Averya

Country Trash.....can you give me an idea of the size of your maker stamp???? I just ordered one that is suppose to be used with a hammer but it is so darn small, I can even hold it in place. Tried a c-clamp...no help. I really unhappy and need to get another one. Suggestions? Info would be appreiated. Thanks

Wow...thanks so much. I will check them out right away.

Tandy Leather is discontinueing carrying stingray and I am desperately looking for another place to purchase some. I specifically need the black with the long white spine. Does anyone have suggestions for another source? Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks Art....I appreciate your advice also. I will keep it for future reference as I know so little about this machine. The needle was inserted correctly. I will certainly use your advice on backstitching too. I spent this afternoon following WizCrafts printout and he was "spot on". When I lowered the needle, it began to sew perfectly as well as backstitching. I took the head off (which was a bit scary for me) but it was actually very easy, dropped the needle bar as suggested, and reinserted the needle to the proper position, and everything worked like a charm. I did raise the check spring also. Thank you again WizCraft.......I've been struggling with this machine for quite some time. As an aside....I did talk with Steve when I was first having difficulties and he walked me through the necessary corrections. However, once I changed thread and needle size, I began to have problems again. Anyway.....thanks to you both...this board is awesome.

Wow! Thank you so much for your advice. I am using a #23 needle, but I plan on printing out your suggestions and going through them one by one. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time in listing the possible fixes for my problem.

Before bugging Steve again, I thought I would ask if someone on this forum could advise me. I finally got the tension adjusted for my 136 thread, after hours of frustration. Now I'm having issues with backstitching. The machine will go along nicely, then when I try to backstitch it won't pick up the thred at all. Does anyone have any idea why this would happen. I sure wish I knew someone with a Cobra 4 who lived in Oregon....I would gladly hire them to help me with this machine!!!!!!

Beautiful work.....I love the way you overlapped onto the basketweave, and the dye job is excellent. Can you tell me what dye you used for the base color? Thxs

Just beautiful. I wouldn't know where to begin on something that complicated. Very impressive.

Thank you so much....I wish the underside stitching hadn't messed up on the lining, but my mare isn't complaining and I will do better lnext time. I appreciate your encouragement.....and this wonderful forum. I spend hours reading it every night and have learned so much.

This is the second project I have finished. I made a stingray browband and basketweave headstall with cheek and slobber straps for my horse, Hope. I had no idea how to do an inlay,but bluffed my way through. Next, I need to tackle a matching breast collar. Lots to learn, but I'm sure loving working with leather.

If you go to the site www.ubraidit.com. they have the information you are looking for on mecates. They also sell parachute cord. Good luck

Thanks for the nice comments. I spent over 30 years making a living as a glass artist, and now I'm starting all over again. It's a very humbling experience to begin learning a new craft at this stage in life. I'm amazed at what can be done with leather and in awe of some of the creativity, beauty, and precise craftsmanship I have seen on this site. Lots to learn and lots to live up to!

Thank you....I will try this. I was having a lot of thread breakage too so maybe you have hit on it. (PS sorry about the typos in my previous message....must learn to proofread)

Just stunning. Certainly gives me something to aspire to.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and sharing your knowledge. I have done all the things you have suggested yes to everything Art suggested as well as Twin Oaks). I also took the shuttle apart, cleaned and oiled the machine, etc. I sent Steve an email a week ago but never heard back from him. I'm guessing he didn't receive it, so yes, I will call him tomorrow. I do worry it is the timing but have been hesitant to mess with it.

I made this set of saddle bags to match my black saddle for my horse from a stock pattern and design. It was a real learning experience and I will definitely change things in the future. Lots to learn, but for the most part they are very functional. I also lined them so they aren't rough on the inside.

I've spent two days trying to figure out what is wrong with my machine. I've adjusted the tensions every way I can, but it still misses stitches, as well as being irratic in the stitch size. It will start out with al nice even stitch then the stitches get smaller, then it will miss stitches. I cannot reverse stitch and have it stitch the same holes. I know either the timing is off or the tension. I love this machine but you need to be a mechanical engineer to figure it out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Avery

Even though I tested a scrap piece of leather, the dye on my project is way darker than I wanted. I'm using Fiebings Med Brown mixed with a bit of diluter. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you