Wizcrafts

Yes, there are some sewing machines that can utilize a #24 or #25 needle that is 1/16" in diameter (#25 is better). However, these needles have sharp points that slowly taper to circular as the needle descends. As the needle withdraws, the hole closes up behind it, to a degree. But, if there is thread in the bobbin and on top, the bottom thread gets pulled into the hole, forming the lockstitch. I use a needle and awl sewing machine. The awls have a steep angled chisel point, with a short taper to the full width of the round awl. The holes made with these awls tend to stay open. So, to answer your question, yes, an industrial sewing machine may be able to accept very big needles, but the holes they poke may heal on the upstroke. One option is to try to find awls that have the same diameter and length as the needles used by that machine and use them to poke your holes. Or, find a "reasonably priced" needle and awl machine (speculative statement). Option #1 usually involves either an Adler 204 flatbed, or 205 cylinder arm sewing machine, or clone, or a Juki 441, or its clone (Cowboy, Cobra, Techsew, Ferdinand Bull, etc, etc, etc). The Adler 204 and 205 will allow you to stab through 3/4 inch of leather, with needles up to #27, if the proper shuttle spacer is installed to space the pickup point at a safe distance from the needle. The 441 clones will allow even thicker leather under the feet and can use #27 needles and don't require a shuttle spacer. Option #2 means buying a Union Lockstitch Machine, or a Campbell-Randall, or a Champion, or Landis - needle and awl harness stitcher. These machines typically sell for much more used than the 441 clones sell for new. You might not have considered it yet, but, a drill press with a 1/16" bit makes a 1/16" hole in anything under the chuck!

None other than Sewmun, aka: Bob Kovar, owner of Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. His phone number and link to his website is in his signature, in a reply to you in this topic.

You can get all of those pressor feet from our member, Bob Kovar; owner of Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. I also have a couple of the spring edge guide feet. You have to dink with the spring to ensure that it freely moves all the way up and down. Some of them bind a little after going up and don't drop down all the way. This can lead to the spring running up onto the edge of the leather, throwing your nice stitch line out of alignment (my own experience). After I ran emery cloth through the slots and over any rough edges of the springs, they moved all the way up and down, freely.

Doug; I have a walking foot machine that uses type 111 pressor feet and this is what I have for feet: smooth - bottom standard width and heavy duty (wider) double toe sets smooth - left toe standard width set teeth - left toe narrow set (zippers) teeth - right toe (zippers) smooth binding foot set (extra wide inside foot and long, wide left toe to match) welting foot sets from 3/16" up to 5/8" double welting foot set for 1/8" cord The only attachment I currently have is a swing-away edge guide, with either a long flat edge guide, or a narrow roller guide that screws onto it. My sewing on this machine ranges from 2 layers of Naugahyde, up to 7/16" of leather. While I tend to use the smooth left toe set the most, for work up to 5/16 inch, I find that it is best to change to the extra wide double toe or binding foot set, for thicker leather (3/8"+). These sets exert more pressure on their own, by spreading the top spring pressure over a wider path. A single toe - standard width set needs much more top pressure to keep the thick leather from lifting with the needle, which causes skipped stitches, different stitch lengths and definitely, deeper marks from the left outside foot.

Yes, the motor appears to be snookered.

Isolate the problem. Loosen the motor adjuster and remove the v-belt. Then, try sewing by hand wheeling the machine. Does it sew more then 8 stitches, without binding or skipping stitches? Are the flywheel setscrews absolutely tight on the main shaft? Are the screws on the shuttle fully tightened down? Ditto for the screws for the feed dog mechanism? If the machine screws are all tight and it sews perfectly without the motor, then either the clutch or windings are bad, or failing. Try adjusting the clutch bolt, on the output side of the motor face. Turning the big screw inwards moves the clutch closer to the spinning motor and vise-versa. If the clutch slips after engaging, when set to engage with a slight toe down on the pedal, it's time for a new motor. See if adding or subtracting pressure to the belt allows the motor to continue driving the machine.

You may or may not be able to get the correct belt from NAPA. The pulley on both the servo motor and machine is a sewing specification type 3L, which is 3/8" wide on the outside of the V taper. However, I guaran-dang-tee that the dealer who sells you the motor will have the correct v-belt, which is totally smooth on the inside. The link belt you described will not play nice on your sewing machine. Just measure the original and subtract the number of inches difference in the size of the old pulley, versus the new one and allow another inch shorter for the motor being closer to the body than the original. Judging by the photo of your tall post machine and the big clutch pulley under it, you probably have at least a 45 inch belt now, meaning you'll end up with about a 3 or 4 inch shorter belt for the SewPro motor. If the replacement belt is too long, you can cut it to the right length, with the motor just above the middle position in the adjuster, then use a steel C clamp, for a treadle patcher belt, to fasten the ends together. Tension the belt downward for about 1/2 inch light fingertip deflection at the middle of its length.

Look or ask in our Used/Refurbished Sewing Machines forum. If you don't find anything suitable for your projects over there, consider buying a new machine from one of our esteemed dealers. All of them specialize in leather sewing machines. These are machines that are either specifically designed, or are modified to sew leather. When you say you intend to sew "mostly belts, holsters, knife sheaths etc," - you immediately rule out most of the lesser quality and medium duty machines. You are crossing over into the world of heavy leather stitchers. To properly sew thick leather, as is found in knife sheathes and gun holsters, requires a machine with a longer needle and higher pressor foot lift than a standard walking foot machines uses. The thread used to sew these items usually ranges from #207 to #346. I think you will find that many sewers of holsters and sheathes are using #277 thread. It is almost as strong as #346, but lasts longer on the spool and goes farther in the bobbin. One can usually use a #25 leather point needle with #277 thread, as opposed to a #26 or 27 for #346 thread. While you can sew holsters and sheathes on a big flatbed machine, it is not friendly to the leather if it is already shaped. That is where a cylinder arm machine that sews right on the end of the machine comes in handy. Shaped leather holsters, sheathes, cases and bags can hang over the empty left side, offering a nice flat surface for the stitch line. I have even resoled some shoes on a 441 clone. You don't get that on a flatbed machine. I predict that you will end up with a 441 clone machine, with an arm length of either 9 or 16.5 inches. You don't know it yet, but that is probably where your path will lead. If you are really brave, you may end up with a needle and awl machine, like my Union Lockstitch Machine.

A servo motor will require you to drill all new holes. It will NOT bolt into the existing four hole pattern. The holes are usually 1/2 inch diameter, for 3/8" carriage bolts and nuts..

A buck three eighty nine Not really. About $180 plus shipping of about 11 to 15 dollars.

Amuckart; I know that the dealers of both Cobra and Cowboy branded machines spend a considerable amount of time adjusting the machines they get from China. Some are in better working condition than others, when unboxed, but none should be drop-shipped to end users direct from the boat.. Steve Tayrien and Bob Kovar both put in all the time it takes to make sure that the machines they ship don't come right back as unworkable, or undesirable. I recommend that you contact these dealers and express your concerns to them. See what kind of deal you can get. Maybe they will go over them with a fine toothbrush for you. Once properly inspected and adjusted these machines should last a long, long time.

I looked into that Pfaff 1221 and found it to be a common household sewing machine. It is for sewing cloth, not large pieces of leather. It will take #69 bonded nylon thread and should use a #16 or #18 needle with that size thread. The feed is drop feed, with feed dogs. It has a static pressor foot and needlebar. While you "can" get it to sew leather, it will not feed it properly. If you use it to sew 1/4" thick veg-tan belts, you may convert it into a toaster. The stitch length will vary with the resistance of the material, against the feed dogs and pressor foot. If you convert it to a roller foot you may get 5 or 6 to the inch. , as described by a mechanic who rebuilds them. It appears that they are easily broken.

That motor is not a ServPro, but a SewPro 500GR. It is sold by Bob Kovar, at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines (866-362-7397). The motor bolts onto the underside of the table, usually into the three holes from the original clutch motor. If your motor has three carriage bolts, in a long triangle; two on the left and one on the right, centered, this motor will drop in. If the holes are too far to the left, you will have to drill new ones, or buy a new table top; pre-drilled, cut-out and slotted. Since your external clutch has a 4.5" pulley and a SewPro 500GR has a 2" pulley, you will need a new v-belt, about 3 or 4 inches shorter (this motor sits closer to the table, losing one inch to start with). To answer your question about the motor's capability, yes, the SewPro motor will have more than enough power to plow through 3/8" of any leather. I have this motor driving my National N300 walking foot machine and it plows through 7/16" of leather, without bogging down or dropping out. That is with a #22 or 23 leather point needle.

The motor Kayak was calling the "ServPro" is actually named the "SewPro" 500GR. Our member dealer Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines sells tham at a good price, with a 2" pulley for leather sewing. I have this motor and won't sew without it. Some of the bigger, harder to turn machines have a speed reducer system installed between the motor and machine, under the table. This slows down the maximum speed to a much more leather friendly range of a few stitches per second. Without the 3:1 reducer the SewPro 500GR has 1500 rpm at full speed. If you want to keep your motor, measure the diameter of the output shaft. If it is 3/4 inch, that is the standard industrial sewing motor pulley diameter. Any sewing machine dealer can sell you a smaller 3/8" or 7/16" v-belt and pulley in 3/4 inch ID. Most leather sewing steups have a 2 or 2.25" motor pulley. Installing a smaller pulley necessitates buying a shorter v-belt to compensate for the difference in length from the original. That allows you to set the motor-to-machine belt tension in the mid range of the position adjuster bolt, on the bottom of the motor.

Random; Save your money and do what Art recommended. If you buy that machine in the picture and it gives you trouble (and it will), nobody is going to help you out of the jackpot, because nobody here has probably seen or worked on that machine. The description is in such horrible Chinglish I can barely understand the details,, as printed on the machine's web page. Can you imagine calling the company for help if it goes out of time, or jams up? Harrow. This Yum Yum sewing machines company. How I can herping you prease?

Kevin; Buy some industrial sewing machine oil, called Lily Oil. It is sold in quarts and gallons. Get a small precision oil bottle and keep it filled with Lily Oil. Replace the 10w30 with the lighter Lily oil. Make sure those wicks feed oil holes in bearings, which they should lead to. There is probably a master oil pad that the wicks plug into. Replace it with some absorbent material if it has hardened. Check all mashing gears to ensure that there is no foreign matter caught in the teeth. Also, make sure there is a tiny amount of clearance in all mating moving parts. Eventually, you should be able to spin the hand wheel easily, with the belt off. Use some emery cloth on the external clutch, to remove rust or high spots. That should make the action smoother as you feather the clutch. Good luck with your new toy! Post pictures, or upload a movie of it working to YouTube.

Like Luke said, get the 16.5" arm model, which for Cowboy is a model CB4500 or for Cobra, a Class 4. The first time you get an order for a full size Western style drop-holster, you will appreciate the longer arm! Right now, I use a Union Lockstitch Machine for my holsters, gun belts and weight lifting belts. It has 12 inches of clearance from the needle/awl to the body and sometimes, it just isn't enough for a flat turn. My next machine will have 16.5" of clearance. If not, it would be a waste of my money.

The photos don't show the pressor foot/feet, so it's hard to tell if it is a walking or snapping foot machine, or straight needle. The first photo, of the right side, shows what looks like an ancient external clutch, for the motor, but I could be mistaken. Aside from those things, it looks like it is in relatively decent external condition. You'd need to inspect it in person and maybe take some decent photos of the head area, where the feet, throat cover/feed dogs and needlebar are located, as well as the back or left side shot of the head. If you see in in person and test it and it runs smoothly, make an offer and see what it can do for you. I agree that the prices for the Juki's are too high. They sell for half that amount in the USA. You could buy a decent condition Juki LU-563 from one of our dealers and have it shipped to you, with a motor and table, for a lot less than those local machines. You could even buy a brand new Consew 206RB-5 for less, shipped!

Unfortunately, it is true. The take-up lever system, the shuttle and feed system, not to mention the various gears and bushings, are simply not beefy enough to hold up for long, under the pressure of sewing thick, or hard leather, with or without thick thread and a large needle. Add the #138 thread and a #22 or #23 needle and the pounding inflicted when penetrating 16 ounces of veg-tan leather will wear out the machine in very little time.

Welcome to our Forums, SewVic! You have bought yourself a very high speed garment sewing machine, with a self oiling system. This machine is best used with thin, soft material, under 1/4 inch total thickness. It is designed for use with thin sewing thread, not exceeding #69 bonded nylon. The needle system is correspondingly thiinner than walking foot machine needles. You will be lucky to get it to sew leather with a #20 needle, and #69 thread. Still, you might be able to cheat and up the thread and needle size a bit (to #138, with a #22 needle max). I definitely know where you can get a super servo motor that will improve your sew-ability. It is called the SewPro 500 GR and it is sold by Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines. Many of our members use this motor on our walking foot machines, myself included. When purchased for leather sewing it comes with a 50 mm (2") pulley. It has built-in 3:1 gear reduction and a speed limiter knob on the back. Your current motor is probably equipped with a 4 inch pulley, for the high speeds required in cloth garment work. Since the 500GR sits closer to the table than a standard clutch motor, you will need to subtract an inch more than otherwise, when buying a new, much shorter v-belt. For every inch of difference in pulley diameter, you need an inch shorter belt. Thus, if the original pulley is 4" and the new one is 2", on the SewPro motor, order a 3" shorter v-belt with it. This assumes that the original belt is set in about the middle of the motor tensioner bolt. If the existing belt is sitting near the bottom of the bolt, subtract another inch for the new belt. With the SewPro 500GR installed you will be able to sew under 1 stitch per 3 seconds. It is capable of extremely slow sewing operation and doesn't drop out with a shudder, like some of the cheaper servo motors do. With this motor and a heavier top tension coil spring (and possibly a heavier pressor foot spring and heavy duty feed dog conversion as well), you will be able to penetrate 1/4" thick veg-tan or bridle leather, using a #22 needle and #138 top thread. Considering what you paid for it, you have little to lose when you destroy the machine sewing leather bridles. Hopefully, you can sew enough of them to get your money back. Then, buy a walking foot machine that is made to sew heavy leather.

You "can" sew all types of leather with a 441 clone machine. But, some jobs are more suitable for these big mechanism machines than others. I have been able to sew everything from coat sleeves and zippers, into leather coats and jackets, to gun holsters, on a 441 clone. Last week, at work, a friend of the business came in with a big chiunk of Naugahyde that needed sewing. I installed the table attachments onto the owner's Cobra, changed to a #20 needle and #138 thread, held onto the Naugahyde to guide it, and sewed the pieces together. The thickness of two layers of Naugahyde is about 1/16". I had to reduce the bobbin tension a lot, then reduce the top tension as well. Also, I backed off the pressor foot pressure. If you are willing to dink around and change needles and tensions, you can sew from 4 ounces to 22 ounces of material on a new 441 clone, or, 20 ounces on an actual Juki 441. With that established, the only two questions remaining are what length of arm do you want and how much can you spend? If the idea of dinking with the machine to sew different thicknesses and thread sizes doesn't appeal to you, you have to decide which end of the sewing spectrum is more important to you: thin leather with thin thread, or thick leather with heavy thread. Try to decide what the maximum thickness of leather will be and the largest thread size you intend to use. If the numbers come in at or under 3/8" thickness and #138 thread, a 227 type machine will suffice. This machine, selling for about $1500, sews up to 3/8", with #138 thread and has a triple feed walking foot mechanism. It uses a very common system 135x needle, available from sizes #10 or 12, up to #25. Most crafters use a #22 or #23 needle with #138 thread, in such machines. If you prefer a flatbed machine, look no farther than a Consew 206RB-5 - which is about $1300, or so. This machine can be fitted with either system 135 or 190 (longer) needles. It has a large, M style bobbin and a reverse lever. It is an excellent machine for upholstery, leather garments, vinyl, denim, medium temper leather and sails/boat covers. Accessories are boundless for such machines.

Of the two machines, only the hand operated Boss will sew over 3/8" with heavy thread. This will work out okay for short sewing projects. If you get into sewing a long run, your right arm will wear out fairly quickly. Keep a kid handy to pull the lever! Have you considered getting a motorized heavy stitcher? A nine inch arm model can sew over 3/4" of leather, with up to #415 bonded nylon thread. These 9" cylinder arm machines sell for under $2000, shipped.

The problem is caused by either too much bobbin tension, or too little top tension. The bobbin thread should have a modicum of tension, so the thread can be pulled out smoothly, with some back pressure. Then, balance the top tension, via the top tension knob, over the coil spring. Follow the top thread path, from the top of the spool, to any post holes on top of the machine, to the top tension disks, out the disk, to the thread check spring assembly, then to the take-up lever, and on down through the guides to the left side of the needle. The thread must feed from left to right on most industrial sewing machines. The recess in the eye of the needle faces right.

I recommend the w155, or if you can find one, a w156, with a reverse lever. Just make sure whatever you buy has triple feed. Modern walking foot machines usually come with a M bobbin, which holds 50% more thread then a standard industrial bobbin (similar to 15-91 bobbin). This is useful when you thread up with #138 thread. The old Singer 111s mostly have a standard bobbin. Maybe #92 thread will work for your blanket repairs. It goes a lot farther than #138, in the bobbin. Then, you can go down to a #19 or #20 needle.

I own a Singer 15-91 and I am here to tell you that it can barely sew through 8 ounces of leather, or 3/16" of denim. The pod motor that is mounted into the machine is gear driven, but lackluster in punching power. The feed dogs are very small. The machine is best suited to sewing thin cotton garments. I can't imagine a Singer 15-91 sewing any kind of blanket, much less a horse blanket! The second machine you mentioned, on a treadle, has no model number, but from the serial number it must be from the early 1900's. If it works at all, it will most likely be a home sewing machine, designed to feed and sew garments. What you are looking at are collectors' machines. They are not up to snuff for sewing today's heavy weight materials, or leather, or blankets. That said, if you are prepared to throw away a couple hundred bucks on an antique sewing machine, save your money and buy a used Singer 111w155 walking foot machine, for sewing your horse blankets. They can be found for about $250 to $300, with a motor and table. If the dirt jams it up, tear it apart and clean it, or use compressed air to clean it out. If the clutch on the bobbin drive disengages, clear the thread or blanket strands out of the bobbin and shuttle, then push the reset button down, rotate the hand wheel until the clutch re-engages, and continue sewing. Eventually, it will break down beyond repair. When that happens, buy another old clunker, for blankets. You really need a walking foot machine for horse blankets. I mean triple feed, where the feed dog, inside foot and needle all move together. Note: The Singer 111w155 does not have reverse. If you want a walking foot machine with reverse, look for a (used; out of manufacture) Juki LU-563, or a newer style walking foot machine, like a Consew 206RB-5 - with a 1/2 horsepower motor, with a 2" pulley, and a 20" x 48" industrial - k-legs table. Plop in a #23 needle, thread it with #138 bonded nylon thread, and she'll sew through 3/8" of anything you put under the foot. Change to a longer series 190 needle, raise the needlebar to place the eye in the same position as the original series 135x needles, and she'll sew just over 7/16" of blanket.