Waldermac

Ok so here's the story, I went to an industrial sewing machine shop here in Toronto today and saw a used Juki LU 563 with a clutch motor that they will change to servo and it will cost 1200 all in. They also had a Reliable MSK 8400B with servo for 800. I brought four pieces of 5-6 oz veg tan and 138 thread to try on the Reliable. Two pieces went thru the machine with ease but three kinda bogged the thing down. So they are gonna try it on the Juki tomorrow. Is this a good machine to get? The tippman boss from what i could see is a manual hand operated machine ( no motor). I'm sure it works great but to ship it here will cost a couple hundred bucks. Any thoughts on the two machines I mentioned?

Not that thick, under 3/8 inch. What machine are you suggesting exactly?

Looking to buy a new machine for making Leather Bags, Totes, Wallets and knife sheaths. Want to spent under a grand and have some portability if possible. And use 138 nylon thread, on 4 to 8 oz veg tan leather. Looked at this: BARRACUDA 2000U-33 online http://www.reliablecorporation.com/Products/ZIG-ZAG/2000U-33 Its 499 here in Toronto, Canada. Wondering if that's a good machine for my purposes. Want to have good slow control and walking foot with lock-stitch. Kinda new to this whole machine sewing thing as I've been doing all hand sewing and it takes forever to finish a project. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Don't want to be sorry I bought the wrong machine. I read the sticky on leather sewing machines but seems to me the entry level there is 1500 plus.