Darren Brosowski

I tend to use the pre tensioner before playing with the main tension - just a personal preference

It really comes down to the condition of the machine. If we were talking about an old school Singer or ADLER then they will probably run for another 100 years but newer machines were set up for higher speeds and have much higher wear rates. Unless you are buying a machine from a dealer you trust and will warrant a second hand machine then it is probably cheaper to buy a new version fully set up with a servo motor.

Great machine if in good condition If there is any slop in the mechanism then walk away as you will pay an arm, a leg and your first born for parts

We do our best but sometimes we have to give people news that they do not want to hear.

Every now and then we also try to get some sleep.

GC0318 is a reasonable machine. Just check the feet as some have rather nasty serrations and you need smoothe feet.

The only potentially annoying part of these machines is the "safety clutch" The Consew 227R IS a Seiko CW-8B. "Consolidated Sewing" is just a branding exercise for the Western market Of course the design dates back to Singer but Seiko did things like add reverse

Contact Toyota direct!!

Being a refrigeration mechanic I use very expensive electrical screwdrivers. As I use them every day I replace them every 12 months. Crap tools = crap job

I know I have mentioned this before but the Amman Serafill is a brilliant thread. It is used in many technical applications and has outstanding UV resistance. As a bonus it has a lovely "feel" to the hand and does not damage machines. Yes the really high end nylon has some of these properties but not all.

Thanks Howie, As you know I make my own bobbin winder and have written instructions in English. The leatherpatcher.com machine includes the second tension assembly but I remove them because it is a spare and users tend to thread up both then wonder while the machine will not work. I do like the inclusion of the threading wire but with the current exchange rate my machine is more than competitive.

LOL, No ball bearings in these machines - all over engineered plain bearings. I do not like using compressed air as it blows the rubbish into the bearing surfaces - just my opinion

Tom, For $475 I would have bought it too!!! A speed reducer is nice but not critical

In general I would suggest the dealer closest to you so you can visit and try machines with samples of the work you want to do.

Sorry about the pointed questions but it would not be the first time someone has tried to set up a commercial enterprise on the cheap! I suspect that everything needs to be perfect for this thread. There is some wear evident in the shuttle race ring and the shuttle point.The race ring p/no 91430 and the shuttle are available new but they may not solve the problem. How close is the shuttle getting to the needle and is there much slop in the shuttle? Try a thin carboard shim - cerial boxes are good - behind the ring to push it closer to the needle and see what happens.

Hi folks, The ABLE290 is the machine I sell and I am going to be honest The 290 is rough, rugged and crude. As you change direction the stitch length will vary. It does have the advantage of being portable and will be in production for decades to come so parts will be available. I am NOT the only seller of this machine but I am the only one who makes serious modifications to the basic Chinese design.

On most GA5's you need to remove the feed dog and grind the bottom end off it. Possibly you will need to use a dremmell to open up the slot and make more space for the screw head. This is standard work for most suppliers and why you pay more than for a drop shipped machine With a roller foot I have sewn 3/4' but that was absolutely pushing it

With really crappy machines I will soak them in a bath of kerosiene and use a tooth brush to get the crap out. Ensure that all screws are tight without binding up the action. New shuttles, shuttle races. shuttle race rings, needle bars, presser foot bars and many other parts are available. (I have to point out that I am the main seller on ebay but Bob Kovar and others can help you out).

This machine is fantastic and incredible condition - as long as you want to sew shirts or dresses. It is not, and never will be a leather sewing machine.

Agree with Ryan. In general all of the dealers here have a great reputation for customer service and the prices are not that different so it is more an issue of finding the dealer that is closest to you. All else being equal the closest dealer will be the one to take the machine to in the very unlikely event that things go horribly wrong or simply the closest place to go for instrucrion. Darren

I have had to step back and go through the posts and I am left with the odd question. 1/ Why do you want to try and run this rediculously technical thread? 2/ This thread is normally used in high value applications where the thread supplier would be involved in machine set up so are you going to try and manufacture specialist high value items? 3/ If two is true then why are you trying to get advice from a site like this? 4/ If two is not true then just use a realistic thread. Darren

As long as you are cofortable with changing the plugs.

The 227R - built by Seiko - is a great machine but keep in mind that many on the second hand market are ex factory machines and have done a million miles. A new machine with servo is often not much more by the time you get the old clunker, add a servo, fix all the problems and then PAY someone to help you get it going. I have a customers 227R here where there is significant wear in the shuttle and drive gears. For the cost of fixing it I can just about supply him a new Chinese version of the Seiko CW-8B.

Amazingly the 45k and similar machines have been in use for leatherwork for over a century and yet all of a sudden in the last few ears they are not suitable for sewing leather? There is a technique to using the 45k and simple feed machines to get even stitches and that involves using both hands to assist the feed. I know master saddlers who use the 45k to do the bulk of their sewing and stitch length is not an issue. The feed dog marking is mostly because people screw down the presser foot tension to compensate for the fact that they do not assist the feed correctly.

The Singer 45k25 does not have reverse. As much as I love the old machines I have to sell the GA5-1R due to parts and availability. It has reverse and roller feet are available. The 45k and GA5 can be made into a hand crank by drilling and tapping a hole to fit a handle on the balance wheel to make them portable. It is something I offer as a standard product.