenny, leatherworker probably can give you much better direction.
I do all other heavy leather by hand because I like the control I have with hand stitching. I had considered a Tippmann, but I kept putting it off due to my budget and the fact that most items I have made people request handstitching.
I do all other heavy leather by hand because I like the control I have with hand stitching. I had considered a Tippmann, but I kept putting it off due to my budget and the fact that most items I have made people request handstitching.
A PROUD member of the Ye Olde Mead Hovel