Ferg

I have some more thoughts. My machine is coming tomorrow and I will not have time to play for another 7 or 8 weeks, may not even get it set up. The Walking Feet: I have watched a video of them moving/working but ...... When the needle goes down through the leather the right foot is down, correct? At this time is the left foot up? Then as the needle is raised from the stitch/leather the left foot is down to hold the leather in place, the right foot is up? Or are both feet down at this time? The dogs would need to be able to move the leather when one or both feet are down? The impression from the presser feet is a design flaw as far as I am concerned. What if the presser feet were larger, as in longer with left foot, in one instance, also wider. I seem to understand the impression is made by the left foot? Or do both of them make marks. Hasn't anyone ever tried to engineer the feet so they do not make impressions? I aim that to some folks across the pond. Sorry for so many questions. ferg

Looks real nice. I hope the dog doesn't learn how to use the "trim" against a neighbor. LOL ferg

Wiz, I was aware of the capabilities of the machine I have coming tomorrow you managed to get me informed on that. I know that I will need to have the capability of sewing close to a raised/formed part of an item. There must be an answer to the impressions left on the top side of the leather piece. I think this is going to be a research/engineering project for after Christmas. Are the bottom "Dogs" going to be a problem when you have a finished leather on the back side? I understand that the sharp tips may need a little "softening". Trial an error perhaps? I can see you wouldn't want to take much off or there wouldn't be any feed of the leather. The dogs are adjustable up and down, right? Does adjusting them help any with the marks on the underside? ferg

Source for Consew 206RB-5 Needle plates, left toe and right toe and narrow harness foot. ferg

Anyone had any recent dealings with Westchester Sewing Machine Company? I ordered a 2 inch pulley from them, got 2 5/8". That was for starters. Charged me $11.18 Shipping/handling. Sent in a USPS Priority Mail Box, they have commercial base pricing, Told me the package weighed 2 pounds, in fact it weighed 1 pound. Retail rate would be $4.95 so their cost is better than that. This crap really ticks me off. We ship 15,000 packages between September and Christmas. Our shipping charge is figured so close that if we are shipping to California from Ohio we eat part of the cost, it levels out since we don't send more than 10 or 20 percent west of the Big Muddy. If these companies cannot figure out what their product costs them they shouldn't be in business. OKAY, I know they make up their short fall with the shipping. You can bet money on the pulleys being made in China so they may have cost a buck. I am so sick of being told we need to "SPREAD THE WEALTH". If the politicians would get off their dead rear ends and do something constructive for a change maybe we wouldn't have to put up with all this mess. I'm sorry for the rant. It is Saturday, the day everything turns to crap. ferg

AMEN, HONEY!!!! ferg

I looked on Bob's site, this is what he has "made up". I would prefer the blade be 1/8" wide and angled. Some I have seen are straight. ferg

Anyone know where I can see/buy an 1/8" swivel knife blade? I am tempted to take an old filigree blade, grind it to 1/8" and sharpen. ferg

I love the wallet and your excellent work, sewing in particular. Hand or machine? I have to be honest about one thing though, the Frog skin does give me the willies. LOL

[Does anyone know what brands/make of sewing machines Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines Sells? ferg

You guys are dreaming if you think contact cement will hold the stone together on the rough side. It needs a smooth surface to make the bond. I say this since I have bonded thousands of feet of laminate and wood plus many other substrates. I used to build Commercial Cabinetry. ferg

If you bond two thicknesses together and do not get your adhesive to "connect" on both pieces of stone completely, you will get the same effect as though you used one piece of 3/4". ferg

I never made booties but I made dozens and dozens of Tandy"s "Baby Mocs". They were really cute. Don't see them on-line or in the catalog anymore. ferg

I have only ridden once in my life, just not something I wanted or want to do but I love looking at "machines", that is a great looking machine, Happy Birthday!!! ferg

Wiz, My main reason for working with Bob, He is in Toledo, I am just East of Dayton. If we can get things worked out he will bring a machine for me to Eaton, Ohio (an auction Bob is attending October 30). I am about 25-30 miles from Eaton. I am getting a little paranoid with the ConSew 206 RB or Chandler. Bob has a great deal on the Chandler by the way. After reading multiple articles about all of them in this price range I am now leaning towards the Seiko STH-8BLD-3. I am assuming Bob has those also. I am sure all the dealers are at the St. Louis show this weekend so I don't imagine I will get any communication from Bob for several days. Anyone that wishes to jump in on this conundrum......... ferg

I am communicating with Cowboy Bob as we speak. Thanks again "Wiz" ferg

Don't give up on carving and stamping, you will miss out on a lot of fun! Primarily you just need practice. You have the general ideas. You know what isn't correct I assume but a trip through some Al Stohlman books would do you a world of good. ferg

I want to buy a sewing machine for leather. With information gotten from "Wiz" I want the Consew 206 RB-5. Again with the info received so far the machine is available on e-bay for $1290.00 including Head, 3/4 HP Servo Motor, and K frame stand with plywood top. FREE SHIPPING, I like that part a lot since it is coming from CA to Ohio. I assume the stand/pole or whatever you call the holder for the thread is included and I have seen in some instances where a Bobbin Winder is included, don't know if that is so on this item or if it is a necessity. I am a "Greenie" on the sewing machines so I don't want to get cleaned right off. There seems to be literally hundreds of gizmos/attachments available. What about a lube pot for the thread? Do they come with the machine? For the time being I want to sew flat leather items probably no more than 3/8" in total thickness. Some items would be "Art" so I think I would want thread and needles that can be used for up to 10 spi as well as 7 or 8 spi, you get the idea. What do I need to look at for these items? Do I need any other feet than what is standard with the machine? Doesn't look as though much comes with the package. With the walking foot machine can I sew "Decorative" stitching? Top surface probably. Should I buy one size of the thread to begin or try to get a deal on more than one size with more than one color? I seem to prefer white for my hand stitching but of course that could change also. I am using Linen and waxing myself for hand stitching. Better thread material? I am sure many folks have their favorites. Sorry for all the questions. The more I know about this the more I realize I don't know. LOL ferg

I just visited the site and everything was okay for me. ferg

You have too much speed on the spindle. With your set-up you cannot change that. I used motor, pulley to pulley with burnishing mechanism on a shaft. That way you can slow that motor speed by changing pulley diameter. ferg

I believe you may be doing damage to the edges with the leather burnisher. I am sure someone with a lot more first hand experience than I will chime in. ferg