Tree Reaper

Anyone know a source for these locking snaps in brass and less than $14.95? Ohio doesn't have them.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8355802/Stamp-Sets/27-pc-3/8-in.-Letter-Stamp-Set

No, I mean your leather project. The tool is square, the sides of the leather may be the same length but if they aren't square then there's no way a square tool can end up square on the last line of a piece of leather that isn't square. Measure corner to corner on your project, both measurements should be equal. In this diagram you would measure corner to corner on the blue line and corner to corner on the red line. Both lines must be exactly equal length with each other, if they aren't then your pattern will never be square on the leather. Your geo pattern I suspect is square but the leather isn't square with the geo pattern and that's most likely your problem.

Hey Bob, did you measure it to see if was square to begin with?

Good show! That's good of him to do that.

You're very welcome, I can't believe I helped someone with a sewing machine problem!

Maybe a fence would work, use it on each row. Another thing, the leather might not be square, measure corner to corner across the leather and also check corner to corner on your border.

The problem I had was trying to order off their internet site, some of the items that are in the catalog aren't on their web site, place the order over the phone, if there's a mistake like not taking the credit card information then it's another phone call which negates having a membership there in the first place. It would certainly be beneficial for both the customer and the company in my opinion. Tandy has an international in- watts and I have a membership there as well. The 800 number at Springfield still isn't working but I was able to purchase what I needed from eBay. If they get the 800 number working I'll continue to shop there but if it doesn't work out then I always have other options.

Here's some contact information http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/Downey-CA/ArtistMikecom/904783#.T_BRv5F61ac

Sure, glad to help. Make a stitch in forward and make a separate stitch in reverse. Pull the thread out of each run of stitches and measure the distance between the needle holes on both the forward and reverse stitch. They should be the same. If they aren't you can turn the feed regulator nut (marked with a red arrow) in either the forward OR the reverse lever position. In my case the reverse stitch was shorter so I turned the nut clockwise with the lever in the reverse position until the holes started opening up and finally measuring the same distance as the forward stitches. Keep stitching and measuring then turning the nut until you get the desired stitch distance. It took me about five different test stitches to get it where it had to be.

I don't think the border stamp will hide it, it will just show up crooked along the border stamp. Why is the leather moving in the first place, do you have it glued down?

You could consider measuring from your last line to the border on each row then you'll know if you need to gradually start increasing or decreasing the spacing long before you get there.

That's ok Bob, I don't mind calling, it's only a few times a year. I don't even know what they would charge for that service it may not be worth while for a handful of non resident customers. You guys have always been great at returning my calls and I appreciate the initiative on your part to call and help out with repairing my machine, that means a lot! Was that your son I was speaking with or another employee? Kevin

Actually in my own defense I have to say that the machine just came to an abrupt stop and naturally my foot was still on the pedal but I took my foot off immediately so I really didn't attempt to power through it, I know these machines can be temperamental and I wouldn't intentionally try to force it through a jam. I'm glad it's working again and I learned how to make some adjustments in the process. Kevin. Can you upgrade your 800# to include Canada?

That's pretty much the way it happened Bob although I didn't adjust the stitch length, it was still set the way I got it and was working fine. It must have wandered on it's own. Anyway it's all part of owning a machine and I expect to service it now and then but the learning curve is a little steep out of the gate. I guess I'm about to learn how to adjust the thread pitch. Thanks for the help even though it wasn't resolved over the phone I did learn how to adjust the needle and feed dog. Update I was able to dial the needle holes back together and match the pitch between forward and reverse. Everything looks good and I'll try a few more runs tomorrow. Thanks very much for the assistance. Kevin.

No, I don't have that Wiz. I ran 5 stitches in forward and reverse, measured both and the 5 forward stitches measure .820. the 5 reverse stitches measure .912 That's a difference of .092., almost 3/32"difference. Both separate stitches are neat and equal but are different in length. It's like the machine is switching from 5 threads per inch to 6 threads per inch when switching between forward and reverse. Do you think this might be a timing issue? Kevin

Well, that was short lived. I ran a few more trials last night and every one failed on the back stitch. Bob talked me through centering the feed dog and needle and that didn't help so he suggested I drop the feed dog to level with the throat plate and that didn't work. I think he's at a loss for this failure and I haven't got a clue so I'm wondering what to do next?

I can't say for sure Wiz without having another to compare it with but considering you seem to have the same clearance maybe it isn't bent and it just got forced down although the screw wasn't loose.

I just ran a stitch and a back stitch, looks like it's working again but I'll run some more scrap leather through it later.

Well, I was looking at the feed dog and it was below the throat plate so I pulled the race out and tried to raise it but I can only get 1mm maximum height before I run out of adjustment so now I'm thinking the feed dog got bent. I'm guessing there should be at least 3mm or more of maximum height adjustment above the plate when it's raised above the plate. It's close to 1.4mm now which is the recommended height so I'll give that a whirl. I most likely need a new feed dog.

Thanks Wiz, I was out of the house all day and Bob called but I missed his call. I'll give him a call back tomorrow. I'll have another quick look at it tonight but I'm too tired to turn any screws but I will get into it over the next day or two. I just had a closer look at it again and it appears that the needle hits the hole at the same time the inner foot touches down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB6B2RezQz8 Kevin.

The four pictures below indicate the position of the needle and feet with the take up lever first at the top and second at the bottom going forward. The third picture is with the take up lever at the top and the fourth is with the take up lever at the bottom in reverse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n57LdhQf_XA

The Art Of Making Leather Cases, Volume One by Al Stohlman.

Keep the hole as small as you can to fit the post and cut the post so it only sticks up about 3/32.

It appears to be hit and miss, one time it misses the holes and the next it hits them. I tend to think that it isn't timing and as CTG states and more to do with feed. It just started doing this when the thread got caught in the shuttle and stopped the machine from sewing. Kevin.