catskin

You need a singer 78-3 I just bought one, and it fits the spec's Bob set out and will sew up to 5/16 maybe 3/8 in deer skin. It has smooth bottom plate, walking foot, and needle feed. It was only about 80 miles from you. And the price was right.

Recheck the threading. I know you did it to the book but I have known several cases where it all seemed right but somehow the thread slipped beside the tension discs even tough it looked like it was between them. So my suggestion is make sure that didn't happen. Hope this gets you going quick.

I am not sure of the speed but I have done a fair bit of fixing and would intend to slow it down (put on speed reducers) . If possible I might make a mount that would allow a multi step pulley on the motor so with just a bit of adjustment could have 4 or 5 speeds. I have slowed down other sewing machines. I am less concerned about getting the speed right then I am about if the motor was a poor make. More input soon would be welcome since we are leaving to go to the area where the motor is on Tuesday.

Did a search and came up with nothing found so am asking here. Has any of you had or used a Samsun clutch motor on your machines. A member on here offered me a motor which I intend to buy, but also found a Samsun that is supposed to be new never used for what sounds like a fair price so I might consider it too to put on another machine. Any comments as to good ,bad or whatever would be welcome.

If these are sold, I have one of those presses if some body is close enough, or can arrange pickup. I will be going to Alberta next week and could possibly meet someplace. I live in southeast Sask.

I think I got it fixed. Yesterday I was playing with it with the needle that came with it and it was sewing, while I was doing that I cleaned out a bit of dust and lint. Today without making any adjustments I put in a patcher needle and it does not hit anything and sews. I am thinking that there must have been some lint and or dirt stuck in some place that was hitting the needle and pushing it and I got it out without seeing where it had been.

Thanks Wiz. I did that and that is when the needle hits the bobbin case. Or maybe I should say the bobbin case hits the needle and wants to break it pushing it forward. In order for the needle to not hit the bobbin holder the hook comes at or below the eye. As Bob said they use a 135X16 needle in these machines so I am wondering how they make them work. Or does the 29k51 not use a 135 needle? The box they came in says 135.

Can someone please tell me what changes need to be made to make the 135X16 needles work. I have lots of needles that it says on the box that they are 135 but they are longer from the eye to the point so when I set the needle bar up so the hook comes into the scarf just above the eye the point hits the bobbin case. They are genuine Singer needles for my 29K51 patcher. Are there 135 needles that are shorter from eye to point?

I would like to buy a motor to put on a machine I bought yesterday. I have 3 other machines with both servos and clutch motors. To keep my cost down I think a used clutch motor would do me well. This machine will get only occasional use maybe only a couple hours a year. I have thought about a new servo but shipping to Sask. Canada pushes the total cost higher then I feel I can justify. Will be in Alberta next week and could possibly pick one up there or even in Manitoba since I am near the east side of Sask. Of course one in Sask. would be ideal. If you have something you think would work, or know of a person or place one might be available I would like to hear from you.

Thanks for your replies and links. Hi Bob, My 4500 is doing fine. I was wondering if it would make sense to move the needle bar up and use needles that I have for my 29 K 51, If I read the box right they are a 135 needle. Also what would you consider the max. as far as thread and needle size to use in this machine? Are other feet available such as double toe or blanket ( with teeth on the bottom ) Am I right that these machines have a huge advantage over the 31-15 being they have the needle feed? I helped my neighbor get a 31-15 running, it sews fine on cloth but has trouble feeding even 2 ply of deer skin where this one seems to feed 6 ply without a problem. I would be very happy to hear from all who have or have used one of these machines, what you have done.

I am posting this because I tried search with several different wordings and found nothing about this machine. If it on here I could not find it. Bought a singer 78-3 today at an auction. Took me all of 5 minutes to get it sewing and it never missed a stitch. I just turned it by hand since the motor on it was just a tiny little household type motor. I intend to fix that soon. Now what I would like some help with is what is the right needle for it? Where might I get a bobbin winder and at what cost. Does anyone else use one of these? It seems to go through 6 plies of deer skin (about 1/4 inch ) easily and with needle feed seems to be suited to leather sewing.

The short answer is NO I have one of each of the ones shown and they haven't worked for me yet. You are much better of looking for something you can see work. I do not believe these are what they claim they are.

From my understanding near identical.

Quite likely distance to be shipped.

Thankyou both for your suggestions, I tried both and the result was the same. By the time I got the page narrow enough to fit the screen the print was so small it was unreadable, so I guess this is the way it will be. I don't claim to know anything about computers , but still wonder why the pages can't be made to fit the screen like it does when I write an E-mail on a wide piece then change the size of the area it will automaticly make more lines of type so it still all fits the narrower space.

This isn't a complaint more a question. Before you FIXED this it worked fine. Now I would like to know why the pages are too wide for my screen, I have to keep scrolling 3 inches back and forth sideways to read anything. Before it was FIXED (upgraded ) the pages fit the screen. Was much easier reading before. I haven't been on here much the last several months so I'm just noticeing it now that I'm back.

You all seem convinced that there are only 2 countries on earth, China and USA. Last I checked there were several more, like Italy, Germany, etc. I have gotten machinery parts that are made in Italy and they are of the highest guality. Maybe there is some country that still makes quality buckles even if the US no longer has the intelligence / ability to do it.

Are you sure it is not a 29K51? They are a good machine if not wornout, I have one (29K51 ). As for price that depends a lot on where you live. Don't buy until you have tried it on the kind of leather you intend to sew. If you buy it the first thing you do is move that flywheel to the shaft on the front so you can turn it slowly by hand without bending your arm in 3 places when it only has 2 hinges. I am not familiar with the type of bag you wish to sew so will not give an opinion as to suitability.

Every shop has them. The surpriseing part is 90++% of the time in order to see them you have to look in a mirror.

Thank you Thank you Thank you. I checked mine out and it was OFF slightly about a 1/4 of a needle width in 5 stitches so I only had to turn the knob about an 1/8 of a turn. I am guessing we may have to check this each time we change stitch length.

Kevin or Bob, I would be very greatful if one of you would tell me what you adjusted to get this fixed. And if possible post a picture of what you adjusted. Mine seems to be OFF just a bit so I think I would like to check it out. I believe it will only need a small adjustment but don't want to start in the wrong place and make a little problem into a big one. Thanks in advance for any help you give.

From your descripion it sound like 3 pieces of rod 2 drill bits and 1/2 hours time to make.

Helmut, You are a very generous person. If you weren't 2000 miles away I'd have been there in a flash. My only complaint would have been your prices are TOO LOW. I would have insisted you raise them at least a bit. Now here is something I saw happen might be worth a try. This person offered to GIVE away a bunch of things, no takers, So a while later they advertised it price or best offer. Sold most in a week and got a pleasant surprise at what they pocketed. Seems a lot of people have the mind set if its free its wothless, which in my opinion is NOT true.

YES but some people seem to not notice that as long as you are alive the skull is covered with leather ( skin ) so the ugly bare bones are not so obvious. To me skulls represent DEATH as in skull and cross bone on poision. While I admit it takes skill to put them on leather I wonder why a person would choose to put a symbol of death on anything that is supposed to be beauty. This is just MY opoinion others have theirs and I respect that.

Lots of good opinions above. Here is what comes to mind for ME when these terms are used. Leathercraft = leather that has been carved, tooled, stamped, dyed painted, etc. Leathercrafter does the above. Leatherwork= harness, shoes,etc. things made from leather without the artistic part. Leatherworker does the leather work. Some things can involve both such as saddles holsters etc.