Wizcrafts

It was a good question in itself. However, some of us have 6 or more sewing machines in regular use. My usage for machine X may differ from member Z's usage. For instance, I have my Singer compound feed walking foot machines setup so one uses only #69 and the other only #92 thread. The reason for this is because their job is to sew patches onto Biker's vests and zippers into jackets. The only hard leather they sew are phone cases and wallets, both of which are under 1/8 inch thick. You may want to use machines like those to sew 3/8 of an inch with #138 thread. So, my usage would be misleading as to the capabilities of those machines. I have a friend who sews rifle slings and guitar straps on a Cobra Class 4. He only uses #138 and #207 thread and the average thickness along the edges is 1/8 inch. This in no way describes the capacity of that machine, which easily sews 3/4 inch with much heavier thread. It might make more sense to ask members what machines and thread/needle combinations do you use to sew wallets | phone cases | knife sheathes | holsters | belts | chaps | vests, upholstery leather, etc.

Backstitching with a barbed needle involves rotating the work 180 degrees and carefully lining the needle up on the side of a previous lockstitch. It can be inside the same hole, but must not lay directly on the knot or the existing stitches. Sometimes, rotating the needle a bit makes it easier to lay stitches next to each other, in the same holes. Pick a direction and stay with that alignment.

First of all, decide if you intend to use the post machine to sew fancy stitching, or to simply sew seams together. Second, decide if you are okay with a single needle, or if a double needle is in your best interest. Third, establish what range of stitch lengths will look best in your designs. Fourth, choose a range of thread sizes. Finally, pick the type of feed that suits you work. This could be a large (~1") or small (~3/4") roller foot, which gives the best visibility of where the needle will enter the material. These machines are best suited to decorative stitching. Roller foot post machines come in bottom feed only, or top and bottom synchronized feed. The latter is much more expensive. Other feed types are flat foot and walking foot. The flat foot could be right, left, or double toe and is best used with simple stitch lines and piped seams. The walking foot systems work best when you have to sew up and down new layers. Once you have established the required specs, go hunt down the best machine that meets them at a price you can afford. Don't make the mistake of thinking that any post machine will do for shoe making. Some are limited in stitch length (too short or too long). Others in needle and thread size. Some have 6" posts while others are taller. Some have large bobbins that take up more room on the right side of the needle and increase the entire footprint of the business end of the post. All of our industrial sewing machine dealers sell and service post machines of all descriptions. You can buy a good condition used Singer, Adler or Pfaff post machine (with a motor and table) from about $1,000 to $1800. New Chinese post machines usually sell for about $2,000 and up, depending on the type of feed and number of needles. The last options would be type of motor and whether a speed reducer is installed or not.

Of course the foot pressure matters! You can back it off until the leather lifts with the ascending needle. That's when you get skipped stitches. It is a problem with all aniline, retan and veg-tan leathers. It is not usually a problem on chrome tan. The basic rule is: if the leather has a memory and holds impressions, don't use a top tooth feeder. Or, if you do, learn to either rub out, or explain away the tooth marks.

Use the standard white lily oil made for industrial sewing machines. It is sold by all industrial sewing machine dealers.

That sounds right and puts it in competition with the Adler 869 that our advertiser Weaver Leather sells for about $8500.

Back around 1989 through 1990, I purchased several Juki LU-563s for myself and business associates. I got the cheapest one at a discount for bringing sales business to the dealer. That traded in machine cost me $1200 back around 1990. the other 563s cost the buyers $2200 each. I post this as a reference for what these machines used to sell for, new and used, from Juki dealers.

Chrisash; There is something I can pass on to you that worked fairly well for me, with a domestic sewing machine. I used to rebuild and sell old domestic Singer sewing machines in my leather shop (I am inside an antiques mall). There was one class of machine that surpassed all the others I've had for transporting and sewing leather. I am referring to the ancient model 127 and 128 bullet shuttle machines. They had very aggressive teeth on the feed dog, which also had fairly high protrusion. I was able to thread these machines with #92 bonded nylon thread and sew 12 ounces of bridle leather at 5 to the inch. This was using the standard steel foot and cranking down the pressure screw. The feed dog dug in far enough that the leather didn't stall. I don't know if there is a "heavy duty" feed dog available for your 201, but I'd search for one. You will need to replace the throat plate with the feed dog (the slots are wider). They are often sold in kits with new screws. Do that, then try a roller foot.

Not any more. They moved last year to: 405 FM 3083 Rd, Conroe, TX 77301 USA

You haven't upset me. I was steering you away from a non-solution that I tried and found wanting. That's all.

You can buy then rebuilt and is perfect condition directly from the Campbell-Randall Company, in Texas.

You will be wasting your money. If you need a walking foot, buy a walking foot machine with compound feed. The even feed attachments for little household machines are basically nothing burgers. They are meant for quilters.

Frankly, I would limit my needle selection for that machine to #16, 18 and 19. It uses garment system DBx1 needles.

My first industrial sewing machine was a Singer 96k40 and it was not able to sew with anything larger than #69 bonded thread.

I want to point out to people using Singer 15-91 sewing machines to sew leather that replacement motors are expensive. I mention this as a former owner of one I bought and burned out the motor on, trying to sew heavier leather than it was happy with. That was when I decided to get back into leather work, before I started buying walking foot machines again. There is a unique smell when the wiring melts and smokes. This can also happen just sewing cloth if one fails to add the proper viscosity lube/grease to the two lube ports. Some people mistakenly think these are oil ports and fry the motors after oiling them. There is a non-metalic ring gear that goes from the motor output to the machine's main shaft gear. That gear can fracture under load, or even just from age. These machines can be troublesome to rebuild when drive components break or melt.

That is correct. The new top of the line heavy duty Adler machines have a direct drive motor in the body and now Juki is moving in that direction too. This gives the manufacturer total control over sewing direction, speed and needle position without external or third party calculations. There is no doubt that the built-in motor is covered by the Juki dealer's warranty with the original purchaser. It is also possible that said warranty would not follow a used machine to subsequent buyers. This is something to bear in mind if you were to buy such a machine used.

That's a hell of a deal, depending on two things. 1: The cost of the gas for the round trip. 2: If you don't mind tooth marks on the top and bottom of the leather. #1 is what it is. #2 could be a problem because this type of machine has synchronized top and bottom feed - where the outside foot moves with the feed dog while the needle and inside foot only move up and down. The presser and inside foot both have sharp teeth to grip difficult or slippery materials and positively drag them through. This configuration is favored among marine sewing enthusiasts where long sailcloth and boat covers often need to be repaired. If the tooth marks on top will be a problem, ignore that dual feed Juki and restrict your search to a triple/compound feed walking foot machine.

@katit None of my multitudinous Singer sewing machines have reverse. I just spin the work 180 degrees to sew through the previous stitch holes and they line up perfectly. If turning the work it not practical, I just tie off the threads on the back and burn the stubs.

The modification for your motor is a small strip of thin translucent material that has graduated density across the width, running from transparent to dark. It needs to be taped onto the rotating shaft inside the motor assembly to interfere between the light beam and light sensor. Contact Cobra Steve to obtain the filter, which includes instructions. Or, ask him about upgrading to a better controlled motor. The bobbin case is removable and replaceable. But, a whole assembled shuttle is easier to replace.

As a guide, 5mm stitch length is about 5 stitches per inch (25.4mm). That is the ideal stitch length for upholstery, although a longer 6mm would do on some non-critical seams. Anything longer that 4 per inch is inefficient for seat covers. As for resale value of the P-1206R, it is too new to have a known value. This machine sells for about a thousand dollars new. Used one year, it might fetch $500 or $600. The pump in this machine is more efficient than on high speed straight stitch machines.

The closest manual I found covers the Singer 29k62, which is the same generation machine. Get the manual here.

You were supposed to get a foot speed control pedal with the machine. Contact the seller about this. Otherwise, you will have to find a compatible electronic foot pedal that connects to the motor's power socket (between motor and AC source. The motor, floor pedal and double AC socket assemblies are usually sold as a package for about 50 bucks and up. Better motors and controllers can run you a hundred bucks and up.

Are you sure? Did you mean to type: system 134-35?

Automotive leather seating and trim is virtually 100% chrome tanned, unless it is a special order, hand made, carved seat or arm rest cover. That would be the only time veg tan would be used in the "industry." Chrome tanned leather is usually color fast for a very long time (decades), as opposed to veg tan which is UV sensitive. I moved your topic to a more appropriate forum that deals with dyes, finishes and such things.

Walking foot machines using system 135x16 needles can't sew much over 3/8" (~10 - 11 mm). This limit is imposed by the up/down stroke of the needle and alternating height of the feet. When you are sewing 3/8 inch (10mm), the feet need to alternate up and down about 1/8 inch (~3mm). In Metric-speak, that's about 13mm. In order to sew thicker than 3/8", you need a Pfaff model that allows for higher alternating (working) lift and longer , System 190 needles. These needles are about 3/16" longer than System 135.