dikman

Somehow I knew you would say that!

I have a pair of parallel-jaw pliers that I used when I worked as a technician, they are excellent for grabbing the needle when hand-sewing and don't mark/damage the needle.

In answer to your last question, I think it's safe to say that most on here have learned sewing machine maintenance the hard way - by finding a manual where possible, watching youtube videos and asking questions on here. And, of course, by just tinkering with them.

It will be fair bit of messing around but worth a try. I don't think anyone has fitted one to the motor before so it will be an interesting experiment.

The first thing to do is fit a servo motor, preferably with a small 45mm pulley. That may be slow enough to do what you want, if not the next step is to fit a speed reducer pulley setup between the motor and the sewing machine. There are generally two commercially available types, the box type you're referring to and a large/small combined pulley on an arm. But if you currently have a clutch motor swap to a servo! The one Wizz suggests is a proven type, but any of the generic ones on ebay will be a vast improvement over a clutch motor.

Some NP's will work with a speed reducer, but in most cases you won't know until you try it.

That's a nice bit of wood for the handle.

Yep, that's what I did, I put my feet on the base and I can turn/twist the clamp to suit my needs. Works well.

Road Agent Leather has a few videos on youtube, his method is to apply a coat of NFO, let it dry, thin the dye then apply liberally with a sponge (he sploshes it on!). It seems to work well for him.

That's an ingenious way of creating the curved jaws. A couple of years ago I bought a reasonable size bandsaw and I have to say I love it! Doesn't take up as much room as a tablesaw and in my opinion it's far more versatile.

3D printed a fan-duct flange I found on thingiverse and sat some aluminium ducting on it that was left over from our kitchen reno, it now sends the fumes directly into the overhead exhaust fan. One other benefit of the enclosure is it cuts down the noise considerably. I might try and get some orange perspex to replace the smoky stuff in the window, other than that I think I'll call it done.

Like its owner?

Excellent job, looks great!

Screw with no head? Sounds like a rivet, a photo would help a lot. If it's a rivet it could be drilled out our use a dremel with a ball grinder.

AlZilla, that "curling" of the brim gives it a used rustic look. Some people pay good money to get a hat that already looks used.