Ferg

My first experience with a sewing machine was before I started grade school, almost 80 years ago. It was my mom's peddle Singer. I sewed some of her quilt patches together if I remember correctly, that didn't go over real well. Have used several home machines and just brought home my newest Leather machine yesterday. Had made arrangements with Bob Kovar ( Toledo Industrial) to have them set-up a new Cowboy 3200 for me. Bob asked if I wanted them to run through the operation, I said no. "Do you want to sew with it?" No. Bobby put the head in a box for me while we carried the remainder out to the truck. Looked it over when we got home with it. This afternoon I put my new drop down roller guide from Uwe on it, oiled and threaded it. Set the Servo to Slowwww, turned the table perpendicular to my big window in the sewing room, sunlight washing over the machine, Placed two pieces of Bridle scrap together and sewed several different length stitches. Other than needing to loosen the foot pressure a little more, it sewed perfectly. I had to sit back and admire my stitching for a few minutes. Nice machine!!!!! Anyone wishing to attach the drop down roller guide from uwe, The one he has in stock right now is a little long. I had to cut about 1/4" off one piece. Attaching the accessory bracket to the machine worked fine. The wall of the machine is only about 1/2" thick so I was a little surprised when the drill bit broke through before I got to 3/4" as suggested. Easily threaded the hole and attached the bracket. Notice I said, Hole as in one hole. Didn't drill the other hole since I have attached them before with just one bolt. Also attached the extension from Uwe for the hand lift for the foot. The machine couldn't be anymore of what I wanted. Thanks Bob and Bobby for getting it adjusted perfectly for me. I have only one gripe and it doesn't concern the machine. Suppliers on the Web advertise they have every needle ever made by so and so for the 441 clones. Not so. You will be lucky to find a half dozen different. They supply all these fancy charts with all the "Point" configurations and only have maybe four. If you are looking for a machine of this size and abilities, buy a 3200, you will never regret it. Ferg

Twenty six of the dull finished plus twenty five of the shiny. The dull will buff brighter. Shiny tools have metal handles, others have wooden handles I made for each one. Wooden handled items will work in an Arbor press for the impressions. Two stamps missing in this photo-two Mushroom. Want to sell the entire collection for $150.00 Ferg

These are from mid fifties. Bought them from Tandy. Barely used, sharp imprints. $25.00 Shipping = $8.00 anywhere within USA Priority Mail Ferg

I might be blowing smoke, I think your needle is too small. The thread will often slide through a too small needle but gets caught up every once in awhile and skips. Ferg

You should understand right away, Skiving machines are finicky. I don't care how new they are you are going to need to do some "fiddling" to get what you want. Most of that is not the machine but the operator. There is a steep learning curve along with a lot of frustration. That said, they will do a great job when the bell knife is kept extremely sharp and everything is adjusted to handle the material. I have a Cowboy, it is a clone of the Fortuna as are most all the remainder of them. I will consider selling mine for $1400. It is like new, not even a scratch on it plus it is both top and bottom feed. I will not pay shipping. Ferg

All my sewing and leather related equipment etc. is on the second floor of our home. I bought what would normally be a 2 wheel cart used in businesses, with 3 wheels on each side. I tried it with a 27" computer. Won't be trying to lift any 100 pound machines anymore. Ferg

You got stiffed. Get your money back and go somewhere else to get a machine. What you gave for it is not a new price. Think $1495.00 That said: You will have trouble skiving 2oz. leather, especially without an Ultra Sharp Bell Knife. The knife on your machine has been through the mill plus some other things I noticed. This machine has had a troubled life. I wouldn't touch that with a twenty foot pole. Ferg

I am going to assume that you do not have any of the old "How To" books from Tandy. Al Stohlman done carving and stamping when there weren't any tools available commercially. His books are "Encyclopedias " of Leather crafting as far as I am concerned. Visit a Tandy store or go On-Line to their site, you will find many of the books I speak of. Ferg

That is a self healing cutting pad. JoAnn Fabrics for one. Most any fabric store would have them. Ferg

Only the dense. I don't think I have ever done more than three applications. Ferg

Now I like that one! I do leather, Sublimation, write some computer programs, bake home made bread, stained glass, grow our flowers in my greenhouse, love my wife and kids( and grandkids), and wife and I still have our home business making and selling an average of 15,000 pieces of wood. My wife of 41 years is 20 years younger than I and she still loves me. LOL Ferg

This is one of those applications that folks determine what and how they like. I don't like messing with the heat and I don't burnish. I even use it on dog harness. These are 250ml bottles. My kit is quite extensive actually. I think maybe it was a promotion for the product. I put small amounts of the paint into small glass containers with a tight cap. Large containers aren't opened nearly as often. There are two sets of mixing apparatus in the kit as well as two of the roller applicators. I try to keep things very clean. Ferg

garypl I bought my kit from the company directly. Probably been a year and a half. There are eighteen standard colors with formulae for one hundred more. It is great stuff. BTW: I think it cost about $350 US. Their shipping time was only a few days. Ferg

I have tried three or four of the edge paints, Giardini is definitely my fav. I use a clear primer, let it dry for several hours or over night, sand with 600 grit, no bevel, apply 2 coats of the paint with tapered, grooved, metal roller. No bubbles, dirt, etc. Smooth as a newborn babies.......... hands. lol BTW: I have a kit of theirs in the colors. Even have one that is GOLD flecks. Ferg

Maybe you don't really want to hear mine. LOL Celebrated my eighty fourth Jan. 21 with family and my fabulous wife providing everything for a meal. Fried chicken, Ham, Baked corn, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, Green beans cooked with Ham and potatoes, slaw, cream pie, brownies, chocolate cake, ice cream, and I made two loaves of home made bread. Wife decided she wanted to cook a meal similar to what my mom would have fixed in the forties. Don't know which the family members enjoyed more, the food or the "Idea". Ferg

MISHKIN, There has been a lot of discussion about, "Should I buy a top and bottom feed, can I connect a separate motor to the knife, etc. I have a Cowboy top and bottom feed, wouldn't bother ever buying one with only bottom feed after using this one. I have a Servo on mine so I can run it as fast or slow as I wish. Ninety nine percent of the problems folks have with these machines is the fact they don't sharpen the bell knife good enough. The other problem is frustration. These machines will drive you to drink if you don't get your "Head"on straight, meaning your human head. LOL OH YES! Proper adjustment. Five to six ounce leather is close to their thickest although I have done two passes on belt leather. Don't get fooled into being able to skiver wide pieces of leather, it ain't gonna happen without one heck of a mess of fiddling . I am not hot on selling my machine but I would sell it to the right person for $1400 plus shipping or you pick it up. The head alone will weigh in excess of 90 pounds. I made a chute for the garbage to drop into a bucket or box, I don't have much dust but that could differ with various leathers. Ferg .

My 29-4. I bought the head then built the table etc. and put a servo on it. Ferg

I have a 29-4 on a new stand with a servo motor I might consider selling. Won't take less than $900 for it.

I have three lower rollers for my CowBoy Skiver, top and bottom feed machine. The one I use most is the concave that matches the roller and knife radius. If you are shopping I am considering selling my machine. Ferg

In comparison to todays Sergers I would think that might make a good Paper Weight. lol Sorry, I couldn't resist. Ferg

You posted this same question several days ago. I have a COWBOY skiver that is a clone of the Fortuna as is the Cobra and Techsew skiver. Cannot vouch for the Cobra or Techsew since I haven't used one. The Fortuna is top of the HILL in skiving machines of this type. Also top of the HILL in cost. My COWBOY is bottom and top feed with a Digital Servo driving it. I have some additional attachments for it also. I bought it new several years ago. Don't use it much since I prefer hand skiving. I would consider selling the unit for $1400. There isn't even a scratch on it, I take very good care of my machinery. That doesn't include crating or shipping to anywhere within the USA.

I am not on the East Coast, Southwestern Ohio. I have a CowBoy Skiving Machine for sale. Interested? PM me please. Ferg

First thought after perusing the photos,"What the heck is anyone going to do with a truckload of old Patchers." I know, some one will think that is a great buy.