J Hayes

+1 for the Osborne 155. You may have to sharpen a few tubes before use though. Also the K157 mini punch set is handy, I turned the handle down on mine to fit into the chuck on a cheapo table top drill press I wasn't using.

Is the CR blade gound all the way back? Approximate angle? Thanks Jeremy

Please keep us posted. I've been eyeing a new one myself.....

Looking good! I like the sandwich baskets! I came across a bunch of old lunch trays that I use.

I have an Excalibur food dehydrator that works very well, adjustable temp and a fan. An hour at 115 works well for me. I already had the dehydrator and didn't have to modify anything. I can easily get 4 or more in there at a time, I can still use it for jerky too! Lobo has a good idea with his setup

Superior Threads has pink in 277, not hot pink but it works for me.

Yes, the attachment makes it like 2 machines in one. I believe the Techsew has one available for it. I had the material and tools so I made mine, maybe took an hour and its on or off in about a minute. I'll try to get a picture of mine but if you search here there are some excellent examples of shop built ones. One guy even incorporated a edge guide in his. Warning though, you will want more than one machine, they seem to be addictive ;-) and reverse is nice to have. And no need to be nervous about sewing on a cylinder arm especially if you already have experience, I believe the 2700 has a servo motor which will allow awesome speed control, sewing very slow, you can also have them add a speed reducer which will give you more punching power on the thick tough stuff and slow the machine even more. Good luck and keep us posted and give Ronnie a call. Jeremy

Depending on the bags you make you may want to look at cylinder arm machines, they make sewing gusseted bags easier. I have an old Singer 153w101 cylinder arm machine, basically a Techsew 2700 but mine has no reverse. I'm into mine for about $800 usd after putting a new servo motor on it. I also made a flatbed for it that is very handy when sewing flat panels. Once you sew on a compound feed machine you'll be hooked. Just my .02 Good luck Jeremy

Thank you

Nice! Thanks for the link, and let us know how you like it! Jeremy

I'm Jeremy, and I can quit anytime I want. ;-) hehehe

Hahaha yeah no kidding!!!!!!

How much "give" is in the face of a poly hammer striking something with as small a diameter as a bag punch? I wonder if you're losing energy there? Always wondered how well those would transfer energy, the faces seem soft to me. Brass is nice for punches. Also best to punch holes over a leg too, I have a granite kitchen table and won't punch any holes on it, fear of cracking the wifes table.

Those good. You may want to move the pistol up and remove some of the back leather on the black one, it will make getting a good solid firing grip on the pistol much faster and easier. I gotta get myself an antler, too bad I haven't seen any deer while hunting for several years, nothing shootable anyway.

The foam cuts easily with an electric carving or fillet knife.

Got a good solid backing? I like a 2x4 on the concrete floor. Once you get that punch sharp it'll be nice, shouldn't have to totally rework it but unfortunately you probably will......

Thank you

Also take a look at GRS engraving tools. The handpieces are smaller and with just an air hose feeding the they arr much more flexible than the flexshaft driving the power mallet. Downside is the GRS stuff takes a small diameter tool, but that can easily be worked around. The GRS stuff is air driven requiring a compressor which can be remotely located. Believe me you will get sick of listening to that flexshaft.......

Hahaha, I was told the same thing once, so Silverback is not alone.

Thanks. That was a good watch.

Im not an expert, but the seiko sounds good, and I think Seiko made the Consew machines, maybe? I think the bobbin may be small on it but depending on the thread size you should be ok, the price is very nice and leaves some money for supplies I would think. Sew on it if you can. Best I can do for you, hopefully somebody more familiar with those machines will chime in. Good luck. P.S. I would probably buy that Seiko myself at that price if it were close to me....

+1 for Roger

Flitz has worked well for me for stropping and most hardware stores carry it. It too will work on cardstock. I also like the wet/dry papers on plate glass or on 1" flat steel used like a file. I have India stones for rough work, and some real nice hard Arkansas stones for the fine stuff and finish it off with a few strops on some Flitz. Most of it comes down to what works best for you, trial and error sort of thing. Also practice practice practice

What are the weights of the handbags you want to make? I think I've read that 138 and even down to 92 can be run on the big 441 clones. Cylinder arm is nice for gusset sewing, I have a Singer 153w101 cylinder arm machine that sews 138 with a 22 needle into 2- 3 layers of 5/6 oz chrome tanned nicely, this machine has no reverse though. Bob sells a Cowboy copy of it that has reverse, CB227R I think???? I guess it really depends on the bags you want to sew.

Singer 110w124 roller foot with roller "dog" and needle feed. Longest stitch is 10 though and you need the right gears. No reverse. I did have mine sewing 2 layers of 5-7 horse butt with 92 bonded nylon nicely, tried 138 but it didn't like it, and I didn't try very hard. I may have even sewn 3 layers, cannot remember. I have seen video of a bootmaker using one to sew decorative patterns on cowboy boots. Nice machine but limited use