Art

Hi Wolf, Chinese motors are a thing unto themselves. Once you have an hour of operation on them, they will last forever it seems. I was at the IFoLG show in Ft. Worth, sitting across the isle from the Artisan booth (day before show) and a 3000, nobody operating it, just took off at full speed, only way to stop it was to turn it off (mind you UNPLUG it, not just the switch). New motor, it happens. Replace motor is the best measure. In your case, if it happens again, have them ship you a new motor, it isn't worth the shipping to return it. Again at a show, I had a servo motor that worked for a day and then went dead short. The distributor just has to stand behind it and eat the motor and the shipping. The only solution is to use German motors (Efka), but they cost as much as a machine head, maybe a little less, but not much. The Chinese motors are getting better as we speak, but I still get Chinese motors that use mechanical devices (inside) that have been replaced by electronics in American motors 30 or more years ago. In some ways, it's still the industrial revolution over there. Art

Google Consew 206 and youtube, I think someone did a video of that. Art

Hi Holly, Let her take an NRA course FIRST. If you want, you can borrow a wheelgun or two (big and small), an auto, and a shotgun from me and have the instructor show her about all of them. Let her choose style and then go shopping. Unless, knowing Holly, she has all of those. Call me. Art

The trouble with Chesty's quotes is they keep "cleaning them up" and making them "politically correct", then they put QUOTES around them. 5x Navy Cross, DSC, Silver&Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, many others, they just don't make them like that anymore. My favorite quote, and an indication of the way he thought: "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." Art

I only have a 6 overstitch wheel, guess that answers that. When I see some of the English tack, I can only think, someone needs a life or a machine or both. Art

Hi Darc, I saw a nasty old picture taken off a newspaper ad. The detail was terrible, but there it was, so we know it existed. In the search for Campbell heads to refurb, you would think Connie would have dredged one up, but the scarcity may have something to do with their success? Art

Hi Greg, The Randall clone is not really ready for prime time. There are no guides for setting thickness, and it takes forever to get the blade back in and aligned. It might be made better by developing a jig to install the blade, and a couple of dial indicators would help the thickness setting issue. I would be interested in the International to see how they did it. Other than that, a good used band splitter even at two or three times the price of the Randall might be a better idea. Art

I guess everyone by now has told you to use an awl. With thin leathers, you tend to use thinner thread, in the 46 to 69 range or even smaller. I've never seen an awl at Tandy that was small enough for that, Bob Douglas has the tool you need for that. Now if you want to make small holes, like for the straps on ladies shoes (hey Dad, you do leatherwork, can you fix this?), you can sometimes use the sewing punch from Tandy, works better on veg than chrome. If the holes won't stay open, then chuck a 200-250 sewing machine needle (a harness needle will work if you punch a hole first or sharpen it), or I have used a nail of the desired size and filed a point on it, and punch the hole and burnish it out. The other option is to use a small bit chucked in a Dremel tool. Art

What you've got is what you got. The 31 is a great little machine, if it is good for what you are doing then carry on. You can also mount a motor on it like an industrial. I have seen them with clutch motors and servos, the servo is better for CC holster work. For $150 or so you can get a 1/2hp servo and a belt from Auto Zone when you find out what length you need. I am pretty sure that model came with a different wheel for v-belt and round belt, you will probably have to scrounge one of those and trade. And, ANYTHING beats hand stitching. Art

Hi Tony, That puppy is a German Shepherd. I'm pretty sure SGSB (China) bought out Kugelfischer in 2005. The gentleman who stated they are made in the Czech Republic is correct, I am not sure where every part is made, but nonetheless they are still a very good machine and with the 16.5" arm they are comparable to a 441. You pays your money and you takes your pick. Art

Hi Tim, The 2020 is a right expensive machine. A comparable machine would be a Cowboy or a Cobra for under $2000. These are good solid machines by experienced dealers. You may be able to upgrade to a longer arm for about $400-$500 more, that would be a clone of a Juki 441 and as much machine as you are likely to ever need. For your $5000, you can get BOTH a 441 longarm clone AND a good medium duty machine for the small stuff AND take the Missus to dinner and maybe have $500 left over. Cowboy also has a clone of the Adler 205 in various arm lengths if you like them. PM me if you want names and numbers. Art

5Shot, Don't know about semantics, when we speak of a Randall or Randall Lockstitch we are referring to a clone of a Campbell, a Union Lockstitch or a "Union" always refers to a different machine, indeed with needle feed. Then there are the Champions and the American Straight Needle "ASN" which are totally different animals. I've owned everything above except the Union and a Cyclone, I kept the Campbell and I'd take a Cyclone in a heartbeat, don't want a Union. What do you have? Art

Hi Everyone, I was at Wickenburg working in Steve's booth. It cost me $2,000 to go out there with my son and help Steve, who I have known for years. I also know most everyone in the leather machine business, especially folks selling new machines and quite a few of the used machine sellers. I also know the folks in China, well at least most of them doing business over here, and I know a lot more about the financial condition and factors all along the chain than I can tell. If anyone wants specific no bull info on what is going on, I can pretty much relate how things are going, privately. For the last couple of years, there has been a bunch of bull being put forth by certain folks, and I am not happy with it, and I have let one distributor know that I am going to let folks know when they make false statements. I have been previously lied to and have given out info on this forum that was told to me as the truth, and it was a total fabrication. That will stop now and I will clear-up any false statements. I have been checking out every statement made about sewing machines, and there will be no more BS. Fact one: Other than Luberto, Campbell-Bosworth, and a few others who do some refurbishment, there are no manufacturers of leather sewing machines in the US; that capability left a looooong time ago. They all are pretty much made in mainland China. Fact two: There are no Chinese machines assembled in USA or America even. China does not send castings here for distributors to assemble using their parts. Every machine comes in a box, and is completely assembled, any other story is BS, pure and simple. Fact three: Distributors do assemble complete units from feet, needle plates, stands, motors, speed reducers, belts, lights, thread stands, and machine heads. Some go to great pains to design their feet and needle plates and provide quality equipment. If I file and grind out a foot or needle plate, it would astonish you how fast and at what cost I can have 100 made. If I can find something that is just about right already in production, minor modifications like loping off a foot are even faster and cheaper. Fact four: As far as leather machines go, there are variations of the Juki 441, and there are variations of the Adler 205, yes there are other machines, but those two make up the majority; lengthen or shorten the arm and maybe beef-up a casting and there you go. There are all of about four what I call Class A factories in China who make these machines, and there is a very small community of folks work in trade in these machines. What I call Class A is a factory with CNC equipment (preferably US, Japanese, or other serious manufacturer) and quality control procedures to back that up. Fact five: I have checked with my contact in China (yes I have one and she is an exporter), and she checked to see if there is any order for 400 machines anywhere in China. Nope, no way you can keep that secret. Any talk of new castings? The first question was WHY? the ones we are using work fine! She checked anyway and No, nothing. This in the land where you can find out anything, and I mean ANYTHING for lunch or less. So, if you are buying a Chinese sewing machine labeled (in alphabetical order): Artisan Cobra Cowboy Ferdco Sewmo you are going to get, pretty much, a good machine. Feet might be different, setup might be good, bad, or non existent, this all depends on the person running the distribution company and providing the service. If you want my private opinion, there are three, maybe four companies I would trust to send money to, get a hold of me by phone if you want my opinion, and why. Artisan is selling the 3000 for $1650. If you can actually get a machine for that, go for it, it is considerably less than he sells them to dealers for, and is a great deal. There is a great deal of information in my last sentence. In the end, the price of the machine doesn't matter, you are going to have it until your wife or kids sell it, service matters very much, very very much. If it is a 441 or 205, you can get parts, and if you can get parts you can fix it, having someone to help you with that is paramount. The above is purely my opinion based on information I have derived from various sources and my hands-on use of these machines and other resources at my disposal. Art

Hi Pat, They'll drive a creaser, strap cutter, skiver, band saw, meat grinder/sausage stuffer, get an arbor and make a sander/burnisher something like Weaver sells, someone on one of these lists sells the parts for that, belt grinder, buffer, bobbin winder, and even a sewing machine. Art

Hi Mark, Wait 'till May and go up to Sheridan for the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, May 15-17 2009. There will be several dealers/distributors there and you can test out the machines and see which one fits you best. There is a lot more to see there and a good time is usually had by all. It is a long day trip for you and there is a lot to see so plan on an overnight. Art

Des, Your ex-employer made unemployment payments so you would have something to fall back on. Go get your money 'till you are on your feet. While you are looking for a job, work on the leather folks sent you, keep your tools and start doing things. When someone gives you something, don't fight it, use it. Art

Born -- Panama Canal Zone (same hospital as John McCain) Lived in U.S.A. most all my life U.S. Citizen, Birth, Blood, and Desire Art

Hi Henry, Don't worry, your subscription will not expire, you are however encouraged to donate to leatherworker.net whenever you like and you can do that via the PayPal Donate link on the main page. Thanks for helping us keep the lights on/ http://leatherworker.net/ Art

Hi Kevin, Connie would know more on the Cyclone than anyone I know, someone was rebuilding them several years ago and I think the price then was around $12,000 as much as 2 completely refurbished Campbells. The Cyclone Stitcher, like the Cyclone Roller Coaster is pretty much lost to history, pictures are even hard to find. The Randall is a clone of the Campbell, for Campbell's existence, you could only lease the Campbell, you could buy the Randall. The Landis #3 had a 2 1/2 inch deeper throat than the Campbell and was a little different in design, not a lot, parts do not interchange well between Campbell and Landis #3, however Campbell and Randall are almost identical. Ron at Ferdco might be able to shed a little more light on the Cyclone, let us know what you find out. Art

Hi Davy, They (97-10) sell over here for $2800-$3000 converted to a 794 needle system. They will sew one inch leather, but unless you really need that machine, or collect them, or need something to hold things down in a nor'easter, a newer 441 might be better, there are parts for the 441s that allow you to do leather over 1". Art

Hi Hilly, Raise heck with your local Tandy manager, or corporate, or Jim Linnell, if someone doesn't know, they never will. Right now, POing the customers is not in their best interest. Art

Hi Bubba, I don't generally recommend nubies going out into the used market for several reasons. One reason is that there is no real support available other than a few forums like this. Another reason is that you can get stuck with a bad machine or deal; remember that the person selling has every reason to sell it to you, even if it doesn't fit you. It is also very easy to pass-up a great deal that may cost a few bucks more because it is something you aren't aware of. That being said, there is a swap board on the Ferdco website. Everything seems to me to be overpriced there by about 25% (just my opinion), a lot of OBO though, so haggling may be the norm. You want something fairly current so there are parts available. An ASE No.9 at a good price (I bought mine for $1100) would be a find, Luberto's can still find or make parts for one and the later ones were circa 1990s. I would prefer to have a needle feed jump or walking foot machine for harness, instead of the drop feed only, but you pay more for that, a considerable amount more, because it is better. The used market is always tough, the opportunity to overpay is great, the rewards can be great also, it is just knowing the value, don't fixate on anything, don't pay full price for anything, especially if it has been sitting there a while. Art

Hi Hilly, You're in SE Michigan and not a terrible far drive to Neels in North Lima, Ohio (not Lima, that would really be close), Weavers in Mt. Hope, or SMS outside Toledo. Might be a day trip but then again worth it. Artisan and LMC will be at the IFoLG show this fall as far as I know. I imagine with the troubles of the auto industry, there might be some real opportunities for used machines in your area. Nevertheless, many (or some) machine dealers/distributors come to the major shows, so there is a good place to corner them and get your questions answered. I'll be in Wickenburg helping Steve from LMC (I've always helped Steve at shows I attend no matter who he was working for). I would be happy to give an impromptu sewing class and answer any and all questions anyone may have. I have more sewing experience and user experience and Steve has more mechanical experience. The thing about classes kind of puzzles me, I have been to industry expos and embroidery and graphics expos where they have 3 and 4 day classes, 4 hours a day on machine setup and maintenance and other classes on operation. These are held by manufacturers and distributors of a particular machine brand and people pay dearly to attend, even folks with different machines than the ones being used in the class. A threaded needle machine is a threaded needle machine, and they all work pretty much the same. The feeding systems and sewing beds pretty well distinguish the machines as far as comparisons go. So teaching a class on machine operation and adjustment is a pretty generic thing, a real Sewing Machines for Dummies type of class that should turn out (when they go home and practice a little) competent machine operators. I guess I can't understand why this is a hard concept for the leather expo folks to digest. I have some ideas about this, everyone just stick with me here, we're all in this together (where'd I put my duct tape). Art

Hi Fred, Needle brands you want to look for are Schmetz and Organ, German and Japanese, both good quality. Groz-Beckert are also good but availability can be a problem. I have found bonded nylon to work very well in the medium weight machines, until I run out of poly, I will use poly in my heavy stitchers. Don't buy thread from all over, and stick with a brand. Linhanyl works for me, Artisan and LMC sell it. You have a place, Miami Industrial Sewing in North Beach that is a cool place to visit, he might not have thread (he might not be alive, I haven't been there in a few years), but a lot of used machines, and he has parts for everything, prices might be high, haggle. Art

Hi, John up at Leighton's (it's near Red Deer in Alberta Canada) used to refurbish those things and they were really pretty when he got finished. The ones I've seen only sew 1/2" or so, not what I would call a heavy stitcher. Still a pretty machine, makes me want to reach for my wallet, but I do have a mill, two lathes, and 4 grinders and 2 buffers, you might find out where Leighton gets his parts if you need them. Your first machine should be a new one if you can afford it. Art