MuddyClearWaters

Yes heavy snippers or tin shears will work great. I use a dremel tool to finish all of my edges. and yes wear a mask.

On my Gf's recommendation I picked up some BICK 4 http://bickmore.com/products/bick-4-2/ AMAZING results. I highly recommend.

OO thats really cool.

I have a crocodile belly that is of unknown age. I got it at a garage sale. It was stored indoors but its pretty dry. I made a project with it and the sections between the plates where tearing really easily. Is there any way I can recondition the back side of the hide. Put more moisture back into it? What is the best way to do this? Mink oil? Something else? Carson.

Bob has a few left. Maybe I should just invest again and save myself the headache.

I don't really want to deal with a speed reducer on account of the after mentioned price issue. My SewPro sews comfortably at 1 stitch per second pretty easily. I keep my motor set at about 20%-30% on the knob. It's not noisy or anything I've had mine for about 2.5 years. I sew primarily sew 2-4 Oz upholstery leather. This motor will be set up on my 110W124 which is a single needle double wheel feed machine. It runs very smoothly so there is no friction in the machine. The FS 550 sounds like it's more quality than Bob let on. I ordered one from a Ebay store and it arrived dead. So I'm hesitant still.

Bob at Teledo said it was not the same quality and didn't go as slow. This is also the motor that Atlas Levy recommended to me but I've learned to take his advice with a bit a of salt. Do you have personal experience with this Family sew motor in comparison? I don't need the torque because I'm sewing thin leather but he speed is really important to me.

I have a SewPro 500GR. I Love the thing. Is there another motor on the market that is available for less than $185.00 That will go to the low speeds the Sewpro does? Or am I stuck with the more expensive unit? it's worth it if it's the only thing available but if there is something else out there I would love to know. Carson.

I want to buy a narrow gauge 1/16th or smaller twin needle machine with a wheel foot. Post-bed if possible but a flat bed would work just fine too. I'm willing to pay or trade single needle 110W124 for one.

I recover bicycle saddles. I've been using Feblings leather cement for the last few years and while it works well with the finished product I find that I'm spending a lot of time trying waiting for the glue to dry. I have to hold each area on the underside edge of the seat to ensure proper contact so this often means I sit and clamp things with my hands for a long time. when I could be doing something else. I need a glue that will apply very thin and will dry with very strong holding power within 5-10 minutes. I'm primarily bonding to foam, plastic and carbon fiber. I would give preference to any natural or low VOC suggestions. Carson.

After recently getting my Twin needle 52W19 up and running I'm now exploring getting a walking foot machine. Neither of my machines are supposed to sew #138 and I would still like to have the capability as I have about 8 lbs of thread. Anyone have any recommendations on models you use for this type of thread.

PM me. Your description seems pretty simple I'm surprised no one in your local area will work with you.Carson

Thanks I've been using 138 which i'm discovering is too thick for the two machines i have. I'm getting them all dialed in with 92. and 69. Hope to get another machine for #138.

I have a singer 110W124 and I'm using diamond point needles. I'm trying to find out if there is a better type of needle point or a separate technique I don't know to make the bobbin side of my stitches look much cleaner and more like top side with less leather damage and exit wound looking holes? I'm going to be making a bunch of small cases and I want the stitch to look great on both sides.. Thanks

I've been nothing but happy with my SewPRo 500GR. I purchased from toledo. Was a little under 200 with shipping. Worth every penny.

UPDATE: So I've done a number of tests on a bunch of different needles. None of the new needles have been the right length. I found an older needle in my box that came on my Singer 52W19. It's a Singer 25/20 and this needle seems to work pretty well. It's not perfect but it works pretty well. Anyone know this needle size and maybe what a modern replacement is for it? On another note. I'm wondering if there is a technique or needle shape that will help make the exit hole on the bobbin side a little more finished looking. I'm going to be doing production on some leather cases and I want both sides to nice and clean. Right now the back side has quite the exit hole.

I've been buying Garrett Leather's woven tubulars for a while and they are just too expensive. Is there anyone on here that might have suggestions on tracking down their Italian manufacturer? Has anyone here had experience hunting for suppliers in Italy? Or is there a manufacturer in north america that makes something similar?

ok. so I've now tried two sizes of 20's both worked so so. I was able to jerry rig a timing test by dropping the needle down in the holder which made them work a bit better but still not enough. Strange because the needles are identical in length and shapes to my 22 that work perfect. I'm still at a loss.

Ok. so I did another inspection. There defiantly was some burring on the inside of the hook. That seems to have solved the bobbin problem. I can now sew fine with 138 top 92 bottom. I tried the 21 needles, no go, I have I don't have 20 -19 so I'll have to pick some up.

It's not shredding the 138 on the top actually. it's only shredding the bobbin thread then. My hook timing appears to be Right on the money. I should also point out it sews way better through thicker leather meaning 1.5mm-2mm is about the thickest I sew. sometimes 5-6mm and it works perfect. Anything sub 1.5mm I either have the needle shredding problem or the bobbin shredding problem.

I'll try 20. I have those. Another note. It also has all the problems above if I use #138 top thread but use #92 on the bobbin. I've used a bunch of different colors of 92 but they are all from the same supplier and they work some barley acceptable to terrible. The 138 is from different places and all works.

So I have a singer 110W124 I use it every day for my work. I started on it using almost exclusively #138 top and bobbin thread with #22 needle and for the last two years has worked flawlessly. I've now started using #92 thread on this machine with a #18 needle. The problems seem to have started here. When I use the thinner thread it sews maybe 3-4 inches before the top thread becomes totally shredded. It unravels into individual strands. Another problem is the thread will jump sides on the needle causing a knot on the needle. The bottom bobbin thread also routinely pulls the top through and catches on the hook. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Is this a problem with timing? With thread tension? Needle size? I really don't want to start tweaking my my machine just yet... Carson.

Hi, everyone. I have a crocodile hide that my mother amazingly found at a garage sale for $20. I was previously living in Los Angeles close to the water and this hide had stayed in pretty nice shape. It was flat and in very nice condition. I've recently moved to Austin and the weather change has started making it wrinkle in places now. I'm wondering what is the proper method of storing this thing for the long term in the climate here? Should I have it in plastic? rolled up? hanging? I want to use this eventually for a few projects but I'm pondering my time I don't want it to get unusable.

I'm also in need of a Brogue punch. I to lots of this type of work.

I can't stress the importance of YouTube. I'm only just getting on it. My GF worked at SPIN MEDIA making the horrible internet celebrity gossip news. YouTube is such a powerful advertising tool as well as a great way to make a little extra cash. You can get paid per view, just be careful you don't use music you don't have the rights too, or they get all your cash!