kevind

There was one copy of the book on amazon uk. I've just ordered that copy and look forward to having a read over Christmas. Thanks for the heads up. Kevin

Having looked around more I like the look of those leather pouches that reenactment and bushcraft folks use. It seems like a good place to start. I've bought some 2mm hide from eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130813654555 and will have a go with that. As you say Tom, I don't want to limit myself to patterns. What I was imagining though was that there may be patterns/ideas specific to machine sewing which work with the limitations of what a machine can do. I have speed with the machine but not the flexibility of design and execution that you get with hand sewing.

Is there any projects out there for sewing machines? I've looked on you tube, the forum and googled about and there is loads of beginner projects for hand sewing. Is there anything similar for machine sewing projects out there? I've got experience with an industrial machine but leather is new to me. I'd like to sew some simple things for gifts - and as my own introduction to working with leather. Thanks. Kevin D.

[ After a good look around, I have been considering Adler machines and wondered what the general feeling was? Are they as good as folk say? Which one would be best for my purpose? I have tried a post machine without much success. I believe I need a small cylinder arm machine - has anyone got a recommendation or suggestion for me? Has anyone fitted a servo motor to one and did it work out okay? What sort did you fit? Hello Ray, in 2009 I came in on one of your threads about this and asked for recommendations for a machine for doing outdoor gear repairs. Steve Brambley suggested any of the Adler 69 class machines would be useful for what I was looking for. I bought a Durkopp Adler 069 373 cylinder arm machine from ebay and have never looked back really. The machine has done everything from hundreds of turn ups, rips and zips on nylon waterproof trousers and tops to webbing. It has always put out a really nice stitch and fed all kinds of materials through without complaint. In some rucksacks there is a sheet plastic insert which gives the back shape and which is not designed to be removed. It has sewn through this plastic and still given a neat repair on the cordura which needed fixing. On the thin stuff it has been good at putting out a nice stich without puckering or distorting the material. Last year I ordered a servo motor. Although it had a good motor on it the speed was problematic. It worked fine but if I was away from my work for a couple of days the speed could still be a shock when you went back to it after a short lay off. I had been replaceing some large clear plastic panels in a tent. A thief had cut them open with a razor to rummage the pockets while the family inside slept....nice... Anyhow I'd nearly finished the last one and had to leave it for a week. When I went back I started up the machine gently put my toe to it and zap. It just went off far too fast for what I wanted and put around a dozen perforations in the window where they should not have been:head_hurts_kr: . So I unpicked it all which took an age and put another piece in but knew really that I did not want that hassle again and the way to go was to get a servo. I did not find it any problem to fit the servo myself but you can see from the pictures that it has had to be fitted back to front, ie with the switches on the opposite side from where you are sitting. This is because on most tables the way the machine sits you can't fit the motor the other side of the pulley because the table is too short to accomodate the cylinder arm. You overcome this by turning the motor around by changing the connections on the machine so that the motor is running the opposite way but which is now the right way for the sewer. I guess it took around two hours to take the old motor out and to fit the servo. I checked with the manufcturer before I did the wiring alteration and it's been a joy to use. I did take a short video clip when I put the motor in of me stitching 6 pieces of seat belt with the servo motor. The link is I bought mine off ebay and the same guy is still selling, what appears to be, the same motor, the link is hereI don't do a whole of lot of leather but I've been very happy with the machine that was recommended to me to use. I went for the servo because the original motor, although very good, was designed for people who sit at these machines 8 hours a day and have really well practiced control. Fine if you have that skill but for putting work through in a slow controlled way where you are always on top of whats happening then the servo has been one of the best investments in my sewing equipment. PS had problems uploading this so the link for the photographs of the machine and servo is here

Well since I posted originally I have now bought a couple of machines. I bought a pfaff select 4 and have been really pleased with it. It's a mechanical heavy duty domestic machine that has gone through canvas and cordura and webbing with ease and done a good job for what it is. But some stuff I was given to repair was difficult to access. Webbing on bouyancy aids where the buckle had broken and needed replacing and caving suits with difficult to get at splits. An Adler 069-373 came up on ebay which Steve had previously recommended as a good model. So I took the plunge and have bought the machine of ebay and am going to pick it up next week. It also gives me the option of getting into leather work which the pfaff didn't really. Any advice on using this particular machine would be really welcome. I've not used an industrial machine before, also I've had a look for a manual on line but can't see anything via google. Anyone know where I could look to find one? The Adler I bought is here Also when I was looking around for a machine, a Singer 45K48 which has been discussed on this forum before came up in an advert in an Edingburgh online selling thingy. I decided against it because with my level of experience it would be too awkward to master I think. For anyone else though in the uk who might be looking for a heavy duty singer it is here I've got no interest in selling it btw and don't know the person who is, it's just a heads up for those who may be interested.

In looking around for something lighter I've come across a Typical GC 2605. The machine is for sale for £250 which is about 400 dollars, the lady selling it bought it second hand in 2007 but does not know how old it is, she says it is in very good condition. It's a compound feed binding machine. I can remove the binding attachment, then I "think" I'll be left with a presser foot which I will have to change but I'm vague about this. Here is a link to the machine, I'm tempted and as ever would welcome any comments from other people's experience. Art, that almost looks like two cylinders to work on, I don't know what it would be used for, maybe with sewing smocks or tops without zips. Once you start looking the amount of different choices can get a lilltle dizzying! Thanks. Kevin.

Hi Steve, with a flatbed though you can't get up in to do legs and arms if they have a tear in them. I was going to make a table to sit around the cylinder so that it would be easier to use as a flatbed. I don't have the space for different machines but I would spend whatever I needed to on one machine that fitted the bill... or as near to the that as I can find. Thanks for your reply though, I will think about it. BTW, if any of the UK people on this forum know of anyone doing this type of work who would be happy to share their knowledge I would really appreciate it. Kevin.

Hello all, this is my first post and on a slightly different topic. I've added it onto the end of Rays enquiries because it's a similar enquiry. I have also tucked it away because it's not directly about leather.... sorry, but let me explain. I work at an outdoor center in the north of England doing stores and maintenance. At the moment we send all our damaged waterproof gear away to be repaired in Scotland. I would like to set up a part time business of my own repairing these and also repairing rucksacks, tents, tarpaulins, webbing etc. I've spent quite a while online looking for information on purchasing a machine. I imagine from what I learnt that a cylinder industrial machine would be the best for what I am looking at. I was looking at, amongst others, the Highlead machines and surfing the web for user reviews and information led me to your site. As a matter of fact this is the only site which google finds which has discussions from users about these machines. Looking at the leather work on here and reading about it has made me want to include the possibilty of doing leatherwork in the future, so now I'm trying to choose something to buy which covers a wide area. Would this machine here be able to do nylon waterproofs and tents? Would I just be able to put in a smaller needle for this or am I asking for too wide a range of materials from a machine? Basically I don't know if I'm looking for too much from a machine or whether it is possible to work from nylon to leather on a single machine. Your guidance would be welcome. Kevin.