In Addition To A 31-15?

[Suemi]

I would like to start by saying, that everyone on this site is amazing and i'm obsessed. The wealth of information is never taken for granted.

I recently acquired a Singer 31-15 and have been amazed at its performance until I want to get into heavier unskived materials.

I would like to step it up. I have been reading recommendation after recommendation and I can't figure it out. I will be sewing through 2-3 oz most likely 4-6 layers for bags and belts etc.

If any of you have a light weight machine such as a 31-15, what machine did you choose for a step up and would you choose something else if you could were looking for a new machine?

Thanks for your help.

Rich

Suemi

[Wizcrafts]

The Singer 31-15 is a straight stitch industrial machine. While is is capable of sewing soft leather admirably, it balks when trying to feed 1/4 inch of belt leather. Furthermore, it does not tension anything bigger than #69 or possibly #92 bonded thread. It is and always will be a garment and tailoring machine.

The next step up in a walking foot machine. These come in flat bed and cylinder arm configurations. Some have the standard bobbin you use in the 31-15 (15 class bobbin), while others have a large hook and M style big bobbin. These hold 50% more thread than a standard bobbin.

Most upholstery grade walking foot machines are not setup to sew any leather other than upholstery grade, chrome tanned, soft to medium temper. But, they respond well to tweaking. Most are equipped with high speed motors with large pulleys. They sew much too fast for veg-tan leather work. The tension springs are usually light duty, which works fine with the #69 thread commonly used in upholstery.

Then, there are sewing machines that ARE setup to sew medium to hard temper leather, in capacities ranging from 3/8" up to 7/8" - including hard stuff. These machines are specifically made or modified to sew at a slow, controllable speed, with big needles, using heavier thread than upholstery machines can handle. They have very large bobbins and beefed up take-up and tensioning parts.

Ask if you want more specific recommendations. State your budget.

[Suemi]

Thanks Wizcraft,

My budget is hopefully on the lower end of $500 to $1000. I have read many of your threads and was pretty keen on getting a 206, 226 or the like. Then I read a post on your recommendations for the juki LU1508NH. I guess my main issue is I don't want any issues. I am not sewing through a lot of thick veg or anything. I am doing belts and bags 2-3 oz lined, so at the most I would be going through 6 layers of 2-3 oz. I use basically 18-21 leather needles with no larger than #92 thread.

Thanks so much for taking the time for this.

Rich

[Wizcrafts]

Rich;

If your maximum thickness does not exceed 20 ounces, which is 5/16 inch, with #92 thread, any walking foot machine will serve the purpose.

Call Bob Kovar, at 866-362-7397, during normal business hours, Eastern Time. He has a warehouse and showroom full of new and used walking foot, roller foot, etc industrial sewing machines. He can match a machine to your purpose and budget and ship it to you on a pallet.

You will need to stock up on needles with the new machine, as they will be probably be bigger than those used by the 31-15.

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks Wizcraft,

My budget is hopefully on the lower end of $500 to $1000. ... Then I read a post on your recommendations for the juki LU1508NH.

Rich

Forget the Juki LU-1508 if all you can spend is $1000. They go for about $3,000 new and there aren't many used ones under $1500. Even a decent clone of the 1508 will set you back a couple G's.