luckyclover

Thank you so much! I will try this. I had disconnected the foot pedal, but I will hook it back up again.

I haven't done much adjusting on my Class 4 from factory settings. The presser feet raise up about 1/2" from the needle plate and I am needing to sew thicker materials. I have watched videos and scoured the manuals and haven't completely solved my problem. I have adjusted the walking foot height on the banana slide - this raised the inner foot, but not the outer foot. I have adjusted the presser foot pressure and increased the holding capacity with the regulator on the top of the machine. I can manually lift the feet up to where they are about an inch above the needle plate, but I can't find an adjustment to get it to stay up there and be raised and lowered with the presser foot lever. Any help?

I recently bought an American also. I bought new belts and some other odds and ends from Gateway Shoe Company. I now have it up and running, but could anyone point me in the right direction in figuring out how to thread it and wind bobbins? I have the "Instruction Book and List of Parts", but it doesn't make much sense to me.

I am going to undertake dying a show saddle black - for the fun of it My question is how to best remove all the silver. I have the corner plates off and most of the conchos. I have ordered a concho turner for the remaining tricky ones. I am having trouble getting to some of the screws to get the cantle plate off and my biggest problem is removing the swell plates. I have two of the nails out, but I am having trouble getting under the nail heads without marring the plates.

Thanks for the input! oltoot, that's funny you should say that about the finisher! The thing is huge!! It will definitely not fit in my shop and has more different sanding/buffing/polishing/burnishing wheels than I think I could find a use for. I was planning on just modifying a bench grinder for this purpose. As for the splitter, I think I am going to keep it as I know it will come in handy. Last night I was second-guessing myself because I saw a post about someone wanting a crank skiver and not a sole splitter, but I got it figured out now. A crank skiver would be a handy tool too!

So, I bought out an old shoe repair shop from my neighbor thinking that I could use the machines for my leatherwork - mainly headstalls, spur straps, halters, repairs, etc. I'd like to be able to do some saddle repairs, maybe make chaps, fix blankets. Now that I get to researching more, I am wondering if any of the machines will work for my purposes or if I should just sell them all and buy things that are better suited for what I want to do. I thought a leather sewing machine was a leather sewing machine (face palm). Here is what I have: Landis 12K American Straight Needle Stitcher Adler 30-1 (these I thought I could use) Nosecone 12 Auto Soler Cinderella 4 1/2 Auto Soler Sutton Landis 150 Finishing Line (these I'm pretty sure I have no use for) Star Co. foot operated riveter Rodi 5 in 1 cutter American splitter (these I don't know if I will want to keep or not) I also bought a Consew 227 from an upholstery shop a few years back that I have never done anything with. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - to keep or not to keep, pricing, machines that would be better suited for my needs, etc. TIA

I recently purchased an Adler 30-1. It worked when I bought it, but when we put it into my shop another machine bumped into it and bent the main arm that goes across the top (Forgive me that I don't know what it is called. I can't find a parts list in English!). We tried to straighten it back out, but it still sticks pretty bad and won't go up and down smoothly. Does anyone know what this part is called and where I can order a replacement? Thanks!

I am looking to buy a high-end used saddle for myself. I want a dark oil, but a lot that I find that I like are light oil. How easy/hard would it be to dye it dark? I know it is a big undertaking, but is it relatively easy to get an even dye job? I know there has been a shift to black tack in the western pleasure ring and people are dyeing things black, is dark brown harder to get even? What type of dye would be best to use? What kind of applicator? What kind of finishing product? I've included a picture of a saddle that I am looking at. It is a Jim Taylor reining saddle.

I have a friend who is selling off machinery from a closed shoe and leather repair shop. I have bought a few items, and know I have no need for other items. I am just starting out and wanting to do small repairs and make strap goods. One day I would like to work on saddles. One of the items she has is a Rodi Universal Long Arm skiving and cutting machine. Is this something that might come in handy for me? Is it better than just using a draw guage? What would something like that be worth? I found one that was 104520 rubles... She also has a Landis American Straight Needle Stitcher, another similar sewing machine (I didn't get the name of that one) and a big long cutting, buffing, polishing machine. She is located in NW Indiana. If anyone is interested in anything I can get more details. She doesn't know much about them, they were her husband's and she is trying to clean out the shed.

I am new to leather sewing machines and I bought a Consew 227 (I think) from someone off of Craigslist a couple years ago. I couldn't get it to work right, the bobbin thread kept getting jumbled up, so I'm thinking it just needs to be adjusted... Anyway, I'm thinking that this is the wrong machine for me anyway. I would like to sew chaps, halters, bridles, spur straps, etc. and this machine has the toothed walking foot that marks up the leather. So I guess I would like to sell this machine and get something else. What machine would you all recommend for that type of work and where would I go about selling my machine?