louis

Thanks! Gradually getting the picture. So what is the advantage of having a speed reducer on the machine?

So some more beginner questions: 1) when a machine indicates a 1/4" welt, does that mean this is the maximum thickness it can hancle? 2) Would a walking foot or a roller foot be better? 3) What is drop feed and why do i want it? 4) What is a full rotary hook, and why is it a good thing? 5) What amp motor am I lookign for for a machine to be effective for 6 oz garment leather. 5) Is Alphasew a reputable brand? They seem to be pretty reasonably priced?

Howdy. I am somewhat new to leather machines. I am looking for something with enough oomph to reliably make my own motorcycle and camping gear with on occaision. The heaviest I would expect to go is 3 layers of 6 oz garment leather (and only rarely). I expect to use a #69 weight nylon bonded thread at heaviest. Most of my other 'sewing machine' work is canvases and denims. I have found that my home sewing machine really does not like heavy denim, and refuses to work the weight of leather tha I want to use at all. I do very little heavy weight leather (little enough that it makes more sense to just hand stitch it), and would rather not invest in an industrial that would be rarely used as I have no intention of turning this into a business. Ideally I want something on the heavy end of home use, so that it can do double duty for camping and outdoors gear, but lighter and cheaper than an industrial machine. I am currently living on a top floor apartment and would rather not haul an industrial machine around every time i move/need it serviced. I have looked around a bit online, and am considering the following: Janome 6600 P Pfaff Hobby 4260 Pfaff hobby 1122 Necchi 6110 Pfaff Select 3 Does anyone have experience wit hthese machines adn know if htey will handle my thread and leather expectations?