sarayoung

Thank you so much, kgg, your reply was exactly the kind of breakdown I needed. You’re absolutely right about constantly running a machine near its max capacity; I hadn’t really thought about how that could affect long-term performance and wear. That 3/32" wiggle room suddenly feels a lot smaller when I imagine sewing through a welted seam or adding a midsole. I also appreciate the clarification about the Cobra Class 4. I had wrongly lumped it in with post beds, but now that you explained the weight and needle size, it definitely seems like overkill and not ideal for tight spaces like mine. The suggestion of the Juki LS1341 or its clones sounds like a solid middle ground. I’ll start digging into that direction and maybe even reach out to Toledo Industrial like you mentioned. Sending in sample material is a great idea I wouldn’t have thought of. And I really like your advice about having two machines to cover different ranges. That might end up being the smarter long-term investment rather than trying to find a one-size-fits-all setup. Thanks again for taking the time to lay all that out. Seriously helpful!

Hey everyone! First off, I just want to say how much I appreciate all the helpful input from this community. After your advice last week, I've decided to go with a post bed machine for my bootmaking projects. Most of my work involves stitching 16oz leather for work boots, but occasionally I'll be working with thicker combinations up to 18oz when using bison leather. I've been researching the Techsew 830 because it's advertised to handle 3/8" thickness, which seems better than most post beds that max out at 5/16". However, I'm not entirely clear if that 3/8" rating is for stacked denim or if it can truly handle multiple layers of thick veg-tan leather at that thickness. Has anyone here actually tested this machine with dense leather stacks? I'd hate to invest $2K+ only to find it struggles with welted seams or through heavy stacked areas. I'm also curious about alternatives - have any of you had success with other heavy-duty post beds like the Cobra Class 4 or used industrial Jukis? I'm trying to balance capability with budget, and would love to hear real-world experiences. actually my workshop space is pretty tight, so I'm planning to pair whatever machine I get with a compact industrial table - if anyone has space-saving setup tips, I'm all ears! (And just out of curiosity - has anyone here used a post bed for upholstery projects too? I'm wondering how it would handle thick hides if I ever wanted to tackle a vintage loveseat restoration down the line.) Really appreciate any insights you can share - this is a big investment and I want to make sure I get it right!