alexitbe

yes, I am not sure if it a dumb idea either... Guess we will see...

I have been thinking... I have several possible solutions at the moment, but I think I have a quick and dirty one that might work...temporarily Step 1: I will leave the shaft in the sewing machine and drill a hole through the length of the small broken off part. ( I will find someone with a lathe). Step 2 This part will then be glued with JB Weld to the main part of the shaft and will act as a drilling guide to allow me to drill 15mm in to the main shaft, by hand or with a drill press. Step 3: Thread(left hand) the hole and then ream out the hole so that the only threaded place is in the main shaft. Step 4: Use a reverse thread hex head screw to fix the two pieces firmly together...I might have to re-glue the two pieces since it will have been exposed to high temperature during the hand drilling Might work... Just depends if the shaft is terribly hard... Cheers alex

Thanks for the recommendation... I am going to look for one in Europe... I would ship from the US, but customs tarrif is quite high here, in germany... Cheers Alex

Hello Igor, Merry Christmas for tomorrow... Thank you for showing such fine workmanship... Alex

Great work Jimi, I liked all the pictures, as they really do speak a thousand words... I am impressed with your determination and speed.. .I am a little embarrassed having done nothing with my Pfaff 193... I have taken your advice and a Pfaff 194 will be working its way to me sometime in the new year... Happy New Year... Alex

Hi Jimi... Yes, please post them here... I would like to see also.. Alex

Thanks for that Constab. At the moment, I am having a think about what to do... Hopefully after Christmas, after stuffing my face with beer and Kloeser, I will have a clearer idea of how to proceed. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Alex

Thanks Constab and Jimi for the information... It was really my fault, the old man didn't really want to post, but I convinced him it would be ok. So I must take the hit... Lesson learned. The machine was from an old Salamander shoe factory, so maybe they filled in the wheel... The machine hasn't been used for a very long time and the old man said he was glad it would be used for shoemaking again. I guess he used to work in the factory. Will I need to strip the sewing machine completely? This is my biggest fear. Cheers Alex

Well, I have been trying to get a post bed roll foot for shoemaking for ages and just before Christmas I found one. Instead of the 9hr journey each way, I convinced the guy to send it buy post... It arrived just in time for Christmas and its broken... Seriously broken. The arm drive shaft has been broken right at the balance wheel. So I have two question one about disassmbling and the other about fixing the shaft. Is it possible to loosen everything attached to the arm shaft and slide it out or will I have to disassemble the whole machine? I don't think I can do the latter.. Should I replace the shaft or would it be possible to bronze braze it? I have an old pfaff 142 and wondered if the arm shaft might fit... I cannot find anyone selling spare parts for the 193 despite thinking it was still in production... Its really put a dampner on my Christmas, I know it shouldn't but I thought I finally had the last important piece for my shoemaking hobby... and now I am back to fixing instead of shoemaking.. Any advice and word of hope would be greatfully recieved.. Have a good Christmas. Alex

Gregg, Thank you for those. Alex

Thanks Bruce.. .That's an interesting post, although I will never try it..... sinceI'm still too scared to sharpen my round knife...

Nice to see an old tool brought back to life and used... Alex

What is the going price of a Singer 236G? Since my new hobby is Shoemaking I am really interested in this thread.. ALex

This is really no joke. The Renia representative would not send me samples by post during winter...If you want Renia buy now or wait until spring Additionally, 315 should be spread thinly and in my experience allowed to dry for atleast half an hour, otherwise it clogged up my needle... Alex

no, its not necessary anymore... They didn't have waterproof manmade threats back then.... It was not oil Cheers Alex

I am having the same problem as Dikmann... If I manage to find something i will post here ALex

Clearly I have no idea... Maybe it could be a multi function air-brush... It dyes and skives all in one go... Looking at it, I should look for an air-pump which is specifically for this purpose. I guess they have better pressure control at the lower pressure required.. Is it realistic to get something ok for 100 dollars? Thanks alex

What sort of pressure should the pump supply? Can one use a simple electric pump for tyres with 10 bars? Thanks Alex

Ha ha.. .He said something similar to me except it was reserved for only one day.... Anyway, I am out and not interested in it anymore... If you look at his other items for sale, they are all 20 VBH... So I think he is running some sort of auction between the interested parties, but without them knowing it... If you can get it for 20 Euros then you will have a bargain. As Wizcraft said, it is for sewing fur and the stitches are protected from being broken by a lining. Since its is a sort of a single thread chain stitch, it unravels very quickly if it breaks.... It cannot be used for much else... Cheers Alex

I wouldn't bother... The guy has been messing me around for days.. .But if you can get it... Why not?

If you can get a treadle machine, I would get that instead of one with a domestic sewing machine motor. These motors are too fast for the careful work required for leather. Remember you cannot remove sewing errors on leather, best to be slow but sure... Treadling is remarkably easy and strangely therapeutic I was told to stay away from silicon oil for anything that endures alot of contact... So maybe silicon grease is the same... I'd go for Teflon grease. Cheers Alex

Hi Brian, Thank you very much for your kind offer of help... I look forward to trying to make some shoes with you. Its very exciting... I will be counting the days... With regard to the tools: I have lots of hand tools including lasting pliers, awls, files etc. Over the last 3 years I have slowly been collecting shoemaker's tools in order to be able to finally make some. Actually, half of the tools I have no idea what they do... :). If we find I don't have what we need I will buy it asap. I have a walking foot machine, a patcher and a Frobana sole stitcher and a skiving machine. I hope that will be ok. All the best. Alex

Hi Brian, As you suggested I have posted the pics here, but can remove it tmrw if you prefer (I think it might be best). I have two pairs of lasts I can use. The wooden was for golfing shoes and looks like something has been carved out at the bottom. It has the measurements 295 mm 24.5 cm, 25.7 cm and F35.5, if that means anything to you. The other pair are brand new, with nothing done to them. Both are my size. I look forward to hearing you opinion. Thanks Thanks for your time. Alex

Dear Brian, Now I am embarrassed with my"have you ever made a shoe?" question. Thank you very much for your interest and kind offer of help. I have been trying to find a shoe maker in Germany to help me make one, but people only seem to repair shoes. Would you prefer me to post a picture of the last on this thread or send it by PM? In an ideal world I would like to make a monk shoe, but in reality I would like to make the easiest style to make. Thank you once again. Alex

Beautiful work! I note you mention the method of taking a pattern from a last.... Have you ever made a shoe? I am thinking of trying it myself and even have a last ready... Just fear starting the project.. Cheers Alex