J Hayes

I watch a guy in 8th grade split one of his fingers on a scroll saw too, worked real good, he got almost past the nail before ne realized it. Awesome table, I love the way you did the edge guides! Well done!!!

McMaster Carr sells the #8 in stainless with an undercut head, works perfectly for me on my PTD. 8/32x3/8" p/n 91099A260 Phillips flat undercut machine screw. They also carry t nuts but I got those from Steel marine fastener I believe.

West coast boots, Westco, will build you a pair. Note: I have no affiliation nor have I ever used their boots, came across them on my search for a USA made logger. Looks interesting. Red Wing does have a long history, unfortunately most of their product line is imported now, as is most other manufacturers. I replaced a pair of Carolina boots with Red Wings once, wish I would've bought Carolina's instead, the RWs never really fit right. Try on whatever you get and don't be blinded by the brand or what is in fashion, get what works. Also I wouldn't modify a boot like that. Jmo. Spend the money on several pairs or one really well fit pair. My old Carolina's were fit like a glove, stand in the hike in them run in them. Model 1922

You seem sold on Red Wings, any reason?

Woodcraft may have teflon as well or a woodworking store.

Can you sand or file the anvil you ordered to fit? I wouldn't open the hole in the puch up to much though, fear of weakening the jaw. Just my thoughts

Big bobbin is really nice.

Try posting in leather sewing machines.

You could use a carriage bolt through the jaws with a wing nut removing the cam. Also you could screw a short 2x6 on the bottom forming an upside down T and sit on it. Possibilities are endless, those jaws have a very nice shape.

Servo with a speed reducer should allow the slow stitching you are after. As far as buying an Efka I'm not familiar. My servo has a digital control and I can limit the top end. I have a clone. I can go one stitch at a time, very useful on tight corners on holsters. The feet may have different heights depending on the manufacturer, I know the Cowboy/Cobra feet have different heights than the Ferdco feet that came on my machine. Reset things for the Cowboy type feet on mine and life is good, I have a full set of those.

Cuddle bug paper embosser might do it. I've used it to emboss some bracelets with the wife's paper dies, worked well and the unit is about $50. Also the roller unit from an old wringer washing machine might do. I'll check the thickness on the embosser. The rollers are about 1" apart and 5-6 in wide, you would have to make a spacer the length of your belts and sandwich the leather between those or just let the roller press directly on the leather. The rollers are spring loaded so you may have to play with the thickness of your spacers. JoAnn has some 50% off coupons. Might take a bit of goofing but I bet it can be done. I have also seen towel wringers like on a wringer washer but I imagine with all thr pinched fingers those are not made anymore

Oops

Keep the Singer, made in USA and a bit more powerful, keep the pulley off the other though, just in case. Unless you have the space to keep both. Just my .02 (overpriced at that)

I'd agree with Red Cent

Superior threads as well, I got some really nice 277 in pink from them, $23 and shipped for $3.95 I think. They had more colors in 138, price on the pink 277 was best I found 2-3 months ago

I'll preface this by saying I'm no expert, and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn last night but I remember reading a smaller needle may help with the knot position on thinner leather, smaller hole not allowing the knot to move up as far. Might be easy to try. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in soon. BTW way cool machine, the price point on that is awesome, Bob I think you have a real winner there, just a bit more $$ than a Boss and powered. Jeremy

Maybe try a smaller motor pulley before going through all the work of the SR. Should be able to find a 1 3/4 pulley for it, possibly even 1 1/2. Just a thought Jeremy

Nicely done Malabar! Thanks for taking the time to do it. Jeremy

Looks good to me. I was able to find an 1 3/4 pulley for at my local hardware store, so if the 2 1/8 doesn't do you may try that too. Nice to have somebody there to teach as well!

I see no reason you cannot hand crank it. I handwheel all of my machines in the tight coners. I would set it up so you can add a motor though, at some point you may want one, hand wheeling is slow but it is still faster than hand stitching. I've seen pictures of them driven by bicycle cranks too.

The speed reducer will work, it will slow the machine and increase the torque. As to that specific reducer I don't really have an opinion, I would however urge you to check with one of the dealers that advertise here, they often answer questions and help. Toledo Industrial sewing(Bob), Leather Machine Co (Steve), Raphael Sewing (Ronnie) and Gregg from Keystone sewing. Good to help them when possible.

True. Did you try flip flopping the gibs as Bruce suggested? For straps off a side I prefer a rotary cutter and straight edge.

Unfortunately you will probably HAVE to fine tune any tool and new ones are no exception, some manufacters have to meet a price point and unfortunately fit and finish suffer greatly at times. Like Bruce stated new is nowhere near sharp, unfortunately. I've spent hours sharpening and polishing so called "polished" punches.

drum dyed= dyed at tannery The Crazy Horse is available from Zack White Leather, I've used 3-4 sides in 5/6 oz, nice stuff I like it a lot. Not veg tan, chome oil tanned I think. I don't see what they are telling you that full grain leather cannot look like that. Rigidity could come from "stiffeners" sandwich between layers, also the side seams, there are 3 layers sewn on thr middle gusset, that will help keep it pretty stiff. I made a very basic messenger type bag that is fairly rigid, post titled "bag for my boy" its Crazy Horse Chocolate in 5/6 oz. Look also at Walden bags........ oh my! Jeremy

Tex I think the linen was $60 for a one pound spool, 700 some odd yards I think so about .08 yard, but a big upfront investment for "string". I think I msde one or two items before I made a pony, yes huge difference in stitching time and ease!