I am having mega problems getting proper tension my cobra. It's been months of hours, trying and giving up. Going back to hand sewing and my old crappy machine. I am worn out, and confused! I finally got it tensioned for one type of sewing I do, took DETAILED notes of the tension settings, then went back to try and tension the other way I sew, and it took hours and hours, blah bah blah. Then I need to go back to the first way I sew, and my notes don't work. I can't get it tensioned back. Am I missing something? I am also powering through my thread and using up leather to test samples like crazy. It's wasting so much of my time, and a lot of materials. I've asked Steve, but he hasn't been able to help. I am hoping someone else with a Cobra can offer me some tips?
The first type of sewing I do is one layer of veg tanned about 6-7oz to one layer of chrome tan 3.5 oz. I use a 25 needle, with appropriate thread.
The second type of sewing I do is min 2 layers of chrome tanned, to max about 4-5 layers. I use a 21 or 22 needle, with appropriate thread.
I have got the machine to flawlessly sew both, eventually. But every time I try and tension for the other type of sewing, it takes me hours, days. Or longer. Or I give up (and thank God my old crappy machine still works well enough!)
In these photo examples, you can see how it varies between top tension is too strong, and then too loose. I CANNOT find the balance. (and yes, the top & bottom thread are the same thickeness & brand). It seems I cannot make a small enough adjustment, so it goes between too little and too much tension immediately. Sometimes I can get it to sew normal for 5-6 stitches, but then it always reverts to one way or the other (top is too loose or too tight)
