Sonydaze

If you don't have a sewing machine dealer near you, most auto parts stores should be able to match a belt up. Bring your old belt with you.

In the Vancouver area Mason sewing machines are Sunstar machines that are sold by Mason Sewing. Marc at Mason Sewing provide excellent service and advise I have a lot of 'mikes' on Sunstar machines and they have done well for me.

You will need some impact to break it loose. If you have rounded the nut, you might try cutting a groove in the nut (with a dremel) at an angle that you can get a cold chisel on. Give the chisel a hard whack with a hammer to break it loose. Then order a new nut. If you need to change the position of the roller, reach under the table and pull on the v-belt.

I have an Italian made cutter, on it the thread on end nut is left handed. Are you turning it the wrong way? Because the roller can turn when you are dealing with the nut, I usually give the tool a whack with a dead blow hammer to loosen or tighten it.

Hmmm I thought all servo motors with a needle positioner can be set to stop with the needle either up or down, then reverse when you push your heel down. I have 3 different brands (the chinese ones that come with 3 little pages of instructions that are poorly translated to english) and they all do this. I see you are in New Hampshire, but if it helps, I buy my motors from Marc at Mason Sewing in Vancouver, BC.

It looks like you have a LR needle in it. The LR needles cut the hole on an angle to cause the zig zag look. Change the needle to a dia point and you should get straight stitches.

I just looked at the links you provided. A friend has had a Sunstar skiver for several years with no problems With the cylinder arm, I would consider getting the KM-390BL (bobbin large). It is a heavier machine and the larger bobbin is nice.

I have three KM-590BL machines and they have proven to be reliable workhorses. I bought my first Sunstar in 2003, it has taken everything I have thrown at it and still sews well. Don't be afraid of the brand. In Vancouver, Mason Sewing is the Sunstar dealer. Their industrial sewing machine manager (Marc) is a great guy to deal with if you need parts, service or another machine.

None of my hand presses were vertically open enough for the dies, they only fit in my foot press.

I have the Weaver dies (and am very happy with them). The top die sticks out press shaft 1 3/4" and the bottom die sticks up 7/8". So you need 2 5/8" plus room between them to put the staple and leather in. The shanks that fit into the press are both 3/8"

I have had a couple of 1245s. They are a nice sewing and nice feeling machine, but will struggle with much thicker than 3/8" thick combinations of materials. The Juki should be able to sew up to 1/2" thick materials but will also sew lighter material combinations. My .02 is go with the Juki.

The bell knife needs to be positioned very close to the presser foot. Setup the bell distance (to the presser foot) then adjust the feed wheel so it aligns with the bell and doesn't quite touch it. If the bell has been sharpened while too far from the presser foot, the bevel will be wrong and will need to be reground. Use a felt pen to darken the ground edge on the bell, then try sharpening it see if it is removing the felt pen across the whole ground edge. If it doesn't, then grind it until it does grind all of the felt pen off. Debur the edge with a pencil shaped stone to finish. Hope this helps.

With the pandemic, I haven't gotten it from Weaver, yet as belts are not my priority at this time. I due still intend to see if they work or how they have to be adapted. I'm thinking the belt ends are why Tandy is dumping them. If it proves reasonable to alter Weaver's belt ends, it will be a great price.

@Constabulary is correct. You will want to use a 135x17 needle for fabric as it has a rounded point to separate the fibers when the needle goes through. Using a 135x16 on fabric can result in fraying along the stitch line as it will cut the fabric to make a hole. If I am sewing fabric to leather, I use a 135x17 as it will sew the leather but not harm the fabric.