alpine luddite

bike packing bags, chalk bag bottoms, stuff like that. but really i prefer the vertical bobbin if i am using it as a binder.

thanks for the reply. the 246 I recently used was a -7 model and brand spanking new. I will check with foresewing. these two are at advanced sewing in pittsburg. I use heavier fabrics, ultra 400tx, all weights of cordura, 16 oz ballistics, ultra 800tx as well as light dyneema, so have different machines for different weight fabrics. whatever cylinder arm I end up with won't be a full time binder nor used on the lighter fabrics.

interesting. the Juki 246 I used was bear of a machine. we used it to bind seams on 10 packs during a class and had much stronger pull than i remember the pfaff having.

i bought a clone 1341 from techsew and it was not great. it had little flaws, like the half length bobbin spring lever that i could never open without a tool. the binder attachment didn't fit well. didn't sew well compared my flatbed juki machines, 2810, 1541s, 1540. i used a new juki 246-7 this spring and was blown away by the difference in sewing quality and ease of use compared to my techsew clone. i am not knocking techsew, many people seem to love them but mine wasn't what i expected.

the 1341 is $1600, the 246 is $2600. new motors. both used in production. new 246 is around $6000.

I need some help distinguishing the main differences of the 2 juki cylinder arm machines. i prefer the bobbin arrangement of the 246. I sew backpacks, so need this machine for sewing in bottoms, doing some repairs, binging round bottoms and items with tight corners, sewing collars ect. I used a 246-7 earlier this year and was impressed, and the swing away binder attachment worked well, though i have no need for -7 version. i do not want a dedicated binder for this machine. Advanced sewing has both models available used and trying to make the most informed decision i can. on the pictured 246-6 they offered to set it up as a manual machine, new motoor with needle positioning. my work is at alpineluddites.com if you want to see exactly what i build. i did buy a Pfaff 355 a few years ago and it didn't have pull i needed and kept breaking needles. i sold it to a leather worker. thank you

135 either a 20 or 21. I don't break needles. it's mainly a space issue. Thread nylon #69.

I'm looking for a flatbed walking foot machine with a high lift, 20mm, or more, for sewing backpack harness parts with. I currently use a 1541s for most of my sewing but I struggle with 3/8" closed cell foam(4lb density), multiple layers of Cordura and nylon webbing. It works but it's a struggle. I cannot fit 1/2" closed cell foam parts in this machine. I have been looking at the Juki LU-2810s, which has a 20mm lift. Does anyone have experience with this machine or recommendations for a high lift flatbed walking foot? Thanks

the upper straps are what I'm after. Thanks

Hi, I'm working on reproducing some vintage bicycle bags that use leather straps to attach to the handlebars. While I do sew some leather, I don't own the tools to make the straps. they are 5/8' x 8" with a riveted roller buckle. I need 12 straps. you can see my sewing work at www.alpineluddites.com thanks IMG_7105.HEIC

pack returned to the customer. thanks for the help.

hi, I was sent a 60's built canvas and leather Lafuma backpack to repair, but I don't work with leather that much aside from die cutting lash tabs and adding leather backpack bottoms. My company is Alpine luddites, based in Ouray, Colorado. .. I'm looking for recommendations on who to ask to rebuild this harness. it's a very sentimental pack to the owner. he'd like it restored. photos attached. please contact me with questions or suggestions, jc at alpineluddites dot com

Thanks for that. I really appreciate it. the closet industrial sewing machine repair is in Denver or salt Lake, both 6 hours away. It seems the thread is falling out of the lower tension/spring disk. is the "hook part of the tension disk in the correct location on my machine?

I'll try that again. thanks for the help. nice website. do those Pfaff 145 have reverse?

it feels ok. i just switched out to a new case and adjusted the tension. the loops are actually the top thread. it randomly goes out of tension. the loops in the photo are the top thread, looking at the bottom of the fabric.

I'm looking for some suggestions to get my machine's tension sorted. I use it 10-20 hours a week and it's normaly fine. But today the tension is acting funny. the stiching looks fine on top and bottom, but then I'll loose tension on the bottom and have a bunch of looped thread. i have checked the bobbin tension, the top tension, changed the needle...looking for more suggestions. thanks

i'm selling a almost new Pfaff 335 walking foot cylinder arm machine with the the oscillating binder attachment. It's a fantastic machine but it doesn't have enough pull for binding the seams( bought to set up as a dedicated binder) of my backpacks and bike bags. you can see my work www.alpineluddites.com, just so you have a reference for the type of items i was using it on. I know now it's a better leather machine than nylon from friends who own small production facilities here in Colorado. My staple machine is the Consew206RB-5 which just plows through anything with #69 & 92 thread. I also use it for sewing on leather patches and bottoms on some of my packs too. so I have 20 hours of actual sewing time on the this machine. Has the Pfaff anti knock off sticker. 3/4 hp servo. has both oscillating binder and regular plate and feet. located in Colorado. asking $1900

thanks Joe.

Hi Joe, thanks for the reply. How do i adjust the hook/needle timing? the manual doesn't make this clear. i'll double check the binder feet as well but they don't affect the needle length perse. needle goes through the hole with no problem. but i can see the needle hitting the hook. Thanks again. jc

hi, I wanted to ask for some suggestions on getting my machine up and running. I just bought a brand new Pfaff 335, it's a cylinder arm machine. I'm setting it up as a dedicated binder for work on custom backpacks. I set up the machine this past week once it arrived and as normal walking foot it was fine. I installed the dedicated binder parts. i immediately broke a needle and now my needle hits the bobbin hook. the Pfaff manuals are not that helpful in this regard . So I'm wondering if any one else has some experience with this machine. FYI>using #20, #22 needles, #69 & 92 thread. i mainly sew heavy nylon fabrics and webbing. all my leather sewing (lash patches and leather bottoms) I do on my Consew 206. While this is my first posting to the forum on this site, I have been an avid reader and used the info here for setting up my own leather die cutting for my custom packs. I reproduce packs from 60's and 70's and made replica dies for the leather. my website : www.alpineluddites.com Thanks JC