Chief31794

I have a 441 clone, but I need a machine to sew wallet interiors together, T type pockets, so the most layers is 3 right along the bottom on each side. Hopefully something that is available regularly and maintainable (parts), model numbers don't mean much to me, so I'm asking for a model that will sew 5-6 oz max, walking foot (prefer triple feed, but not hung up on it), dependable. I maintain my machines and understand the workings of a lock stitch sewing machine, just not sure what model will suit my needs, most documentation on the web is skimpy and not necessarily trust worthy. Please provide a price range that you think would be reasonable to pay for the models you suggest, just ball park so I'll know if I'm getting my money's worth. Thanks, Chief

X2, I use Neatsfoot Oil and two finishes. Clear Lac 95% of the time, on Feibings Pro Oil Black I use Resolene (50/50) for some reason Clear Lac picks up too much pigment from Feibings Pro Oil Black and even more when I used USMC Black, but everything else gets Clear Lac (cut 50/50 with LCI thinner). The only other thing I use for a conditioner is Feibings Aussie on Rifle Slings and it is a Neatsfoot Oil/Beeswax mixture that provides a little more weather resistance for rugged outdoor use, it still gets Clear Lac over the Aussie. Chief

Rooster, Mine does that unless I move the lever up to reverse only when the needle is just past the bottom of the stroke and is beginning to come back up. I saw that in a Cobra Video on You Tube and tried it and it works great for me. If I try to go to reverse when the needle is on top, before the absolute bottom or too far past the bottom then it messes up the back. If that doesn't work, then I yield to the more experienced 441 clone folks out here. Chief

ChiefStealth, Welcome to the forum, great site, lots of helpful people, excellent crafts people who have no problem sharing their knowledge. We have a couple of chief's already on the site so you should fit right in. Chief

Ed, That's beautiful, really 1st class work. I love the coloring. Chief

Well it certainly is beautiful and the braiding is superb!!!! Great job. Chief

Nice job, they look great. Chief

Very, Very nice. I love the dragon on the inside, it's a classy touch. The finish is very nice and the dragon carving is too. Chief

I hadn't heard anything, doesn't surprise me though! Chief

Absolutely perfect! Chief

Bill, not a problem, there's no way I could get away either, i'll be back for a couple of weeks in July before heading up to North Carolina for RESOGAT to sell some dobro straps. Maybe we can get together then. Great Dobro Players in no particular order: Mike Auldridge (Best of all time, we lost him last year), he played with the Seldom Scene quite a bit, you can see him with them or on his own. Gene Wooten (played with the Country Gazette and the Osborne Brothers, he's gone as well) Josh Graves (Father of modern dobro playing) Pete "Oswald" KIrby (Bashful Brother Oswald) Now for still living: Rob Ickes Phil Ledbetter Leroy McNees (He was the dobro player on the Andy Griffith show when they had one) Jerry Douglas Johnny Bellar Some others but that's a pretty good sampling. The best would be Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, Pete Kirby, and Josh Graves. Chief

Not sure, but the tool is less than $3.50 even less if you're a club member. Additionally they sell buttons that use screws in the back. Get them instead, put some permanent thread locker on the threads and you don't have to get the tool. Chief

I normally use 2/3 oz leather for lining, it will work for a wallet but will be somewhat "soft", it also won't be very good for carving and tooling, you can tool it but have to be careful you don't punch through it. For wallets I normally use 4/5 oz leather leaning toward the 4oz as much as possible. If you wanted a little more solid wallet you could always laminate two pieces of the 2/3 oz together flesh to flesh that would make the leather more in the 4/6 oz area. Then use the 2/3 oz to make the pockets. I keep a side of 2/3 in the shop, it's useful for some things but like I said, I mostly line things with it. Chief

Rohn, I agree with everyone else, really nice looking wallet and great job on the lacing. I use their interiors a lot, I also get Faille cloth from Kevin that I use to line the wallet with instead of pigskin, a little thinner, but really is kind of classy as well. Either works great. Beautiful, Chief

Thank you, Thanks, Chief

Bob, I don't like the plastic quick disconnects if that's what you're talking about, if you are talking about the strap lock I have mounted on this strap they are an absolute necessity in my opinion, particularly on Dobros, but I use them on basses, guitars every thing. They positively lock on the pin (not the standard pin it has to be replaced with a locking pin) and you have to pull the lock pin to disconnect the srrap from the guitar. Love Bob's book he's a class act, I recommend that everyone get a copy for their library if they do any carving at all. Bob Parks is a class act!!! I call my haircut "Low Maintenance" I just get up in morning and shake the hair out of my eyes and I'm ready for the day. I am planning a guitar strap with a nice sheepskin shoulder pad, I got some extemely nice sheep's wool for padding from a super nice guy out here on the forum and I am itching to put it on something. Thanks again by the way, the sheeps wool is super nice and I really appreciate it. Chief

Actually, leathercraft cement (the white stuff), is very strong and is a contact type cement. It actually works either way but the best way is to coat both pieces, let them dry till tacky and then put them together, it will not come back apart, has no odor, is water based and if you need longer "working time" to align pieces you can put them together while they're wet and align them, still very strong when dry. I normally like to put an old carving slab on the piece either way and let dry for about 30 mintues, not necessary when doing it contact style, but still doesn't hurt and I use the time to do other things on the project. I use Feibings Contact Cement from Springfield Leather. Chief

Thanks for the kind words, Chief

I'm thinking it'll be easier to hide from my wife!!! Chief

Thanks, Thanks Bill, I'm on my way to your neck of the woods tomorrow, I'll be spending Christmas with my Daughter in Powder Springs. Thanks for the nice comments. I sew liners on a lot of these and when I don't I usually try to add the creases just because I'm used to seeing the lines. Thanks Tom. I appreciate the nice comments. Yep, keep making stuff for other people, kind of feels good to make something for yourself. Thanks. Thanks, I mentioned dobro out here a couple of times and some people didn't know what they are. There are two types Square Neck which is what this one is and Round Neck which has a lower action, is tuned and played like a regular guitar, you see a lot of blues players playing them with a bottle neck slide.

I made this one for myself, I needed a new one and I have been studying Bob Parks book on making western floral patterns so I wanted to try and put my name in the pattern. I like the way it turned out. I'm also putting in some pictures of me playing the dobro for those who don't know what a dobro is. This is my Beard MA-6 made by Paul Beard in Rockville, Md. Chief

Both look great Rohn, but I always have liked antique. Chief

Mine had less than 2 hours on it when this happened, sewed fine till then, and after I replaced and aligned the needle it's sewed for several months since. Just trying to be helpful, I hope you solve it. Chief

My same thoughts, I am experimenting with some now, but I think I will put a seam under each slot to hold the fabric in place then come up to the next one and stitch it down, I just don't trust glue, particularly not when there will be pressure against the bond as cards are inserted. Chief

Thanks Bill, same to you and yours. Monica, I don't know, these look great and it is on Veg Tan 4oz. It looks like a film laminated on the leather not sure, but it is very nice. I made this one up, probably gonna give it to someone who can let me know how it lasts, I thought about the same thing, but they do look pretty sturdy. We'll see! Thanks to both on the braid comments, Chief