That's quite a story and quite a collection of machines, Wiz!
Which current or previous is your favorite and why?
Thank you for sharing
- Bill
Thanks Bill.
Since I began buying or trading sewing machines around 1984, I've had a couple that stood out from the rest. I would have say that the machines that have made the most money for me are the first Union Lockstitch and my current Cowboy CB4500. That's because the type of projects those machines sew are higher end items than the patchers are used on. A couple of saddle repairs can just about pay for a machine.
The machines with the most "use" are my patchers and the long arm Singer walking foot machine. These machines are primarily used to sew on biker patches, or to make wallet interiors and phone cases. Patchers are the only machines that can sew new tabs onto the sides of assembled ladies' purses when the old ones are ripping. Sewing on patches is not usually a big money maker compared to making holsters, sheathes and gunbelts, but every job helps pay the bills. There are many days when sewing and repairing garments and purses makes more money than building new projects. This is especially true during riding season. Our shop is in a huge antiques mall and we get a lot of walk-in repairs.
I setup my small bobbin patcher with #69 thread. The long arm big bobbin patchers are using #92 thread. If I need to sew with #138 thread using a patcher, I use the Adler 30-7 because it is stronger than the Singer 29s.
I also hem pants and chaps and replace zippers. The walking foot machines are the go to machines for hemming and installing zippers. One is setup with #69 thread and the other with #92.
If anybody was to ask me what types of machines they should buy for their leather shop, I would say a long arm Adler 205-374, or Juki TSC-441, or a clone (Cowboy, Cobra, Techsew, Weaver, etc) for holsters and sheathes, then a compound feed walking foot machine for medium duty flat work sewing, followed at least one patcher. Not mentioned, but assumed, would be a garment sewing machine for sewing thin satin linings and cloth pockets. This could be a domestic or industrial machine, depending on your available space.
My history with leather sewing machines
in Wizs' Leather Work and Sewing Machine Blog
A blog by Wizcrafts in General
Posted
Thanks Bill.
Since I began buying or trading sewing machines around 1984, I've had a couple that stood out from the rest. I would have say that the machines that have made the most money for me are the first Union Lockstitch and my current Cowboy CB4500. That's because the type of projects those machines sew are higher end items than the patchers are used on. A couple of saddle repairs can just about pay for a machine.
The machines with the most "use" are my patchers and the long arm Singer walking foot machine. These machines are primarily used to sew on biker patches, or to make wallet interiors and phone cases. Patchers are the only machines that can sew new tabs onto the sides of assembled ladies' purses when the old ones are ripping. Sewing on patches is not usually a big money maker compared to making holsters, sheathes and gunbelts, but every job helps pay the bills. There are many days when sewing and repairing garments and purses makes more money than building new projects. This is especially true during riding season. Our shop is in a huge antiques mall and we get a lot of walk-in repairs.
I setup my small bobbin patcher with #69 thread. The long arm big bobbin patchers are using #92 thread. If I need to sew with #138 thread using a patcher, I use the Adler 30-7 because it is stronger than the Singer 29s.
I also hem pants and chaps and replace zippers. The walking foot machines are the go to machines for hemming and installing zippers. One is setup with #69 thread and the other with #92.
If anybody was to ask me what types of machines they should buy for their leather shop, I would say a long arm Adler 205-374, or Juki TSC-441, or a clone (Cowboy, Cobra, Techsew, Weaver, etc) for holsters and sheathes, then a compound feed walking foot machine for medium duty flat work sewing, followed at least one patcher. Not mentioned, but assumed, would be a garment sewing machine for sewing thin satin linings and cloth pockets. This could be a domestic or industrial machine, depending on your available space.