Ferg

Kenny, I will give you $150 for it. Believe me, that machine is not worth what you are asking. ferg

$150.00, you pay half the shipping. I know how heavy they are. I rebuilt a 5 in1, it weighed 42 pounds packaged. ferg

Some things we do unconsciously make you feel good all over don't they? ferg

One of my Grandfathers died in 1940, I preface with this to set the time in my life. As farmers, all butchering and preperation of meat for the family was done by hand.Grandpa Newt had a set of butcher knives. The night before butchering he used a piece of native stone to whet the knives. Spit for lubricant, many strokes on that old stone.He tested by shaving some hair off his arm. Those knives never seen a strop and they were not sharpened during the next long day of cutting. Forgive me, your question took me back many years ago when a small boy of six years was extremely impressed with his Grandpa's many talents. ferg quote name='sierraleather' timestamp='1341097363' post='254753'] Aside from your blade being chipped or it drags so badly it won't cut butter,what is your definition of "sharp", and how do you test or determine what is sharp,thanks

Michael, You are still wet behind the ears. LOL I am 78 years young, Mike is a few younger. ferg

Mike, From one old man to another, "you do good". ferg

I believe your holes are too large. What type of thread are you using? ferg

Just enough to get the shiny smooth edge. ferg

How bout around 1200 to 1500 rpm. Works for me. ferg quote name='Chavez' timestamp='1340226853' post='253416'] Hi sixer, If I hold the burnisher for to long, yes, I could feel the burn. I thought it was part of the process :brainbleach: Like you can't have a BURNisher without some burn =) Would recommend dropping the rpm to 5k?

I have a Consew servo on my 206RB5 with a reducing pulley, have no such issues. You do realize there is a control knob on the end of the servo to change speed etc. I set mine about mid-way to sew maybe ten stitches per, I don't like sewing leather real fast. Barely pressing my foot on the pedal will create very slow stitching as in 1 stitch per. Full pedal will do the 10 but your work up to it. BTW: I don't think there is a clutch in the Servos ferg

We are surmising the mother has gotten herself killed on the road. These little guys are probably looking for some food. They are about the size folks use to keep for pets. They definitely followed my voice. Now! What do I do with our collie that has been sprayed several times in the past? She will probably be spending some extended time inside the house. ferg

I grow my own vegetable and flowers from seed in my greenhouse. I just finished planting the last of 2000 annuals yesterday. Have about 4000 flowers in our yard including the perennials. That, my friend will keep you from "burning out" on leather. ferg

Sixer, Did you see the original post I made with the photos? What other info would you like? ferg

Wiz, Just put kwokhing in Google. Ferg

Some things I simply cannot resist. These little guys are across the road from our home under the neighbor's home. Four of them about 10 or 12 inches long. As I took photos of this little guy he started coming toward me until I decided enough was enough, they are old enough to "Spray". ferg

Wiz, Could part of his problem be "Too small needle" ? ferg

Jon, I have a trailing "Little Finger" if I don't keep it out of the way when tooling etc. I get little swirled marks. Slightly dragging a tool when you lift it, a straight edge, O'boy! there are many others. Observe closely how you use your tools, that will probably tell you more than anything. Hang in there. ferg

Bruce, You are correct the one I had was a 5 in 1. I refurbished it with intent to sell it which I did. Thus, my slightly vague comments concerning part of the machine. Have trouble finding my way home sometimes so any loss of memory is normal. LOL ferg

I am not one to suggest machines in your list. That said, true to several posts on this forum, searching the archives for what you want is a little intimidating. Most every machine revued/sold by member dealers is top notch. Obviously there are a number of different machines that will do different things better. When looking for a heavy machine you should be looking at 441 clones or similar machines that will sew 1/2" thickness of hard leather at least. Remember, most of the heavy stitchers will not sew thread below #138. ferg quote name='StNicky' timestamp='1339347500' post='251984'] I have searched around a little, and read and reread everything I came across re best machines including Wiz's invaluable series re the basics of a good leather machine.....BUT...I guess because of the advertisers.....I can find no list of all the brands and different models thereof that are suitable for heavy leather work and which are the most highly rated. Does anyone know of such a list? I would be glad to assemble such a list- Brand/Model/feed/max sew thickness/durablility/and some other important aspects, if the members want to nominate all the machines they consider qualify as an industrial strength leather capable sewing machine.

Bruce, The three functions are as follows. Skiver for soles so the shoe sole thins at the heel, trimmer for trimming shoe soles after the sole had been sewn, and I just had one of my many senior moments and cannot remember the name of the apparatus on top. It is used to press the edge of the shoe sole together. I tried it, really worked.Also, the sole trimmer is used to cut the blank for the shoe sole. Pretty much makes it a 4 in 1. LOL Mine was a Landis, I am sure had Memphis on it for manufacturing site. ferg

As you can tell from the photo I sent previously, my 3in 1 was not configured this way. I think the one I had was made in Memphis. Does that sound "kosher" ? ferg quote name='bruce johnson' timestamp='1339349837' post='251986'] I am starting at new thread on comparing two crank skivers I have with pictures. The American is my own user and a Model B with a 2-1/2" blade. The hand lever will open the gap between the rollers. This skiver I modified. The top wheel was milled originally. I took the teeth down to make it smooth. The blade angle adjusts with two eccentrics. One is under the hex head bolt to the left of th etable in the rear view of it. The other is under the lower slot head bolt to the right. Loosening the bolts and then turning the eccentrics changes the balde angle. There is a view with the blade leveled for splitting too. The Landis is one I just got. It has a 1-3/4 blade. The blade angle is adjusted by the hex heads in the slots - two on the left and one on the right. This one will level up too.

Bruce, I fiddled with mine a number of times trying to get it to cut level to no avail. It had a bolt that tightened the blade. You loosened it and turned an eccentric to change, retightened the bolt to use it. i bought a new blade for it but it would not handle chrome tanned that I had very well. The serrated roller was worn on it somewhat, cleaned and done some re-adjusting, it worked fine. I tried it on a piece of leather about the thickness of a shoe sole, it skived the edge perfectly. ferg

Bruce, The 3in1 I rebuilt had adjustments on it that would not enable flat even thickness skiing. The adjustment was actually eccentric. My understanding, when I spoke to a gentleman at Pilgrim, the skiver was intended for shoe work, explicitly the sole. That of course doesn't mean it couldn't and hasn't been used otherwise. The unit I rebuilt was a Landis. ferg

I think you have a Skiver not a splitter. The blade will not cut level/flat edge to edge. Adjustments on the little table make it skive a different amount from the edge of the leather. This is what it looks like to me. I rebuilt a 3 in 1. ferg