GreenwoodBowcraft

Thanks Constabulary, I will definitely share some full pictures of the back end this evening. The material is feeding very well. It seems to be set on max-length. I understand 6-7 stitches per inch to be less than ideal, but it would work for my small purposes. As a matter of fact, your comment got me to thinking that of all the pictures I've used for comparison, the back is a piece I've not seen. After searching everywhere I found one to compare with my memory of the machine (I'm on lunch at my day-job). The little "paddle/lever" thing here that rests on this shoulder that goes up and down on my machine does not rest on that shoulder. It hangs down. It is plenty long enough to make it over that shoulder, but I couldn't reason a way that it could get over the shoulder without removing it, so I assumed it must not go there. This picture shows it how I imagined it would go. I wonder if this part of the struggle I'm having.

I agree, that would be helpful. The Singer 29-4 manual PDF online I have found has some basic adjustment and troubleshooting. I do suspect that the timing is the issue. What I'm finding is now consistently happening after increasing the upper tension and setting the spool up to expel thread correctly is that the top loop is not coming off of the shuttle hook. The stitches are breaking at that point on every single cycle. Increasing the top tension any higher results in the top thread breaking. The work is moving (about 6-7 stitches/inch) but I can feel resistance right at the start of the up-stroke of the needle right as the thread breaks on the hook.

That makes much more sense. I did purchase the cone. I'll try winding down to a spool, or maybe a rig to pull from the top of the cone that wont offer any additional tension.

Thanks! I tried last night to increase it some, but the top thread was breaking. I suspect that has more to do with how the top thread is held. I purchased one of the larger spools and I can tell the "mount" has been rigged, it's a block of wood with a post. There is more tension generated from trying to spin the spool than the tension discs so I've been running out some slack on that end before starting. I think I may try to rewind it on a smaller spool or come up with a more elegant solution.

As it turns out, that did go a long way towards helping me out. I'm now getting (about 2/3 of the time) very consistent and reliable top stitches. They are no longer getting hung up on the shuttle. This did present a new problem, the bottom stitch is laying almost flat against the leather resulting in very poor strength stitches. The manual for the machine indicates that can be the result of not enough lower tension. The little spring plate on the shuttle will not tighten at all. I can loosen it but it seems to be as tight as it can be. There is virtually no resistance to pulling the thread out. I wonder if I shim between the head of the tightening screw and the spring if I can get more adjustment to tighten it?

My intention is not to be rude.. I have attempted to be thorough in both my testing and explanation of the problem. Are you able to point me towards instructions you have found helpful in restoring a machine to factory settings? The machine wasn't purchased, it was just a gift. As far as her father was aware it worked perfectly when they stored it. Again, I apologize, I don't intend to be rude I just find that giving direction on how to do something, rather than just saying it's being done wrong is more productive and helpful. Additionally, I did in fact use the manual to set up the machine that is widely available online regarding threading, setting the needle, setting the shuttle, loading the bobbin, in addition to the incredibly sparse troubleshooting instructions. "What to do if your top thread gets tangled on the bottom of the work" is not a topic covered there. I also read nearly every thread on this site containing the words 29k and 29-4 and Singer Patcher. I haven't just brought a machine home, sat down, stitched for 4 minutes and come to the forums. I've spent nearly 8 hours troubleshooting, cleaning, and testing not counting the online research.

Thanks for your advice! The foot has the teeth on the bottom (which I can see being problematic for anything like veg-tanned leather). After adjusting the block on the spring arm, the leather is moved quite well by that foot. I'll give that thumb screw a shot as well and see if that has any effect. The problem was only initially apparent after an inch or so of stitching when the leather stopped moving with the foot, but instead wanted to turn since it was rooted in place with the several pieces of thread hooked inside the shuttle.

Thanks, I'll switch sides. Do you mean I need my tension on the top thread, or I need to somehow increase the tension on the take-up leather?

The shine will come from buffing. The oil will restore some of the life to the leather after dying, and the snoseal is a protective layer. Applying a little heat after putting on the wax based seal will open the pores of the leather a bit and allow the wax to penetrate leaving just a bit on the surface. When I apply SnoSeal I usually wait a few minutes after the heat and the take a soft cotton (t-shirt) cloth or wool scrap and buff it. That's where you'll start to see the shine start.

Good morning Folks, Please let me apologize for posting yet another request for help on this equipment. I do see and have read nearly all of the other topics, however it seems any posts before this recent forum visual upgrade/change are no longer showing pictures for me so I'm unable to see if my problems align with what others have experienced/resolved. I've not yet found the serial number for this machine but here are the details I have so far. It's a 29-4 Singer Cobbler's Patcher. It was my wife's great grandfathers, then her grandfathers, then her dad's who recently gave it to me. I suspect her dad never used it much. It sat in a corner. After bringing it home, I picked up some "Type-B" oil in all of the recommended places and let it sit for an hour before cranking the wheel. Within a couple of turns it was very loose and felt great. It was still oiled every few years when not in use, a habit her dad never got out of after having it drilled into him as the son of a shoe-repair man. I picked up a new shuttle, bobbins, the proper needles for both #69 and #92 thread from Landwerlan Leather Supply in Indianapolis. Following the instructions in the manual I threaded the bobbin and shuttle with brand new #69 bonded nylon thread. Then I threaded the machine using the manual instructions and the same thread. Initially, I was able to get the bottom thread picked up after a turn or two but it would not start even the first stitch. After about an hour I took a closer look at the needle and discovered that it was in backwards (the long channel on the #69 thread needle was quite easy to miss). After turning the needle around I thought I was in good shape. It picked up the bottom thread right away and I commenced sewing. After about an inch I noticed the leather was no longer being moved by the foot and the needle had started to hit the same hole a couple of times. I backed the needle out and attempted to move the piece of leather. It was FIRMLY rooted to the post as the top thread appears to have made several loops but never actually came off the shuttle. I ended up having to take an exacto knife and cutting the individual threads to free the leather. The shuttle had several remnants of top thread that needed to be pulled out before I could remove the shuttle. the bottom thread remained free and easily turned. I then pulled all of the thread back from the machine, rethreaded it, re-loaded the bobbin & shuttle and tried again. Same result. I've included a link to some pictures. One of how the machine is threaded on top. One of how it is threaded at the bottom (when I took the picture I had pulled the top thread out from the hole in the presser foot but it was otherwise in the appropriate location. I've also included a picture of what the bottom of the leather and the shuttle look like after a couple of stitches are run, and then the leather is cut free. Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can try next? Thank you for your time! Google Drive Album: Singer Machine Issues I apologize for not posting the pictures here directly, it's just that my phone takes extremely high res photos and I'm hoping to convey as much detail as possible.

Thanks for the information here! I have a couple of additional questions. I've been needing a leather machine in order to grow my business and capability some. My father in law has an old singer machine which I believe to be a 29-4. It came from his father's shoe repair business where they had a handful of different machines. When you say "not for production" what do you mean exactly? Assuming it's in well working order, would it not stand up to the wear of half a dozen belts a week, or would it simply be more difficult than with machine designed for that purpose? I'd love a cobra, or even a tippman but even though my business does well, I can't justify that kind of investment as most of our proceeds to back towards supporting the family. I'm looking mainly for some clam-shell type quivers, and sewing patches onto arm guards, and perhaps some belts. I'm looking at maybe 5-10 projects a week on the high end. I think I can work inside the .25" max thickness but I don't want to waste my time and damage a piece of family history for no reason. Thanks for your contributions!

Thanks Chief! I didn't notice that, managing the website in addition to making all of the things I sell on there can make my head spin sometimes, not to mention when you toss the "real" job in there. That's great jkoelker! I very much enjoy the work and it helps me provide a little bit extra for my family.

Yes sir, it's www.GreenwoodBowcraft.com Thanks for your interest!

Very cool! I was not a huge fan of the Kill Bill movies but Pulp Fiction is easily a top 5 movie for me. No BMF Wallet though?

Holy cow that is pretty! Did you paint the flower yourself? Your photography and composition is incredible!