Ferg

Doug, Call Bob Kovar at Toledo Industrial. 1-866-362-7397. He has at least one of everything ever made for a sewing machine. BTW: Lowe's has a board attached to a post next to the Metric screws. It has "fittings" on it for your correct sizing etc. ferg

I seldom tell folks to go to You Tube but there are hundreds of tutorials there. Some are even pretty good but most are showing how to do a particular type of sewing. Will give you some ideas. ferg

Doug, Lowe's has a fairly good supply of metric screws/bolts. If you have a good Ace Hardware close to you they are more likely to have what you need. I think I remember that screw is a "4" and what we would call a fine thread. What the stores have will possibly be longer than you need, I just cut them to the length I need. A "Fastenall" store may them also. ferg

Too wet for stamping. ferg

I think you done a decent job on your dyeing. When you make another without a border, don't let the design get into the stitch line. Your carving on the flower side looks pretty good, I believe your leather may have been too wet when you done the basket weave. Also: don't let the BW stamp impinge on the stitch line. ferg

I used strips cut 3/4" , fastened them with 1/2" screws to my "Back" board. I held each tool on the board after placing the first/last screw, pulled the strap over the tool so it was held firm but not too tight to remove easily, marked strap for a screw, punched a hole in the leather and placed the screw. Works great. One thing I learned right away, don't place most used tools too high to reach when siting at the bench. Least used doesn't matter much. Also, longer tools like leather shears need to have more space between the rows of tools. I didn't tool any design on my straps but that does look nice. Length for straps just happened to be what I had available to cut them from. Don't get the most used too far left or right side of center of your stamping/work area as well. ferg

YES ferg

My youngest daughter is a Graphic Artist for a publishing company. She has an eye for beauty of design. You have that gift also. Your design choices are as near to perfection as anyone I know. Combined with your excellent abilities as an Artisan. I am blown away by your abilities. Keep them coming. ferg

A quick search provides this info: Adler 105 -64105-64 N/F W/F Cylinder Heavy duty fabrics and leather Saddles and harness work It seems most heavy duty machines such as this do not handle light weight leather well at all. Wiz or some other individuals can fill in more info. ferg

Problem with the metal brake..... The bar that presses the edge of the leather down needs to go all the way down plus adjustable for thickness of the leather you are folding. Hold-down is located about an inch from the folding edge of the leather. That dimension would be determined by the thickness of the presser bar. Metal brakes of the type HF has aren't adjustable as accurately as would be need for leather. ferg

Chris, I am one that hates PayPal. I think it is a total rip-off. I sold an item awhile back, sent an invoice to the customer, they paid from that invoice. The transaction cost over $20.00. Bought an item, it was requested I pay via PayPal, I reluctantly have an account. They charged me $7.95. I absolutely refuse to use them unless there is no other way. ferg

Try this company: http://www.universalsewing.com/tek9.asp?pg=parts_pfaff Actual page: http://www.universalsewing.com/images2/parts_lists/all/aokko5oe.pdf You do know that machine is an upholstery machine? ferg

I do not intend my remarks to be demeaning in any way so please do not take it that way. The knives on old splitters are very often in poor condition. That is: they have been ground so many times they are too narrow and edge nicks make them almost impossible to use without changing the blade. Also have been ground to the wrong shape/angle. I would give you $200 for the splitter if you don't get any better offers. You may PM me. ferg

FYI I contacted the folks that tan the Vachetta Leather. They regrettably do not have a distributor in the states. Another company that uses it is Dooney & Burke (spelling) They make some beautiful ladies purses for mucho money. ferg

Will let you know. Leaving for two weeks in Florida in a few days. Probably work on it when we get back. ferg

Andrew, It looks to be made similar to a "Metal Brake". I have been thinking about building one. I have some 1/2" thick aluminum that would work. Probably make a prototype of wood first. ferg

Your loss of a limb is/can be horrible but don't let that sway you on the "Electrified" machine. You can lift the presser feet/needle bar with your left hand when necessary. Almost all leather machines have Servo Motors, the control is fantastic. Bob Kovar can give you minute instructions on his machines as will any of the other suppliers. That simply is not a problem. You have a "One UP" on some of us since you live in "God's Country". ferg

Yaaah! I try to remember that also but the gray matter doesn't register all the time so I have to wipe it off with a paper towel after I screw something up. LOL ferg

You probably need to adjust the foot pressure. I try to adjust so the leather still moves and the machine doesn't skip any stitches. It is a fine line to adjust. ferg

I try to print out any posts by these guys when pertaining to different situations etc. concerning the machines. One of these days I will put them in a binder with each persons name on the front. Notice I said one of these days. ferg

We were at Toledo Sewing Machines last week. Bob has several shelves full of thread of various sizes and colors. Give him a call, might just have what you need. ferg

Kevin, My following question is out of curiosity, nothing more. I know many folks have the Boss, most seem to like it. Why would you spend as much as they cost for a machine that you have to pull a handle for every cottin-pickin stitch when a cylinder arm machine would do what you wish to do in a heart beat with a lot less physical movement? LOL The CA wouldn't cost much more either, if any. ferg

That wouldn't be my solution since electrical tape has a nasty habit of leaking adhesive if it happens to be exposed to heat, that is like "Sun Shine". Just cut a piece of suede to fit the inside of the closed end. ferg

Kevin, Read everything on here that Wiz, Bob Kovar, Steve, Ron, and many others have written about sewing with a machine. An absolute fount of information. ferg