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To many unknowns to start with. i) what model of sewing machine are you using?? ii) what thread size are you using?? iii) what size of needle are you using?? iv) is the machine threaded correctly??? Need photo's showing thread from spool to the eye of needle?? v) Did you do a drop test or use some other method of setting the bobbin tension???? My take: When you make a circle type seam manually without using a circle guide the sewing speed and controlled movements both have to be properly matched. Particularly with drop feed machines there can be a tendency to twist / turn / move the material to quickly. With drop feed and walking foot machines there is definitely points in the sewing cycle where there is no downward pressure on the material. If you move the material at one of those points you can drag up from the bobbin extra thread and get poor stitches. Those poor stitches do not necessarily appear at that stitch point but in the following stitches because there is so much slop / extra thread in the bobbin thread which then can become a self compounding issue. My observation: At your starting point of the seam you did not lock your stitches and the knot / loop is visible. The knot / loop should be buried in the leather which usually indicates a tension problem. If you don't lock your stitch it will cause a tension issue. Typically 3 stitches (4 holes) forward and then reverse back through those holes and then do your seam. Another method is start your seam the distance 4 holes in would be and reverse back 3 stitches then forward. The second method reduces the amount of thread in each hole by 1/3. kgg

That looks great! I’ve been wanting to make one for mine as well. I think you may have just inspired me!

Very nice work!

I don't know if I'm seeing it right or if it's some kind of optical delusion, but the stitches on the bottoms of your circles look much longer than the lead in stitches at the top. None of the stitches really look taut to me, anyway. In these pictures at least, it doesn't look so much random as it seems to happen when the circle gets really tight. The holes look a little big, too. Are you using the right size needle? No answers, just an observation. Definitely looking forward to the solution.

I think the original needles are going to be hard to find. I believe they're out of production by everyone and the lack of needles is what has pushed many away from the old 97's. I passed on one for that reason. What type of work do you plan to sew? I don't think I really ever stitched anything in leather over 11/16" Can always be a need for capacity though. Oil? Use straight 30W oil. Allot of the more modern, heavy machines use a 30W with a tackifier added (Basically 30w bar and chain oil). Old machines have allot of wear anyway and that helps a bit. Most of the little machines like a 31 you cite use a lighter weight oil, basically a spindle oil. Any oil is better than no oil, but that's too light for a 97 or any cast iron monster for that matter.

I can’t understand how it sew so good going straight but somehow looses tension when turning a radius. Check disc spring is holding pressure on thread until needle enters material. Adjustment screw in check disc is just left of center. Also change needle and retreaded with no help.

Designed this to fit a Buck 112 size knife, it was a fun project.

The top is 3/8" and the bottom is 13/16" (seems odd but I measured it). Stimpson steered me to another company (I don't recall the name) that made dies for 104 rivets. I'll see if I can find the name. It would be nice if Weaver parts fit it. I haven't tried to find the specs on their dies. I'm just kicking tires now as I don't have a huge need. But, if I wouldn't mind using it without a big investment. Thanks for the tips. Randy

I looked at a lot of options several years ago. Found a few examples searching the web but never got started. I'll be interested to see what you do. Randy

I put together a fork bag for my bike. I guess it's actually more of a windshield bag. I used 10oz vegtan dyed with vinegaroon and used resolene to seal. The bag is 10.5"x 5"x 2.5" (mount point is 13"x 1.5")

Check to make sure that the top thread is staying all the way inside the tension disks. Add some mmore top tension. Verify that the check disk is properly threaded and that the spring tension is good, the bottom stopper holds the thread taut until the needle pierces the leather, and that the little set screw is either in the center, or to the left in the curved slot. Finally, change needles.

When librarians get bored:

Looking for holster ideas

Any suggestions on how to resolve this? While sewing leather in a straight line it sews perfectly but at random times on radius it starts loosing tension on bottom. Makes a slight noise when it’s starts. Thanks for any help.

There is only 1/8" or a hair less room to move the needle bar up to compensate for a longer needle. Both of the alternatives I have in hand to compare would still need shortening. The 1001 needle is 0.430" longer from the top end to the bottom of the eye than the 97x3 needle. The 331LR needle is 0.535" longer to the eye than the 97x3 needle. To use the shorter 7x3 or 7x4 needles would reduce sewing capacity by 0.330". To not use the upper guide you'd gain back about 3/16" Therefore only reducing the capacity by about 0.140" with a 7x3 needle and no upper guide. That might be the easiest, most needle options, and most economical method of keeping these machines stitching at close to what they could do. Personally I'm still interested in pursuing/finding the correct 97x3 or 97x4 needles, or shortening and trying some of the longer alternatives. Is there a place to find detailed needle dimensions or specifications by type or system? What oil to use? The parts manual says "Type B" or "Type D" oil sold by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, Type D for a "minimum of stain" presumably they're otherwise quite similar. In a singer manual (for 31-19) the same oils are described as: TYPE В - MANUFACTURING MACHINE OIL, HEAVY GRADE TYPE D - MANUFACTURING MACHINE OIL, STAINLESS, HEAVY GRADE I can't find what those types translate to today. Most sewing machine oil today is a clear mineral oil with few to any additives, but it is available in several viscosities for different machines, and I have several on hand but I'm curious to know technically what Singer "Type B" or "Type D" oil is or was, what viscosity.

Here's what I ended up with on the cordless compressor. @dikmanit sounds like your compressor is like mine. It had some kind of white thread locker material as well, but I was able to twist it loose. One mine, the top shell of the compressor unthreads, so if you need to put some heat on the fitting, you can do so without effecting the plastic parts inside. One mine, both ends of the top fitting were odd-ball, so I bought a Badger (M5) male to Paasche female adapter, as the Paasche thread was a little smaller than what was on top of the compressor fitting. I used my lathe to turn down the compressor fittings threads and re-thread them to match the Paasche adapter (about .256"x40tpi). It's not the tightest fit, but the rubber o-ring that comes with the adapter sealed it. The compressor fitting's inside diameter was a little too big to cut it all the way down to a Badger thread and avoid the adapter. It works! Time to pass it on to the kiddo.

Hi all, Can anyone send me a link to a copy of the instruction manual for the Nexxi NX0618 sewing machine please? I urgently need it to facilitate the sale of my ex-husbands machine to a young beginner leatherworker who will need guidance to get started. thanks!

Part of the problem is that you have also burnished it by rubbing on it. My only suggestion is to make a few more around on the wall and make it look intentional, it will add some texture and difference to the background.

Beautiful pics Well , things are progressing . Dads op site is pretty much healed up. No more dressing changes. Yey ! Just some lanolin to maintain the area. Just his skin graft area on his thigh is taking a bit longer to heal, i have to change that dressing every 2 days now, makes a change from visiting the local hospital every 2 days. We know nearly all the staff now by name , been there that many times. Still have the occasional video conference with major hospital in Perth. Hope all is well with your daughter and recovering well , and you're looking after yourself as well, taking care of our loved ones can be 'challenging ' . Take care friend HS

I have only a little experience with the 97. I think they were primarily used to sew heavy rigging back in the day, that was something hook and awl machines couldn't do. Should be able to simply adjust the needle bar up or down to compensate for the long needles? Those singer needles are longer because there's more stuff it has to clear. Guide/foot wise. You could probably use a shorter needle with good results if you ran it without the needle guide. That would depend on what you're planning to sew most likely. Seems like the old 97's have gone down the obsolescence path much like old Landis 1 and Champion Stitchers?

"G" machines were made in Germany,W -USA,U-Japan

Dear All I like to know what's the diffrent in the letter (g) this sewing machine have diffrent letteres when i search for parts W-G-U-A I have seen it on: https://www.industrialsewingmachineparts.co.uk/parts212.htm Thanks in advance

It took me a while to spot it too. Only a leather worker would pick it up, but I 'd think the average person wouldn't see it. But as suggested, antiquing might do the trick . HS Nice work BTW

Thanks for your help I will remember that including photo size

When you do make the jump into sewing machines, if you have any technical or operational questions, head over to our Leather Sewing Machines section of the forums. When you do get to try using his Juki, hold back the starting threads so that the top thread doesn't get pulled into the shuttle and jams the machine. Holding at least to top thread, back and to one side, keeps it from getting drawn down unexpectedly. You can let go after either backtacking, or sewing all the way around and overlapping the first 5 to 10 stitches. Your master should teach you that, but it becomes a subconscious operation that one might fail to pass along.