Consew 228-11

[Steve Maring]

I woke up one day not too long ago and suddenly decided it would be great fun to become a cordwainer. I've been able to sew some light leathers with my Viking Emerald 116, but trying to sew an upper on a tight curve is almost a nightmare. I'm thinking that the standard roller foot on this machine won't get me very far.

So, I'm thinking that a stronger post machine with a real roller presser foot might be just what I need to make the tight turns in the leather.

However, I'm in no condition to convince the oversight committee (wife) to allow me to drop over a grand on what may be perceived as a speculative hobby at this point.

I may be able to get an old Consew 228-11 in the low hundreds, but I've recently learned that the R in the Consew model number, ala 228R-11, is what implies whether it has the roller foot or not. Does anybody know if the Consew 228-11 can be converted into a Consew 228R-11? Is it possible to use a double needle on a 228-11?

Any thoughts on what sort of machine I should be looking for that I can pick up for not more than a few hundred? I'm fine with old, as long as it works and is maintainable.

Cheers,

Steve

[Art]

Hi Steve,

I am not sure about the R11, but I know I have seen 228-11s with roller top feed. They had regular drop feed though. I don't have any trouble using the Cobra 5550 for decorating tops and toe bugs; it had an upper roller and drop feed, of course a good Singer 31-15 or 20 would also do. The post machine can be a little difficult for decorating unless you build a flat bed table to go around the post. The Pfaff 491, Singer 51W28, 29, and 30, The Singer 136W104, Singer 236W124. The Pfaff 491 is going to be expensive, it is a gear driven top and bottom roller machine and needle feed with ball and roller bearings. When sewing uppers, the needle feed is a real help, not all machines have it. I have seen good prices on 51s; and 136s and 236 are staples for bootmakers and are again, expensive (not as much as a Pfaff). The Chinese, out of Ankai Machinery in Hunan province make the AK-8810 which for all intent an purpose is a 491, it is such a great machine that if you get a similar machine from other manufacturers, it was made by AnKai. I don't recommend a double needle post, as the extra bobbin on the post makes it too big and you lose that nice "shelf" drop off that is so handy for getting close. The gauge on most double needle machines is also usually too wide for shoe work, just sew it twice. Usually no roller on double needle machines. If you have to go Singer, the 136 or 236 is the one you want, build a table for decorative work. As important as the sewing machine is to shoe work, you really shouldn't skimp on it.

Art

I woke up one day not too long ago and suddenly decided it would be great fun to become a cordwainer. I've been able to sew some light leathers with my Viking Emerald 116, but trying to sew an upper on a tight curve is almost a nightmare. I'm thinking that the standard roller foot on this machine won't get me very far.

So, I'm thinking that a stronger post machine with a real roller presser foot might be just what I need to make the tight turns in the leather.

However, I'm in no condition to convince the oversight committee (wife) to allow me to drop over a grand on what may be perceived as a speculative hobby at this point.

I may be able to get an old Consew 228-11 in the low hundreds, but I've recently learned that the R in the Consew model number, ala 228R-11, is what implies whether it has the roller foot or not. Does anybody know if the Consew 228-11 can be converted into a Consew 228R-11? Is it possible to use a double needle on a 228-11?

Any thoughts on what sort of machine I should be looking for that I can pick up for not more than a few hundred? I'm fine with old, as long as it works and is maintainable.

Cheers,

Steve