Machine List For Novice Users

[DoubleBarP]

This morning I got an email advising the forum was up and running. It is better than ever. Kudos are in order for the effort.

I have been tinkering with leather most of my life. As a youth, my grandfather was a jack-of-all-trades. For several years he owned a shoe shop and built custom orthopedic shoes, repaired shoes, and boots of all types. He spent some time on harness & saddle making and repair, including belts and holsters. I was introduced to leather craft then. It has always been an interest of mine and having spent some time in the saddle (granddad on my dads side had cattle) we at times made small repairs on broken tack.

Years ago, I stopped in to visit a friend of mine at his old place. He had his holster shop in the front of the house back then. As I entered the shop area, I smelled the leather. There is something about that smell that took me back to my childhood when I worked for grandpa in the shoe shop shinning shoes on Saturday. The price was 4 bits a pair (2 for me 2 for the shop) .

I carry a gun for a living and have since 1975. Commercial holsters are not always adequate for concealed carry. So I still stop in at my friends shop on occasion to visit, while trying to con him into putting me at the front of the list for something I need right now. ( I still have some of his very early work and that seems to help me on occasion). The secondary benefit is, I get smell that smell that triggers that child memory of time spent with my grandpa. I sure miss him.

The reason for the post. I’m wondering if anyone (knowledgeable) has taken on the task (or would care to) of assembling a list of machines that could be of use as a guide for the machine challenged on their quest to find a snitcher for holsters / belts ect.

While I have read the posts on the list looking for golden nuggets of knowledge on the topic. I’m sure there are as many opinions as there are thread and needle sizes to shade the subject. None the less it would be very helpful for the novice that wants to try their luck at moving up to the next level away from stitch markers, dremels and hand sewing which is difficult for arthritic hands.

I’m thinking of the following as criteria for the machine selection / evaluation list:

Learning curve, is an issue…

Entry level, hand power stitcher, treadle machine, power machine

Novice,

intermediate,

expert,

pro.

In my mind I would look at the following: price (it is after all a hobby), availability, ease of use (novice level). There is a wealth of knowledge on this list and I think such a list / guide would invaluable to those of us who are challenged in this area and want to take the next step. We just do not have the wherewithal for a 3000.00 hobby machine (more like 200 - 300).

Thanks

Jeff

[Wizcrafts]

I'm not going to try to type out a list of machines such as you requested. I will attempt to give you a basic understanding of the type of sewing machine you will need top sew gun leather.

First of all, holsters and gun belts are often thicker than 1/4". A holster with a side filler and sight track can easily exceed 1/2". I have made them up to 3/4" with double leather fillers. To securely sew this much hard leather will require a tough machine that is geared way down, takes large needles and manages the heaviest bonded threads.

The problem: your budget is $3000 maximum.

Solution: buy either a Cobra or Cowboy 441 clone, with a 9 to 16" cylinder arm. Both are top of the line heavy duty stitchers. They come with servo motors and speed reducers. The Cowboy has a gear reduction servo motor with a 2" output pulley. It is awesome for the 300 watts it consumes. Cowboy machines also come with stainless steel pressor feet and throat cover plates, to avoid tarnishing wet leather. The Cobra has a special pressor foot designed by John Bianchi; a world renowned holster maker. It is exactly what a holster or harness maker needs. Cobra nad Cowboy machines are priced similarly and are well under your maximum budget.

Cobra is located in Highland California (866-962-9880) and Cowboy in Toledo Ohio (866-362-7397).

Other machines that will do the work include used cylinder arm machines, like the Adler 205-370 ($$$), Juki 441, Artisan, Ferdinand Bull. Used machines sometimes have worn out parts and excessive clearances. and may develop mysterious problems. The timing may be slightly out and will only reveal itself on your most important projects. Used machines often need replacement parts much sooner than new machines will.

All of these stitchers have a slight learning curve. You must thread them a certain way. The tensions must be balanced for a perfect stitch top/bottom. The foot tensions need to be adjusted just enough to hold the leather down, without digging a trench along side the stitch line. Liquid lube may be needed on top of the machine, to prevent the thread from burning up on contact with dense leather. You must hold the ends of the thread back before the first stitch, or the machine may eat them. Thou mustn't sew thine own fingers while holding the leather. It will take a few days to master all this stuff (on a new machine).

Now is a good time to buy a new leather stitcher. Prices are at an all time low and have bottomed out. They can only go up from here.

Edited August 28, 2010 by Wizcrafts