horselady21

Excellent advice , mikesc! I think the dremel kit has a red rouge in it. I have Prussian blue at work for bearings but may be overkill for this. I will be gentle though!

I agree! I am going to try this last thing: I am going to go over the sticking one with my dremel and a polishing attachment tomorrow and see if it makes a difference. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. Possibly a burr on the outside of it? I saw an ad for a place selling a new portable Consew CP206R walking foot machine for $499, free shipping, warranty...must say, it's tempting. Do you have an opinion on this type of machine? I am usually a fan of older, used good quality stuff, whether cars or anything else, but as I get older, I seem to be less likely to want to fix and repair, and more wanting to just do what it is I bought the thing for!

I received the new case assembly last night and installed it, and no change...it still sticks with the new hook installed. I reinstalled the old broken hook (as well as I could) and with it, everything spins freely, so I think Suzelle was right...poorly made part. So I found a good used original hook that I bought and will try that. I really hate to call and ask for free help from anyone! Barring anything else, I will drive it over to Toledo! Or just buy a good used one. I came across a post on another site about the exact same situation on the exact same machine though, so I think I am on the right track, and have hope!

Thanks, Suzelle! Would you believe, I am actually a formally trained auto mechanic, can take a car apart and put it back together, and this little thing just stumps me sometimes?! I am going to try the new case when it comes next week, and if it still sticks (and if I haven't bought something else yet! So tempted!), I will order a better quality one. The one I bought on ebay said they had sold 12 others so I figured they must be ok. We will see! Thanks for the encouragement! Frustrating when I have so many projects waiting in the wings, and had disassembled the treadle. But I got that almost back together so will play with that while waiting!

No, I think it is aftermarket...and I wondered the same thing. Hopefully it will fit the new case better. If not, it may be time to just buy a good used machine from Toledo!

Hi, again! After my needle broke last week and then I broke off a piece of the bobbin "hook" (the revolving part that actually holds the bobbin itself), I ordered a new bobbin hook, installed it in the race, and now it has a major sticking problem. The machine spins freely until the new bobbin assembly is installed. Then it is hard to turn. I checked for problems in the race and can't see anything, and it spins freely in my hand but once installed, no go. I ordered a new race assembly but it seems strange that any damage could have been done to such a sturdy part. Any suggestions? And are there any repair shops near Pittsburgh that anyone knows about? Thanks!

Oh, heck no, I'm not stitching around the cut outs! Besides the fact that putting holes that close to an open area is dicey in itself, there is no need to, and yes, would take a lot longer. Thanks for the kind words.

Since my sewing machine is down until parts come in, I decided to work on a belt I started previously. Once I finished cutting out the open spaces, I came across a nice pale green pigskin for it. Now just have to hand stitch.

Oh, ok, I understand now. It was a pretty big hit so I will check it once I get it reassembled. So you think the needle hit because of the overspeed?

Thanks for your fast reply, and help! If I lower the needle bar, wouldn't that make it worse? More chance of needle hitting? And the part I bought on ebay is called a bobbin hook. I would call it a case, too!

Hi! My recently-purchased 31-15 has been sewing great, and I was sewing some thinner goatskin last night when the needle jammed against the bobbin case (I think that is what it was) and broke off. The speed had gotten away from me for a second, so I am wondering if the bobbin just couldn't keep up. Then, in the process of rethreading,etc, I broke off a piece of the bobbin hook (thing the bobbin spool rides in), and ordered a new one. Do you think I need to check the needle timing? Any help appreciated!

Just thought I would mention that Craftsy.com has a great class "Making Leather Bags", taught by a man who was an industry insider. I got it free as a new craftsy member ($39 value) so was thrilled. I've already learned a lot of tips and tricks, the best being using double sided tape to adhere pieces together for sewing instead of contact cement.

Just saw this topic and thought I would add the Craftsy.com video class I am taking "Making Leather Bags". It is excellent!

Any idea where I can get this conversion kit and/or the part #? Thanks!

Thanks, Eric! Wish I had thought of it before buying the $8 leather belt but, oh well! I guess I was going for originality at that point! But like everything else, my modern and practical side pushed through and prevailed!

Hi! I just got this wonderful model 27 treadle..my first...working wonderfully...and my only pet peeve with her is the belt. The annoying clicking from the staple as it goes around, and the stretch of the leather that just doesn't seem to be a good fit. So, since I am a car girl, and have been in the auto parts business for 35 years, I was walking past the vacuum hose display yesterday and thought that the 1/4" vacuum hose looked like it would fit nicely in the belt channel in my machine. So I bought a long enough piece (for 81 cents!), took it home, trimmed it to fit, put a heavy staple deep in the heavy rubber so it wouldn't click, and it works much better! It doesn't slip as much as the leather one, grips much better! I thought I would post it in case others might want to try it. A lot cheaper, too! I already ordered a roll for leather belting for my 31-15 industrial but I might buy the bigger size hose set up for it too. I will have to see how it holds up to any heat generated.

How about renaming it Dumb Lady's Reverse. Geez. I guess when you spend 50 years on a modern machine flipping a reverse switch, you never imagine that such a thing never existed! Thanks for the info. I will just turn it 180. I did something interesting with the belt on it that I will start a new post on.

Oh. Duh. Ok. Now I feel really, really stupid. Omg.

One thing I have been noticing, and maybe I should start a new topic on this, is that when I back stitch to lock the stitch at the start of a run, the bobbin thread bunches up and forms a little rat's nest and I can feel it binding when I'm turning the wheel backwards ever so slowly. I only go a revolution or two. I've tried adjusting the bobbin case itself but the stitching itself seems so nice that I don't think it's that. I've taken to either just straight stitching then going back over and doing a couple of hand stitches or machine stitches over the first and last few of the run. No big deal since I am only making things for myself right now but once I am making to sell, then I have to do it right. Any ideas? By then I will have the 31-15 going but no use having a machine that won't do everything 100% in my opinion!

Thank you again! You are a world of knowledge and I'm sure I will be picking your brain in weeks to come. I got the stitches lengthened...I had screwed the adjustment knob out (and in and out while cleaning and oiling) and left it in the teeny tiny stitch position, which were very pretty compared to my hand sewn monster stitches, but I got them back to a very nice spacing now, photo attached. Yes, in case it doesn't show a time, I get up at 3 am to start my leather stuff before my day job. Hopefully, someday, I can eliminate the day job and do leather all day long!

Thanks for the info on the 31-15. I will order the conversion kit once I get it all together and working. The needle/thread thing is a world all it's own, I'm finding out! I made a chart and posted it on my wall above the machines, but it would be nice if there was a chart showing whjat needle and thread combo should be best used with what leather,etc. And how to read the needle sizes, types,etc. Who knew there was so much to know! The machine is a 1935, I believe. I am using a #69 with the old treadle 27. It seems to like it fine. Once I get the other machine going, I am going to restore the head on it and refinish the cabinet.

Wow, I thought I was trying to give the impression that I was happy with the stitches! I don't want to change anything! I did order a teflon foot for when I sew a stickier leather (the goat skin is pretty slick and glides nice) but it works beautifully. I even got the long bobbin winder working properly, which took a complete disassembly and some adjusting, watching a video on youtube of how it is supposed to work. IT is quite something. This morning I tried 3 layers of the goatskin and it went through but I had to feed it by hand for the most part, so now I know it's limit. The 31-15 is on a regular industrial table with a motor..a clutch one but will change to a servo eventually. That I will use for heavier stuff. I will post pics later today of the pieces I finished yesterday. Thanks for the responses.

In my quest to upgrade my status from hand sewer to machine goddess, I picked up a model 27 treacle last week for $90 (also got a 31-15 but still waiting for belt). I got it cleaned up and working and it makes the tiniest, most beautiful stitches I could have ever hoped for! I will try to post photos. (Photo not real clear but trust me,the stitches are incredible!. This is my little practice piece. Will post photo of more when I sew a real piece.). I am going to be making hip belts and small bags and purses, wallets and such, nothing heavy so these machines should be fine. So happy!

are any of these available still?

Same here. I don't buy that much from them. When I was doing all kangaroo leather lace braiding, they were the only place I bought from, since at the time, I didn't know of any other supplier I could buy from wholesale. Now that I don't do roo any more, there are many more options out there. Yeah, their shipping is fast, service is very friendly, and quality is great, but there are a few things that they don't carry that I do use quite a bit now, and, to tell the truth, it seems like the only place that carries 100% of what I need is Springfield Leather. I just ordered my first hide from them, and was amazed at the difference between what I got from Tandy and what I got from them. SO don't think I will be returning to Weaver. I think Weaver will feel the effect of letting down us "little guys". We add up.