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Everything posted by Art
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Hi Monica, It is simple. For product liability reasons, you must use the clips that you provide. You have no idea where the clips came from, if she is a LEO, she will understand chain of custody, it is kind of like that. If you do it for one, everyone will start bringing you stuff. "Can you make a holster for my Sig, here's some leather, can I get a credit for the leather?"; that just isn't going to work. Art
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Campbell-Bosworth makes a nice one, It is a copy of the Keystone. http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/p...roducts_id/1734 Art
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Hi Bob, Ask Steve about the video, he is a great lifeline that comes with every machine. Also, check your thread path and make sure the thread is coming off the spool cleanly and nothing is interfering with it, like being wrapped around the bottom of the thread stand. A little extra tension on top will cause your problem. Art
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Hi Bob, Did you get the Video? Hold the loose ends tight for a few stitches, back off the tension a little, don't force the leather, let the machine move it, don't sew over your tails, always complete the stitch, thread tension bar all the way to the top. Assuming you have a Cobra instead of a Cowboy, call Steve, otherwise call Ryan. If all else fails, I can drop by after work one day, you're down 4 right? I work in Suitland. Art
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Hi Bob, I usually use a #19 with 138/138 and that is smaller than I should and I occasionally break or bend a needle going up or down (usually down) hill. I know it looks great with small holes (that's why I use a 19), but could you be a little snug? Art
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Andy, Keep in mind that if my mother was selling that machine for $650, I would try and beat her down on the price, which is probably a good price in CA. The Chinese version of that machine new can run right around $2100 with stand and motor. Art
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Hi Andy, This is the classic "medium duty" cylinder arm machine. If I remember right, it has the big bobbin, but I could be wrong here. It will sew about 3/8 max with 138 or maybe 207/138. So 3 pieces of 6oz might be out there on the fringe, but if you can get it under the foot, it will probably sew it, however the occasional bent needle is not out of the question. You will seldom find many of the "medium duty" machines set up to sew 3/8 inch and usually a couple of pieces of 9oz are about the norm. I did make a sandwich of two pieces of HO 9oz harness and a 4oz piece of chrome tan at the Sheridan show and it did it at fairly high speed, but the needle does get hot, i mean HOT. As to price, price depends on condition. If it is in GREAT condition AND has a big bobbin then $650 ok, but only barely so, this is as much as I would ever pay for that machine head only, and I would have to want it real bad. If it is small bobbin, then that knocks $200-$300 off that price with the machine still in great condition. This machine is old, but parts are available and if in good shape, old ones work as good as new ones. The $650 is more what I would expect from a dealer who can provide service and set you up with a new or used stand and anything else you need. Keep looking. Art
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Looking for the ideal sewing machine to stitch thin/soft leather
Art replied to UKRay's topic in Leather Sewing Machines
Hi Kevin, You have to look at that one closely, that arm pivots in an arc around the bottom attachment point. It is kind of an update on the patcher, it comes from a little company in Hunan that produces a lot of shoe equipment. And speaking of shoe equipment, there are really some strange machines being produced for that industry. Most of that equipment sews with 33, 46, or 69 thread, although the sole stitchers can use bigger thread. As far as the GC 2605 goes, grab some leather and try it out Art -
Looking for the ideal sewing machine to stitch thin/soft leather
Art replied to UKRay's topic in Leather Sewing Machines
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Hi Jamie, Mike gave you good advice. You didn't give enough info on what you were buying, just the head (then it probably came out of a surplus auction) or a complete machine. The $1500 is a little low for a complete machine, but ok for a head in good shape. Remember that it is set up to do webbing. You will need a motor, speed reducer, maybe a stand, a new needle plate, maybe a smooth dog, maybe a new hook, and probably a needle bar, and some feet, miscellaneous belts and nuts and bolts. None of those things by themselves are cheap, then you have to install them. Now a new 441 clone will run about $2695 and about $150 or so shipping and it will come setup to sew whatever you want. If you buy it in July, I understand there will be a sale with a whole bunch of extras thrown in. Service is as important as the machine, read previous posts in this forum to figure out who is the customer service guru and will treat you right. If you get an older Juki, don't try to time it using the Japanese instructions, and never even attempt timing one of the Chinese machines that way. Those folks don't speak Engrish very well and they are even worse at writing it. There is a seven step process that you can use to completely time the machine (and even that can be shortcutted to three or so most of the time). If you need to time it call Steve Tayrien and he'll tell you how. Ten or Twenty minutes on the phone with Steve can straighten most anything out. Art
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Hi Regis, Schmetz diamond point (DIA) needles that you have are the correct ones for leather. With leather, you run a little more bobbin tension than with textiles, especially with thin leather, then adjust the top tension to put the lock in the correct place. You need thinner thread with thin fabric or leather, 46 or 69 with bobbin tension properly set and stitch length correspondingly shortened. You need a small needle with small thread, there should be enough tension in the hole to hold the thread tightly. Locking off your stitches at start and stop will help too, make sure to keep the tails out of the way. Art
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Hi Randy, I didn't read far enough. You will need sizes 180, 240, or 300 in Nomex® Multifilament. For fire gear, I use Kevlar® in size 210, but for blankets I use 400 Twisted. You can buy full spools from John Howard. http://www.johnhowardcompany.com/ Art
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Hi Randy, Pegasus has it, tex 60, since they supply racing folks, they will have a lot of different colors. It is about $10 for a 100 yard roll. http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/ Art
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And the condition of the operator. Art
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Sure, it is a matter of the look you want, however you might have a little trouble with 138 in that machine. Art
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Yes, they are a lot larger, they usually use shuttles (hooks that don't go all the way around but instead back and forth, usually rotary now) for anything over 138, although some have pushed it with 207, but your hook is smaller than the ones they do that on. But, you have the machine now, so try it and see. Art
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I think you'll have a hard time running anything larger than 69 (if that) thread through it. The hook is just not up to big thread, and the needle bar might not handle very big needles either. Art
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I profile and do a lot on the Bader or Burr-King belt grinders. I use the Tormek for final edge and have no complaints. Nobody has made a jig for the head knife yet so I turn the Tormek around and sharpen the head knife with the wheel going away, works fine though. I seldom let a head knife get to the point of needing the belt grinder or the Tormek. Kitchen knives do however appreciate the Tormek treatment. Art
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Hi Regis, The Highlead GC24618 is a driven roller (top and Botton) post machine. http://www.highlead.com.cn/hailing_english...D=product_10025 Then there is the Highlead GC24018 which has top roller and bottom feed dog and is less expensive. http://www.highlead.com.cn/hailing_english...D=product_10010 If you are looking to see these things, then you will probably have to go to the IFoLG show in Indianapolis, or the Boot and Saddlemakers Roundup in Wichita Falls, TX in late September/Early October. Art
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OK, Don't go backwards and always complete the stitch such that the thread tensioning lever (the gizmo that the thread goes through and goes up and down) is all the way to the top. Art
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You need more top tension so that the loops pull up into the leather. Art
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Huigong No.3 makes some of the Mitsubishi models and there are some dealings back and forth between those companies, however Mitsubishi does not own the producer of Highlead machines. Some of the Japanese producers are moving some of their production to China, it is just less expensive to produce in China than in Japan. Art
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Having worked with both Highlead and ZhiQiang machines, I can say that they both have 441 parts inside. The design of the parts is 441, but there is a little difference in the winder area. The most remarkable difference is when you pick one of the Highleads up, THEN there seems to be a BIG difference. Highlead was also using some expensive Japanese hooks when I got mine, I don't know if they are doing that today, I think that Japanese factory has moved to China. The Artisan 4000P IS made by the same factory in Shanghai as the Highlead, Huigong No.3. The Artisan 4000R is made by ZhiQiang. Threads of ownership run in and out of these factories, so REALLY knowing who owns what in China, or finding out for that matter, is practically impossible. Most of the 441 and Adler clones are pretty good machines and give good service, Juki and Adler designed very good machines and a copy of a very good machine will generally be a good machine if quality is good. Fifteen years ago, Chinese castings were crap and you could get better quality out of Taiwan, not so today, casting quality is very good in China. I don't know that I would recommend the Highlead over the Typical for a new purchaser, the Highlead costs the distributor 900 more than the other 441s, and I don't know that the average leatherworker would ever get that back, they are beautiful machines though. Art
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Elko Leather Show - July 17-18
Art replied to bruce johnson's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Al Gould (559) 299-7994 10601 N Minnewawa Ave, Clovis, CA 93619 -
Hi Geoff, If you only do one size thread, probably not. If you do drastically different sizes like 346 and 138 then probably yes. Ask Vandy what size fits what thread and get what you need. Art