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I'd also like to know an answer to this. It's doing my head in.

I don't have a tannery or leather shop near me so I can't just ask the salesperson when I buy the leather. Is there a resource somewhere which lists what thickness leather is good for different projects? I want to make bag handles, belts, wallets, bags, watch straps and fobs. All of which I'm guessing use different thickness leather. It would be really easy to make my purchases if there was a table somewhere listing Belts: 2mm, Wallets: 1-1.5mm, Fobs: 1-2mm etc.

Oh wow! Yes Sydney, Australia. Most I come across are $1000+. Looking for something cheaper. The Consew 120 I've found on eBay is $550 but I'd probably go up to around $700 though. I'm really strapped for cash at the moment unfortunately.

It's hard to come by a decent priced second hand walking foot machine in Sydney. I've finally come across one on eBay though. It's a Consew 120. I can't find much information about this model at all. Does anyone know much about this model? Is it really old? Would parts be hard to come by? Is it missing any useful features etc? Thanks for any information.

Great! Thanks very much for the replies. One more thing... I'm going to be moving to the US in about a year so rather than spend big bucks on a good machine to last me years now, are there any non-walking foot machines that might be able to handle what I want? Granted it probably won't be the best finished product but while I'm learning and getting my techniques and everything down I wouldn't mind just messing about with a cheaper machine.

Firstly I should say I'm in Sydney Australia and I have spent the last month and a half doing some research and trying to hunt down a machine, but I still need some help finding the right machine for me. I'm new to sewing for the most part but I know my way around a domestic machine and have done a fair bit of research. Pretty much I want to start off making these kind of Canvas/Leather Totes. I have a fairly tight budget right now so I've been looking at used machines on eBay and Gumtree. From what I gather, mostly from reading this site but also having spoken to a couple of people in local sewing shops, I'll need a walking foot machine. I have had a really hard time finding anything with a walking foot for less than $1200 around Sydney, SO my question is; for a beginner like me would I be able to run those materials and create those products on a basic industrial machine or do I absolutely need a walking foot machine? I understand some machines will run leather and canvas without a walking foot but that may come with feeding issues etc. But I also don't want to buy a machine that will be too powerful for my needs. Can anyone recommend a machine to look out for that could do what I need? If anyone knows of anywhere around Sydney to buy second hand machines I'd love to know. Like I said I've spent about a month and a half watching well priced used machines come and go, waiting for a walking foot to pop up but I'm running out of patience and really want to get started with something. Thanks for reading.