toxo

Well don't look my way! I have to save my pennies for a sewing machine. And it's beginning to look like I'm gonna need a lot more of em than I first thought.

I spent a few of my formative years with my head in the toilet down to whisky before someone advised me to try the grape rather than the grain. Been on Brandy ever since. An absolute eye opener.

Ah! As in "paysties" rather than "Passties", The stick on thingies. :). Sorry Mike, my brain is stricyly linear. Absolutely pants at cryptic.

tassle?

Thanks again guys. This is brilliant stuff for those of us who don't know the difference between a clone and a tractor. I will peruse with interest after I've cooked the dogs dinner. (I'm having a pastie. :( )

It seems Brother machines are not highly rated but what about something like this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-S335-CYLINDER-ARM-WALKING-FOOT-WITH-UNISON-FEED-INDUSTRIAL-SEWING-MACHINE-/143139355317?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Thanks Brian. Great information for a newbie. Hadn't even thought about distance from the edge and I can see where it would matter. Trouble is they're very expensive and you don't see used ones very often in the UK. However, even though I've never sold a single piece of leather in my life YET, I've always believed in having the right tools for the job. Another couple of cliches, buy once cry once and start the way you mean to go on. I can feel my budget stretching by the minute. Any cheaper suggestions welcome.

This looks better. Looks like it has a servo with eps. Hasn't been used for two years. What's the 6B for? And the H2S? Not sure if I want to stretch that far but at least it looks like it won't take much to get it going and I'd rather travel to the outer reaches of Essex than go around the M25. What do you guys think? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pfaff-Industrial-Sewing-Machine-Cylinder-Arm-Walking-Foot/223538687170?hash=item340bf1acc2:g:CI4AAOSw78hc9AN2

I like that a lot! Gotta love stuff that have a purpose. Can't even guess at how many times you get asked "That's great! Where did you buy it?"

I hear ya But a basic servo = £120 with ENP, Even from Kent to Ruislip is gonna cost around £80 plus AND involves navigating the dreaded M25 (The London ring road. They call it the car park). By the time you get home it'll feel like an Aussie trip and you need a lie down in a darkened room. Stuff like changing out the hand wheel for bigger is personal choice but the parts needed to restore to normal and anything broken Won't leave much change out of £200 I'm guessing. I would probably take it on if it had been recently used and I could see it running.

I've been on the end of that as well. Sold a perfectly good expensive Schmidt and Bender scope to a guy in Scotland I had to take it back with a rattle in it and had to pay for the repair but when distance buying what guarantees are there that you're going to get what you paid for in a one time transaction? Different of course with reputable dealers.

I found this one but I'm thinking the extra costings would make it too expensive plus why won't the seller take PayPal? And it's not set up so can't test it. A service/overhaul. A servo motor. Converting back to "normal" sewing. Cost of collecting https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pfaff-335-cylinder-arm-sewing-machine-awning-canopy-valance-edge-ready/114109301465

My God Brian! I'm beginning to suspect you're a alien with your work output! I get tired just reading about what you get up to. Never having used a cylinder arm before I'm gonna need educating but with my focus on handbags at the moment I hadn't thought that end was that important. I guess it must be for some else you wouldn't be focussing on it. Using my crystal ball the only other accessory I might want/need is a binder. I'm watching this space.

Thanks Matt. Just feelers at the moment. Can stretch it for something good, just have to justify to myself for what is just a hobby at the moment although I'll have to start getting some money back soon.

Despite read these pages and many more beside, I'm thinking about another machine and have to ask you guys to help me out. My .17 Hornet has been in the cabinet for far too long and I'm thinking about turning it into a cylinder arm machine. My evolution has taught me that I almost certainly won't need to go heavier than handbag types, maybe a decent belt but I've got the trusty Durkopp for that. What can I get for around £700 - £800? New would be nice or as near to it as I can get. Don't mind clones as long as they're reliable and I don't have to hunt for a manual. Pretty please guys?

Amen to all the above. There's far more trepidation when I sit down to my machine than when I hand stitch. I think the artisans among us are more likely to rear up at the dark side.

Old splitter. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/rare-cobblers-skiver-made-by-whitfield-hodgson-brough-leather-splitter/223924400582?hash=item3422ef31c6:g:nywAAOSwgFld7AJb

I have an old copy of Fireworks MX that can degrade an image but I've never experimented with how much I can take out without making a difference. Clearly I can go a lot further as evidenced by your post.

Thanks Folker. Amazing stuff. How many machines were turned out daily in it's most productive time? What resolution did you use to get so many pics in one post?

I love hearing about what people can do with the minimum of equipment. It's much easier to turn out good stuff with £1000s of equipment and machinery.

Some different techniques put to good use there. I'm hoping there's a welt in there to protect the stitches. Good job.

I got one of these. Very strong and works well for holding things in place as in the video. Can also be used for a stitching guide as Mikesc said about microwave magnets. Might get a stronger one to experiment with but you have to be careful. These things can hurt you if you're not careful. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Strong-Magnets-30x20x5-mm-Neodymium-Block-craft-magnet-30mm-x-20mm-x-5mm-N42-Bar/182942145946?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=690259429188&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

A location might help.

Good find dikman. Don't know if you've seen it but look at this from Geordie and get some magnets.

Wow! Now that was something worth striving for. That's what a pair of boots should look like. I'd say you have some serious machinery to acheive that. Well done.