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Beautiful work. Any chance you have more pictures of that knife?

Great project, Beefy! I really like elevated DIY projects, and I hope you succeed. I find the needle positioner extremely useful. What are your plans for the controller — will you use an Arduino or something else that can be programmed? In my opinion, you describe the basic functions well. What I would find useful is: - the ability to check and auto-apply signals from different types of needle positioner, as you already described. - the ability to easily define the up and down positions by turning the wheel by hand and pressing a button. Currently, on my controller, I can do this either by typing numbers into the controller or by moving the three metal discs inside the positioner mechanically. I always spend too much time fiddling with that. A more advanced function would be to perform automatic backtacking ((three forwards, three backwards, three forwards, or something programmable) as you are describing, that would be great.!!!!!

Thanks Dikman, yes this design will be specific to my setup, but my setup is a typical Chinese servo drive, so any time I get a new cheapy servo, if the connections are not identical, I will be able to easily modify them to suit. You are right, I don't need this so much for very slow sewing but it will be great for other things when I'm going faster. I'm also finding as I'm learning to handle say tarp material or a canvas cover, not having to concentrate on the needle position will make life much easier. I'm also going to make my backstitch foot control so my hands will be completely free nearly all the time. To be honest this is more a labour of interest rather than a huge necessity. I get very engrossed in the design and programming and the hours tick away quite quickly. And when the design is completed (and works LOL) I enjoy it every time I use it.

Thanks Fibresport, the servo IS what normally does the control when it receives the signals from the synchroniser, but my design will command the servo drive based on the needles position. I've already paid for 2 motors and drives so don't want to buy 2 more LOL. Plus I enjoy this design work and it will be very cheap.

Beefy, it will be an interesting project for you and while you may be able to design/build something to do what you want it is likely to be specific to your setup. On a personal level my first servo had a needle positioner, I bought it because it sounded like a good idea and I had no idea what I was doing! I tried it and didn't like it. I find for sewing leather a slow, controllable speed is all I need and an NP is of little value.

@chuck123wapati Food : Just watched sudden impact, Dirty Harry for the umpteenth time . (it's 45 degs outside and I'm hibernating with a few beers ) One line had me intrigued : DH: : " nobody , I mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog " Is there an etiquette to what goes on a hot dog over there? There is here. Here in Oz, a hardware chain doing a sausage sizzle, made a major faux paz. Here , we put the sausage in the roll first,followed by onions on top with whatever sauce, tomato, bbq etc. but they did the opposite, put the onions in first. OMG ! It blew up in the media A lot of fuss over piece of processed meat in a piece of bread . HS

Looks nice!

Get yourself a Kinedyne needle synchronizer for accuracy but I'm pretty sure the servo motor controller is what really controls the functions, the synchronizer is just a switch to indicate where the timing of the machine is. The Kinedyne is an optical synchronizer and is super accurate. http://kinedyne-motor.com/products/HM-750SH/234.html You could just get the Kinedyne motor and synchronizer and be done with it. Just sayin - Talk to Ryna at http://www.neelsaddlery.com/ I have no affiliation with Kinedyne or Neels Saddlery, just a very satisifed customer.

In keeping with my growing love of my newly acquired industrial sewing machines, I'm now getting myself absorbed in designing an electronic circuit and programming a microcontroller to make my own needle positioner. I've given up trying to get any sensible instructions for my cheap Chinese servo from the seller. I know it also doesn't have any heel press functionality. So far this is the functionality I'm programming for it: Single revolution/stitch from EITHER the needle UP position or needle DOWN position. This is done by a quick tap on the pedal, either forward (for needle DOWN) or heel tap (needle UP). Stop in needle DOWN position when foot pedal released. Go to needle UP position when heel tapped. Adjustable "coasting" speed when searching for either needle UP or needle down position. This is to have control over overshoot if servo cannot stop motor fast enough. Search for needle position is cancelled if operator presses foot pedal while motor is coasting and waiting for needle UP or DOWN signal. Safety feature - adjustable timeout for motor coasting and looking for needle UP or DOWN position. Coasting stops if signal not received within timeframe. This prevents the machine going on forever if some fault occurs like a broken wire, or faulty needle positioner. Are there any other useful features a needle positioner could have ?

Just use Carnauba wax on it occasionally after polished, it will keep it from rusting.

Thanks for the suggestions. This belt will be used for daily concealed carry.

I thought it was for sheetmetal as well. Could be the cobbler adapted a metal shear to cut leather. Maybe someone gave it to him or he got it cheap and adapted.

Lovely work!👍

Happy New Year, everybody!

Hi all. I recently purchased a Cobra NP4 skiving machine and received it right before I went out of town. Now that I've had a few days to use the machine, I think there's a problem with the presser foot handle. When I pull the handle down, it stops about half way. If I do this 3-4 times it will then go down once. After that, it's another 3-4 times before I can bring the foot down to skive. A friend with a similar skiver recommended that I lube a few areas, which I have done, with no change. Of possible note is that when I received the machine it was pretty filthy, which I thought was odd. It took a few wipe downs to get it clean. There is also a lot of grease at the top knob and where the handle rotates around the pin. The other issue is that the foot is leaving marks on the leather, so the foot isn't polished to the degree it should be. I haven't tried the other feet yet. Here's a link to a video of the presser foot handle in action: I emailed the company that I ordered through but haven't heard back from them. I plan on calling Leather Machine Co tomorrow, but was hoping to get some insight so I don't get the run around from them. Thanks in advance for your time. Neil

That is amazing work! Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Just a few Indian Chum-Me seats I've done in the past, New foam, new leather with custom leather fringed skirt. Main seat uphostery was hand stitched. Skirts are machine stitched. I believe this was a Harley Buddy seat. Its been a few years. LOL

Hi! @KyLeatherMan where are you located?

Elk and deer hide knife sheath with black bear claws, deer antler button and Indian head snap.. Sheath was for a First Nations chief's custom made knife.

@BurntLeatherCo hasn't been seen around these parts since May. But that tag I just did might send them an email that somebody is talking about them. Maybe he/she will check in and you guys can get together.

No chance! I'm in hibernation mode. Besides, I can't run

Nice work. They look great. What do you typically use to line them with?

Now - more than 3 years later 😉 I checked with a known Chinese Ebay seller of sewing machine parts if he can get me the "Pfaff to Singer KB-PF1" foot converter. Few days later he uploaded a listing to Ebay and I have bought 2 pieces - now waiting for them to arrive. Reason I need them is that I found a Pfaff 341 (needle feed) and there are not really plenty of Pfaff needle feed feet out there but I have a good number of Singer feet so I will see how these converters work and I´ll post pictures when I haven em here. https://www.ebay.com/itm/168042808004?var=467644970296

Sorry to hear you've spent time in the hospital and are now selling your leather and tools. Praying for your health and your family.

Happy New Year! Anyone coming for an icy run today?