Mojo66

It could simply be that the presser foot is not set at the moment to move up and down very much. You adjust this by moving a small block held in place by a wingnut at the back of the machine, just near the head. If you move the block closer to the balance wheel the lift should increase. If not it's probably knackered!

I have that machine, I'll do it tomoz at work and get back to you.

Thanks for the replies, there's no problem pushing the awl through, but using a washer sounds like a good idea though, I've been using my finger but that smarts a bit after a while!

I was told to push my awl all the way through the leather when hand stitching with a diamond awl, but I noticed it looks neater when I only push it some of the way through, what's best? Is there a reason for pushing it all the way through?

Oxalic acid's also found in rhubarb, rubbing leather with a stick of rhubarb seems an odd thing to do though.

Thanks for that, done a quick Google and Dap doesn't seem to be available here but the Elmer's is, cheers! I wanted something that doesn't kill too many brain cells, I need the few I have left....

What's a good glue to use for gluing leather? I make belts and guitar straps and use either Eco Flo contact cement, which for a long belt is expensive, or some industrial stuff I get from a local leatherworker which smells evil and is the sort of thing you see being carried about in bags by undesirables in subways. I can feel my brain cells depleting as I use it, but it does stick well, and if I get it onto the leather I can roll it under my finger and it comes off. Any suggestions? Preferably something I can get from a builder's yard, etc. as there are no leather working shops around here. Thanks.

Sorted it, glued a small piece of coarse sand paper to the foot, problem solved, goes like a good 'un now.

Thank you, I do have a spare foot, so could try sanding that down, or I was thinking of trying some clear nail varnish or possibly gluing some suede to the foot, I can always take it off if it doesn't work. Failing that I may try masking tape down each side of the stitching line, so the foot can dig into that and not the leather! I do like using it so it would be a shame to give up on it. Thanks for that, the tubing sounds a good idea, or possibly a little bit of cork.

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking of sanding the foot down a little, but it seems a bit drastic. Would a smooth foot still move the leather through properly? I've tried loosening the tension on the foot but find that sometimes this makes the needle pull the leather up with it.

I've just got one of these to sew leather with, but the teeth from the presser foot leave marks in the leather, what can I do? I've just been sewing on scraps of veg tan so far to get used to it, but I don't want to spend 2 hours or so on a belt just to have it ruined by the machine, any suggestions? Apart from that the machine's great, lovely neat stitching and a joy to use.