councilman24

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2161876254062810/ What model? And same as/comparabke to? Seems maybe over priced. Opinions?

A lot of time unless you hold the two levers (machine and lifter) in right position they will end up on the wrong side of each other. Look in video to see actuating lever on bottom of machine and it's relation to the knee lifter lever. Look under you machine and see if they are oriented right. If I just set my 238 down on table they end up on wrong side of each other. Pfaff stand offs under the table are taller. I was going to have to.put spacer blocks on bottom of table to.make singer lift work. Finally found Pfaff table with lift for $35 and got a good condition 145 along with it.

I wouldn't likely buy a new one but a used one available. https://www.amazon.com/YEQIN-Leather-Patcher-Industrial-Machine/dp/B07BBKR6GQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541394537&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=patcher+sewing+machine&dpPl=1&dpID=51QaMmDo05L&ref=plSrch Worth having for $500? Never going to spring for name brand and can't find time to restore one of the two 29-4s in basement. BTW I know what as a machine they do and don't do. Want to add a patcher to the herd.

Never mind

Can anybody tell me needle class for this machine . Don't have time to look it up heading to look at one. Also can I buy interpret the numbers after 461? Thanks

To northern?

Why are these always thousands of miles away?

Your getting lots advice. Two more to recommend since you not doing english or western saddles that we all think of are singer 7 class or 132k6. Both are used for building parachute harnesses. New version is seiko sk6 khmm I think and Consew 733. Only issue may be height under presser foot but 7 class can be converted to high lift. Good luck.

I'm building a shed to move things like generator, power washer, etc out if garage so I can fit more in there. Must be up to 15 on tables including 30 inch arm and 7 class, three tables still on the trailer, one 29-4 treadle stand, one 7 class table in storage while I work.on head, and my grandmothers old treadle home machine. Is there a 12 step program for us? Two have been for sale for 5 years, but only advertised on craigslist once 5 years ago

Zig zags I have are consew 199r-2, 2 pfaff 238s, bernina 217 and 217n, and viking home machine - 1010 or something like that. I haven't tried to do what you want but trying to butt two edges together seems to be something special. Normally these machines sew two layers on top of each other. Differences in thickness or other things might cause them to feed at different rates. Consew 199s, pfaff 238s, and bernina 217s all have two feed dogs on each side so may work okay. Of the three parts are trivial for the consew. Tougher to impossible for pfaffs and berninas. A new version of the bernina 217n is sold buy global in europe. Parts are compatible if you have the same width model but they don't seem to have individual screws etc available. Likely they're at factory in China. Out if the three I'd recommend the Consew for parts availability. But maybe an older one before made in china. The pfaff 238 is a tank. I'm gett8ng to like the bernina. The viking 1010 does somethings that the others won't. 6 layers of 1000lb 1 inch webbing. But only has one feed dog on each side. But try doing what you want to do on a machine before you buy one. Seems to me there must be a special machine for this. Maybe someone that does this will answer. Good luck.

I just got a 206RB-3 for $300 on table and motor. But in order to get that deal I had to take a 331k4 singer shuttle machine and a 111wsv77 for $100 each, on tables. And they threw in a Rimaldi 4 thread serger on table for free. Hmm, four machines that were in use when turned off for $500. I couldn't say no, even though 2 weeks later 3 of the tables are still on the trailer because I don't have any room in the house OR garage for them. I'll have to read all the advice above. Too late now. Did we ever decide exactly what the 111w special variant 77 was? I have a 111w151 and 155. I guess I'll have to set them next to each other and see.

What they said. I think a better description of these is 'boat anchor'. I bought a complete, well functioning, cleaned up 132k6 for $750 on table with clutch motor. Best part was the original small format manual.

I have a 7-33 and 7-34. The 7-34 is in good shape but someone put some parts together wrong and I have to sort out the feed timing. Parachute riggers like me have used these for decades with 5 cord to make parachute harnesses. I don't use mine for anything smaller. In good working order a parachute rigger would expect to pay $1500 to $2500 depending on where in the country. Often folks looking for them. If you bought it on the spur of the moment when spending a couple hundred for a servo motor my guess is you paid a lot less than that. A pretty good complement to the 111w151 (have one also). Now also have 132k6 that some riggers like better. Trying to decide if I want to keep my 7-33. 7-34 will be for sale when I get it working right.

What Wiz said. But you can get #69 at most fabric sewing shops as upholstery thread. Usually labeled #69. Or pull apart a seam on your couch to see what it looks like.

A dress belt might be sewn with #69 but the harness leather mens belt I'm wearing is sewn along the edge with 5 or 6 cord. #69 is upholstery thread. I don't believe either of these will replace what your doing now. At least not for the same look. I consider $350 too much for a 31-15. Unless it's in a newer table with a servo motor. Without photos of table can't tell. I'm not familiar with the nikajima. Unless it's a different named version of a popular machine ( many machines are sold under many names) it might be hard to find parts. The nikajima doesn't look familiar to me. Parts for a 31-15 are easy. You can look at #69 thread at any fabric store and decide if it's big enough. To sew the heavy thread like in the photo of my belt below your going to spend 3 to 6 times as much. Browse some of the posts or dealers advertising here. To just learn how to sew with a commercial machine a cheaper 31-15 would be a good start useful for lots of light things. There were made and used for the better part of a century. But a better first machine to learn on might be an older, better quality than new, Singer 20U. Forward, reverse, zig zag. Or a 111W151 or 155 for the next machine up, more or less, from a 31-15. 111, 112 double needle or 211 and 212 versions have needle or compound (walking foot) feed for heavy materials. Read some of the starter information in the pinned posts.

No it is NOT what you want. It is made for sewing if confined spaces, like shoes or the arm of a jacket. It uses a very small bobbin. Doesn't use very heavy thread. Lots of people want patchers but not to sew straight and heavy. You want a walking foot medium to heavy sewing machine. A 111W155 singer is a standard entry level old machine available for a few hundred dollars on a table with motor. A new machine with reverse would be a consew 206rb.

Attached are a couple of photos of one of the best manual I've ever found. A USN parachute rigger essentially rewrote some of the repairs to basic machines and made his own line drawings that are much simpler than the photos often used. It covers 31-15, 7-33, 111w151, 111w155, 211w151, consew 199r,107w ans 143w, and some good general information. I've only ever seen two copies, mine and the one I copied. I've heard a library on the east side of Michigan has one but haven't confirmed it. I tried to upload some more photos but site says I've hit the limit even though it doesn't seem I have. But detailed step by step, nut by nut instruction with line drawings that only show parts in play are priceless.

No need to remove the motor. Pull.the head, no tools. Clean the top by removing a bobbin winder lamp thread stand. Screwdrivers, cresent wrech, wire cutter for lamp cord. Cut and replace if necessary. Slide table in upside down on top. Use ratchet strap to hold in center of vehicle. Don't loose hinges which will fall.out of head. Open end wrenches along with crescent wrench to shorten legs if necessary.

These are very desirable machines for parachute riggers and sailmakers. Riggers want them with a cam for doing a double throw, 308 federal, stitch needed in some applications. Sailmakers like them because a different cam allows them to do a triple throw zig zag used in sail making. The one pictured does NOT have a cam attachment. The cam on a 217N sticks above the main head casting. On a 217 the cams are smaller and you can not tell from a head on shot if it has a cam reader. I have a 217 with a cam reader and a 217N-08 without a cam reader. As a standard zig zag/straight stitch machine these are similar in quality to Pfaff 238's, which I also have. $600 is a very good price for a 217N in the condition shown in the photos. You'll see folks wanting $1200 plus for the same machine in worse condition. A cam reader and or puller option increases the desirability and price. They are fairly rare, especially 217N with a cam reader. 217N as pictured are around. If you need a quality zig zag machine $600 makes this a good buy. Not great, or a steal but very good. As to leather it will sew leather as any other drop feed medium weight industrial machine. It is not designed for it. It is not free arm. It is not walking foot. It may not solve your problem. With Global now making 217N's some parts are available. Others aren't. They make the 217N-12. If you tell them you have a -08, even if the parts are the same for both, they will tell you they don't supply parts for it. Cam devices and cams are not available from Global. A parachute rigger that didn't need the cam would snap this up. For what you want maybe not so much.

If you decide to sell it advertise it on dropzone.com. This machine is desirable for sewing parachute harnesses with 5 cord in place of using a class 7. If your not using it pass it on to someone who can keep it useful.

Half the sewing machines discussed on this forum are traditional parachute rigging machines. But they range from light weight 31-15 to 7-33. And of course leather comes in all sorts of weight. As said need specifics on machine and what lether you want to sew.

Like this or truely square? http://catalog.dj-associates.com/viewitems/buckles-loops-slides/square-loop?