earlthegoat2

There is a leather machine for sale locally here. I have not gone to take a look at it but have a picture. It looks like a Cowboy 3500 but with no markings. If I remember right, some of these had a GA-? designation perhaps? Anyway, what are the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a machine like this? It appears to be set up for leather as the ad states that is what it was used for. Parts availability should be good with all the other China clones out there. Would it accept the Cowboy feet? The price is 1500 as it sits. This is not my first choice in a heavy duty machine but if the price is right I may grab it.

I think the introduction of the CB3200 either did or should have put a pretty nice dent in the Tippmann Boss sales. The Boss has more height which is a real advantage over the 3200 but for a number of belt makers out there who would choose between the two, I would think the 3200 would win often if they would be purchased new.

Here is a CL listing for an old singer. Machine appears to be physically large so that implies it is heavy duty. Owner says model number is 951. This does not bring up much. Anyone here know by any chance. http://savannah.craigslist.org/tls/4663596414.html

I'm glad I was taken so literally. It is an honor and a privilege.

I like my 20oz tapered maul for general tooling and stamping. When I do letter stamps or a strap end cutter I usually go for my 32 oz straight mallet. So basically, when I tool, I use the wrist rocker technique as described above and hen I need to put my arm into it I prefer a mallet with a straight face.

Vintage anvils will be made of either forged or cast steel. These are highly desirable among those who lust after anvils. Modern ones being sold today are nothing more than ASOs. (Anvil shaped objects) and will usually be made from cast iron which is brittle and susceptible to breakage MORE easily. As in, for leatherwork and not hammer forging, the cast iron anvil will do just fine. They are only worth to me marginally more than they are worth as scrap metal though. If I found a good price on one I would buy it. However, I have been looking for a vintage anvil for some time and I commonly encounter prices not unlike the one referred above so good luck with that. Oh and to help ID a steel anvil over an iron one, give it a good whack with a hammer. If it makes a beautiful high pitched ting it is steel. If it makes a high pitched thud it is iron.

Thanks again. I had a feeling something was different about the CB and the Toro. I will be making purchase soon of a 441 like the CB4500 or Cobra 4.

So this a question I think I probably already know the answer to because I have looked at the specs. However, I read a post from a few months back which alluded that a CB3200 could stitch up to 7/8". Now, this was just one reference and I have seen countless references to the 3200 being able to sew a max of 1/2". The reason I ask is because I would get the 3200 today if it could sew 3/4" and that is the only reason I am holding out for the 4500 as that maximum thickness is kind of the make or break. All the other specs fit my needs. To add confusion to myself, the Toro 3200 is advertised as having a 7/8" capacity and it seems to be a similar machine to the CB3200. Maybe not though. I could be mistaken. All they may share is a designation number. So I am just looking for definitive clarification and maybe some explanation on my confusion before I buy the 3200 or hold out for the 4500.

Ive never had a problem using using my 4" thick piece of granite that I also use for tooling. Why is everyone suggesting metal? I exclusively use copper rivets so I have done a few.

Boeshield T-9 would work awesome. I use it for my table saw and band saw as well as various woodworking hand tools. Pricey but worth it if you have many uses for it.

The CL ad has been taken down or expired so maybe the machines are in a new home.

Might still be worth picking up for the right price. As long as you can haul it. I would not mind one that could do golf bags.

I am still in the process of selecting and eventually purchasing a stitcher. My heart is set on a Cowboy 4500 or similar but in the last couple of weeks I have been researching some other options besides 441 clones. Such as machines made by Luberto, Landis, Puritan, and Randall. Research has kept bringing me back to the 441s based on the current service and current dealers behind them. However the Lubertos have got me curious. They seem serviceable enough even if they have not been being made for a bit. You can still get the service videos so you can probably still get service parts. What can a Luberto do that a 441 cannot do and vise versa. Is any one of them more versatile than the other. My specific needs are a machine that can sew 3/4" of horsehide down to 3-4 layers of 1000 Cordura.

The holster and belt are beautifully tooled. Why did you not tool the mag pouch? Also it appears the retention strap engages the grip safety. Or am I wrong here? Either way it is merely academic as the XD is perfectly safe even with the grip safety engaged.

By rawhide, do you mean, literally, untanned leather within the Latigo itself? Never ran into that with the Latigo I bought from them but that is interesting. I've cut a fair share of horse hide with my Osborne clone cutter from Tandy and never had a blade break even though I have had some problems with the material being too tough. Rawhide is a different story though.

I was asking about machines earlier to sew multiple layers of horse hide which is very tough. Wiz said to buy a 3500 or 4500 Cowboy and be done with it. No pressure or anything Wiz, but I am putting all my eggs in that basket and am saving for the Cowboy 4500. I could buy it now but Im having a car dilemma. Either way it will be in the next few months. I mainly decided on the 4500 over the 3500, 3200 or 227 because the added capacity for the small margin of price difference was a no brainer. Add to that, the 7/8" height of the 35/4500 over the 1/2" of the 227 was needed for some 3/4" thickness items I make. Not only do I have these horse hide projects that I do but I have also run into a small market of heavy canvas custom car seat covers that I have some commissions on. Luckily they are for a few months in the future so by the time I buy the CB4500 I will be using it for them.

It was 1250 plus shipping which was indicated that it would be 350-400 which would make it a total of at least 1600. So it has actually been reduced.

Sent a PM

Thanks everyone. I think there is enough information here for me to make a desicion. Don't know which way I am leaning yet. Will probably have to sell off a few miscellaneous items to fund my purchase since will be spending more than I thought I would need to. Can't wait for it though.

A Techsew 3650HD should work too right? It has limitations compared to CBs and Cobras but it should fit my needs of belt sewing still.

I was hoping someone could ID this Singer and then tell me what it was capable of but it kind of looks like it would not even be able to handle what I need it for. I really don't even know what a bottom feed machine is. I know what a walking foot machine is and that is why I am inquiring about the Consew 206RB series as well. As you may have guessed, I am new to machines a bit. I am familiar with the workings of the Consew 206RB but I am not familiar with its leather stitching capabilities. I have seen video of it doing triple thickness 5-6oz Latigo so I at least know it can do that. There are a bunch of the RBs that come up for sale for the head only so that is why I am asking. It does seem after reading the overview of them at Toledo, that they are not up the task of the increased denseness and hardness of horsehide. I would no doubt run a 3/4 hp servo motor with the smallest pulley that I would buy separate. I have researched quite a bit but really have nothing hands on so far except a few stitches with a Tippman Boss I tested out but ended up not purchasing because I thought I could get a better deal on a fully mechanized machine that would meet my needs. What would be a practical minimum for a walking foot machine for the 6-7oz horse hide I am working with?

Mainly I want to know what model this is and will it handle being able to sew 2 layers of 6-7 oz horsehide? It is similar to a 281-141. If not, would a Consew 206RB-x be able to handle that? My mother has one of these for upholstery but she does not know its maximum capabilities. Horsehide is incredibly tough so I would think you would want a machine that was a bit above and beyond that which could handle regular belt or tooling leather.

I know I am probably buying into snake oil here but I was hoping someone would have a source for the type of rivets mentioned in the video on rivets in this link and a way of setting them by hand without an arbor press. Also there is mention of thicker polyester thread in the same link. I can only find thin thread for cloth sewing that specifically mentions polyester as the material. Any sources? Thanks everyone. http://www.saddlebackleather.com/Quality-Built-to-Last