CustomDoug

Thanks for the tip jrodz - turns out they were a bit more expensive on this screw than Bob was at Toledo Industrial so I went ahead and got one from him.

Thanks Bob.

Yea, I PM'd Bob last night and haven't heard back from him but honestly I hate to even bother him with such a small item unless it's absolutely necessary.. it's might be a hassle for not much profit for him, plus shipping. Do you know the specs of the bolt?

I've lost the thumbscrew that stops the revolving head (of my Singer 29k60) from spinning. So now it obviously won't lock down where I want it. Since it's such a small (kind of insignificant) item, I was thinking I might be a able to source something local that would work (probably non-thumbscrew). Does anyone know the thread count/pitch and length of this bolt? (I notice that it needs to be longer than any of the other thumbscrews on the machine). Or is the thread count/pitch going to pretty much be sewing machine specific, if not Singer specific? Thanks in advance. ~ Doug

Good to know, thanks guys. How strange that they decided to used the same random number, on such different machines.

I understand the Juki 563 would be a descent machine for upholstery (which would be my primary use of it) and that it has a large bobbin, which is a plus. What about a Pfaff 563 though... I can't find any info about it. However, the model numbers seem to interchange between different brands when they are very similar models. Is this the case with the Pfaff 563 and the Juki ? Thanks in advance ~ Doug

Hi my Consew 18 has been sewing along pretty well for a couple of days (despite the loose feeling bobbin,race,shuttle). But now it's started breaking needles. It seems to be doing this since I started using a zipper foot and sewing through 3 layers of fairly thick upholstery leather right up to the edge (which is thicker than before the zipper foot was added). When it started doing this I was using #18 (135x16) needles and #92 thread... I switched to #20 (135x16) needles and they broke too. It'll sew for a while (around 20 stitches or so) then the needle will start tapping the outside of the hook as the needle is deflected to the left, and quickly break if i don't stop with the warning clicks. I've been very conscious not to pull the leather as I am sewing so I don't think that's the problem. I plan to swap the tensioner apparatus out for a new one, 'cause admittedly this one binds up a little... but it seems to still do this even when I make sure that the tensioner is acting right or when I manually pull a little slack in the thread. As I stated already I'm using the 135x16 system of needles and actually this machine was designed for 16x63 needles. I made no changes to the machine when I started using these needles ( I just read it was possible to use them, so I did) - so maybe something needs to be adjusted or altered for this needle system to be usable? Any comments or suggestions? Thanks ya'll.

Perfect. Thanks a lot Bob! I'll get a couple of temporary machine screws using that info. But it looks like Singer part number 284D is a thumb screw version for this purpose, on the list it goes I guess. ~ Doug

... oh yea, I forgot to mention - while looking at this whole apparatus today, I realized that thumb screws would really be the most convenient choice of all. I wonder if Singer offers that, I'll have to look into it. ~ Doug

Well I went to an Elliott's today, which is way better than the Home Depots, etc. and they only had the 4mm x .70 thread pitch. That ended up being the wrong thread count/pitch. They didn't have any other count/pitch for 4mm bolts (to my surprise). So that's why I thought about a fasteners company...but Ferg now that you mention it, I do think Lowe's may have a better selection than Home Depot. I did notice earlier today though that the small bolt that holds the needle to the needle bar - fits those holes... so I'll take it with me. And I will need them to be a little longer, but there's just empty space under the bed at this location so no problems. ~ Doug

I have a swing away edge guide that I've never used (obtained in a used machine purchase) but I'm missing the two screws that hold this thing down. The bed of the Consew (model 18, that I can't seem to shut up about lately as ya'll have probably noticed) is machined for this of course but I need the screw dimensions. My wild guess is 4mm x .60(pitch) x ?(Length) . Singer part number 190J for the Singer model 16-188 should be the exact same item... but I really should be able to source this locally since it's just a simple screw really. Though it'll probably take traveling to a specialized fastener vendor. Anybody have a clue on these screws? Thank. ~ Doug

Thanks Bob, when you said cast iron I was thinking of skillets and even vintage treadles, but of course the race is not like that at all. I tightened up the one big screw (forked metal holder thing) on the back of the race and tried a new bobbin case and that seems to have tightened the whole assembly up a little. I will put a new race on my list of things I need to get soon. Thanks gain ~ Doug

Is there a trick in figuring out which is at fault, separately they both seem fine.

I've noted to myself several times that the hook and bobbin assembly on my Consew model 18 is rather loose fitting... enough so that I think to myself "is it supposed to be that loose?" . This machine can be a little inconsistent with it's bottom thread tension... occasionally it will pull tight on one or two stitches (not sink into the middle of the leather in one or two places). Are these two things related by chance? I haven't taken the hook assembly out yet to have a good look around but is there common items that wear out that might cause this loose fit? I doubt the bobbin case would wear out, and besides the hook it loose when there's no bobbin installed - perhaps it's the hook itself? Or is it perfectly normal for this area to have a good amount of play to it? Are there other symptoms that this might cause (I have difficulty with the first stitch not being tight with this particular machine)? TIA! ~ Doug

Oh, sorry my friend - I forgot to report this as sold. All the best ~ doug

I was under the impression that hermes was using machines now-a-days to some extend, if not mostly. However, I would doubt they'd ever do it all by machine. However I'm sure they'd always have craftsmen that could perform the level of stitching that we see in pictures and these videos. If nothing else, for special orders and repairs, etc. But as for the hand stitch looking like it's machine done, wouldn't that be achieved by using a stitching wheel to go over all the stitching after all is done, to unify the appearance? Or are they supposed to be beyond such techniques?

I can do the grinding and alterations on a welting foot that I have but I'd really rather find a ready made item. I'll get in touch with cutex Art, thanks.

I have a Consew model 18, which is an older walking foot machine and I'm trying to source a zipper foot for it. Singer makes the same machine BTW (16-188), but that's been of no help. I contacted a couple of this site's sponsors and none had a zipper foot for this machine. I noticed while searching ebay that Consew's portable walking foot machine (the CP206R) uses what looks exactly like the presser foot on my machine and it's offered in L and R zipper feet too. I realized the middle skinny foot of the two machines mount differently (at least I think they do), so I'd be using the my original one, I'm just trying to source the outside foot. However the picture in the ebay add is just a line drawing so I feel uneasy about ordering the item without having the dimensions. Does anyone have a CP206 that could look at the presser foot? It doesn't have to be the zipper foot, the regular will be enough to tell if this will work. I have absolutely no affiliation with the seller but here's a picture of the add I'm looking at: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WALKING-FOOT-RIGHT-TOE-ZIPPER-FOOT-CONSEW-CP206R-/300441754801?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f3b95cb1#ht_4033wt_1066 oh and actually, here's another seller that has a sort of distorted picture. I can hold my presser foot at the same angle as these pics and they look identical to me. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Consew-CP206R-Left-Right-Zipper-Foot-/270709849915?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f07907f3b#ht_1867wt_907 Thanks for any help.

ah that'd be cool, I still haven't made a descision on a motor for the 45K. So yea, let me know what you've got.

now that's resourceful.

thanks Bob.

I'm resurrecting this thread because I finally have a servo coming that will be going on my Consew 18 and the hand wheel is relatively small with a small belt groove (like a 31-15). I'm thinking the servo pulley's groove is going to be wider - is that going to be a problem? What width v-belt is going to work for this set up... round belt?, etc. thanks.

Give this guy a call, he's just north of SA if I recall in Boerne, TX and he had a 31-15 (not sure if any of it's still available but worth a try) Established 1968 Shop Contents For Sale (Texas) . You should try contacting the dealers that sponsor this site first to see if they've got what you're specifically after, I'm told they often have and or can get specific used machines. See the banners at the top of the screen. If that doesn't work, give Bogel-Greenwell a call (because they're fairly local) I'd bet they have a 153 and I'm sure they have a few 31-15s. Good luck.

Where in Texas are you.. I might know a place.

Thank you - I'll look at those bolts, appreciate the help.