Ferg

If you buy a post bed you will need at least a mid size Cylinder arm also. The cylinder arm is your best bet in my opinion since they normally come with a flat bet attachment. I have a Post Bed, Flat Bed and a Patcher along with a computerized Singer Domestic. I normally will use at least two of them for any project some times three. Post Bed will handle size 33 to 138 thread with needles #10 to #24. Mid range Cylinder arm will handle #69 to #138 thread. Ferg

You do realize with normal shoes you need to use leather for the uppers that is not thicker than 2mm. You are trying to make moccasins I understand. That allows you to use some inferior leather but I wouldn't use belly leather for anything on any shoe style. Ferg

That's good. Thank you for a good laugh!! Ferg

Remember this: Bad news on the back of your item doesn't necessarily mean your needle is at fault although you were using the wrong needles. Improper Tension on your thread causes at least ninety percent of bad stitches on the back. Ferg

Gosh I had forgotten about the old Kenmore sewing machines. They were good machines but never intended to sew leather. First problem is the industrial thread we use for leather, second is yes you would need to use a leather needle. If I remember correctly Singer needles fit the Kenmore. JoAnn Fabrics among others have the needles as does Amazon. Make something from fabric with the Kenmore. See if your hands will take the abuse from some Quilt Cotton. Sew with a spool of Guietterman thread or Coats and Clark. Even if you don't make anything, just sewing will let you find out if you really wish to sew with a machine. That little Speedy Stitcher has been used by thousands and thousands of craft folks and it will sew leather but not very thick. I don't try much hand sewing anymore. Arthritis and Carpel Tunnel has seen to that. Ferg

mrdabeetle I have a Singer Domestic machine among my selection. I tried #69 thread with all kinds of difficulties in FABRIC. They simply do not like anything larger than #46. With a leather needle they will sew thin leather, 1mm or less, and possibly work with #40 thread and all purpose needle. Try next smaller thread in Bobbin than the #46 such as #40. TENSION, TENSION, TENSION. Every time I have a thread/sewing problem, Bob at Toledo tells me it is the tension, dummy!!!!!! LOL Ferg

Machine has been restored. Sews fine, seven spi Max, New servo, includes a new needle plate plus extra belting. Stand/table is on casters. Don't have the decals for it. Bobbin winder has new rubber tire. Asking $900.00 USD. I really do not wish to ship it but will determine cost if so desired or needed. Shipping not included in selling price. I simply need the room and I have seldom used the machine. Love the old iron. Ferg

My story will be a little different than most of you, still relevant. I began making leather product when in the Navy almost 70 years ago. Made a wallet for darned near every member of our squadron of helicopters. Did I make any money? I sure did and I paid the rent at Tandy in Miami. Figuratively. Sold my carved and laced wallets for $5. Jumping ahead a number of years, after being a successful building contractor, my wife and I decided to manufacture wooden toys and decorative items. I had a fairly complete wood shop of Sears woodworking machinery. We traveled the "Fairs" for several years making absolutely everything we could think of plus some others while hardly having enough money to live. Opened a store and advertised for one week on the local radio station. Our store didn't even face a traveled street. We had cars parking along the closest road. For about a week we had so many customers we had to lock the door. We made a little money and we could eat out once in awhile. Visited a very large Arts and Crafts show. A gentleman and his wife were making personalized puzzles of wood sawing them with a jig saw. Told my wife we could do that! I drew the letters and numbers on pieces of Birch Veneered medium density fiberboard, ground up wood chips and bark. We cut them out on one of my Sears bandsaws. Presented them to a number of mail order companies. Finally, we got a bite. One of the largest companies in the world wanted our puzzles for their catalog. We had a friend of ours and her daughter working for us. Fast forward to the present day. Come August APPLE VALLEY WOODCRAFTS will be no more. We some times worked all night on a project, seven days per week twelve months per year. Our company became the largest manufacturer of wooden name puzzles in the world. I worked on selling the business for awhile. Had one very interested party. Found that they had very little money and no idea what they would be getting into. We manufactured everything we made using computer driven machinery running programs that I eventually rewrote. Still have one of the original bandsaws from Sears. Our insurance has become totally unreasonable. Try to guess how much it costs for two million dollars of Liability coverage. Wife and I built our Log Home 26 years ago with profits from our business. Would I try that with making leather? Nah!!! I am eighty six years old, tired, forgetful, no kids at home, just us and our two Sheltie dogs. I still enjoy life too much to give up so I make what ever I doggone well want to whether it be Stained Glass, Leather, Fabric, Computer Programing, growing our several thousand flowers and vegetables in our greenhouse, loving my wife and kids, and making a Gatsby Hat for my Great Grandson. Live your life so folks can say nice things about you and love your families AND work hard and enjoy what you are doing.Then. maybe you can have one of these. Ferg

ALBERT, Some photos would help. Beginning with the Bobbin and holder plus where your needle is entering the needle plate Ferg

These are Sublimitable on the side opposite magnet. You transfer the image or copy directly. I would need to check again for sure, I think I have 100. Ferg

I am a little confused by what you are actually wanting. I have quite a few Magnetic fridge blanks for Sublimation that I will sell. They measure 3 1/2" x 2" Let me know if you are interested. Ferg

I have a Cowboy Post Bed. They will sew using thread #33 - #138. Mine has almost all movable points with a sealed ball bearing making this a very quiet machine. Maximum under the foot of mine is about 5/16" and maybe 3/8" some times. I wouldn't recommend trying to sew "hard" leather with it. Absolutely amazing to sew hats and shoe uppers or anything else that has finish sewing inside an article. Won't do shoe soles. It simply isn't configured to do so. Mine has top and bottom roller feed and I love it. Bob at Toledo, set mine up for what I wanted to do with it. I have changed the upper tension to accommodate different thread size with absolutely no problems. There is a specific type of sewing machine to do shoe soles. Very expensive and they begin at about 600 pounds. Ferg

Thanks, TonyAllenBernier has been extremely helpful, with patterns and freely given help. Several others plus Pinterest has a wealth of photos of hats/caps for inspiration. I want to try embellishing some of the patterns I have with ideas I have gleaned from Pinterest. It is a fun diversion from the every day hum drum. We are officially closing down our wood shop manufacturing operation come July or August. Looking forward to time to do whatever we wish. I have been in business for almost 70 years. We believe it is time. Just celebrated my 86th Birthday this last week. Ferg

Wanted to take a rest from the shoe making and since we have a 10 month old Great Grandson, I thought I would try my hand at making HAT'S. I like the Gatsby style among others which is called about a dozen different things. I had some Navy Blue denim in the shop along with some lining material. Decided it would be best if I tried making a prototype first to see if there was any point in going forward with this idea. Made mistakes as in stitching, not quite where it should be and other things that bug me. Also want to make a leather Gatsby for my youngest brother, he is 76, lol Anyway, here is one photo of the hat resting on a candle vase. It was both a little frustrating and one heck of a lot of fun. My new Post Bed Cowboy made the stitching a piece of cake for the most part. I just need to learn where to put all the stitching. Next week I will at least be making FINLAY'S cap. Ferg

A little bitty metal bur. Ferg

That doesn't make it sound as though you have much more than fire wood. That's a shame. In good condition they may be worth something. Ferg

I am just East of Dayton. Wouldn't do anything without seeing them. If they are in the condition I think they are, not worth much since most would need refurbishing at best. Are they under cover now? If they are open to the elements and the varmints they are losing value by the day. I could maybe make the trip to see them. We are very busy right now, a little later perhaps. Ferg

Again, How much do they want for them? Ferg

BTW: I may be interested Ferg

How many are there and what is the price? Are they in pairs or have you even got that far? Ferg

I agree. Italian leather is the tops. Only problem I have is after using it I have difficulty with some of what is tanned in the US. Ferg

I have a Cowboy CB 8810B I can sew two lines of stitching with my single needle that you would be hard pressed to know it wasn't two needle. Mine has top and bottom drive wheels. I have stitched within a Millimeter of the edge. I can only hope I really learn to use this machine. It is a "honey". Very quiet probably due to all the sealed roller bearings it has. Only a few spots to keep oiled. I sewed some 1/4" leather, (two pieces) the other day. Only thing you need to do is adjust the amount of down pressure on the upper drive wheel. Didn't try it with 138 thread. Had #40 on the machine set up for shoes . Size 12 needle had no problem with piercing the leather. Ferg

I haven't watched it completely. You are right, it is mesmerizing. I love to watch other craftsman with the skills he has. Ferg

I have no experience with an RB-1. I wouldn't trade my RB-5 for anything. Noisy? Never heard that before. When oiled properly, it sings to me every time I use it plus it has reverse. Ferg