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Very nice, did you hand cut the web? What did you use for the bottom sole ?

Update, The needle did the trick.... Previous owner had wrong size needle in machine... a #140... I put the proper size #16 in it & it now sews w/out breaking the thread or skipping a stitch. Now just need to learn to use the machine & tweak it, and clean it. Thanks for the input\\ Bill

I need help w/an old machine I came across. picked up a singer 16-188 walking foot recently, having problems w/it picking up the bottom thread, maybe every other 4th revolution it will pick it up but not consistently. If I had some ppwk to go w/it, instructions on how to time it, if I knew for sure all the parts in the shuttle were there I think that would help. not sure what to do w/it to get it working , any ideas would be great

How about a Singer model 95-1 ... any good for leather??

I was wondering which version works best for say sandals, flip flops, shoes moving on to garments...chaps, belts a cylinder arm w/a bed attachment or straight up flat bed?? which would be more versatile?? there are SOOO MANY different models to choose from for sewing leather, reading everything just confuses me more. I would like something that would cover all the bases at least to start w/as my budget won't allow for multiple machines. Example the Tech Sew 4100 starts at a minimum 6oz leather, what if I wanted to sew something other than that that only amounted to say 4 oz but also wanted to sew 1/2 combined products, i.e. leather, cork, rubber or some variation. Thoughts?? Thanks

Thanks for the info, The Rilliau sandals are what I would like to learn to make, in addition to flip flops. I'll keep researching & try to keep all posted, in case your wondering how things work out.

Hello Everyone, Well, for better or worse, I am off to a new adventure, I hope. I want to start making sandals & flip flops. Probably crazy idea but construction is way down & everyone wears shoes. So my hope is that this forum will help me get started. I have no idea what to do yet other than the desire to learn. I have been doing lots of research but have not been able to button anything in particular down. Sounds ironic doesn't it? My biggest question would be about sewing machines & the stitch they create. For the novice who needs a good machine to be able to serve him into the next phase of sandal making, from learning to sew to actually putting together a sandal ( i have sewed before, but nothing to speak of) what would be the best machine to buy on a limited budget & what exactly is a "lock stitch" other than what the word implies, that it locks the stitch. Is it a stitch necessary for making sandals/footwear. I have not yet purveyed the source forum but plan to soon. I have determined that the Adler 205-370 would probably be a good machine to have for this purpose but most likely out of my budget @ 3500$ plus, what would be the next best , comparable machine? Any other advice & information would be helpful I'm sure & a list of absolutely necessary tools & those I really do not need could be a piece of the appreciated advice. To continue, I like the idea of using car tires for the bottom sole, will this be possible to use, the inside of the tire is not absolutely smooth. When sewing the upper sole, leather foot bed piece, what does it exactly get sewed to? all the way through the mid sole & the bottom sole? FYI I am going to take a class week after next, but a bit of a head start would be nice. Thanks In advance for any help. At least some may get a good laugh out of this. In case you are wondering, I do live in a coastal town so there will be a market for my product. I just have to get busy making them & am excited to get started. I have always appreciated leather working & the custom made sandals I have seen.