CowboyBob

Yes,parts are alittle more than the other machines,so are the feet,all the above machines I mentioned take the same feet so they are inexpensive

Yes,if that's what you want to do is topstitch seats even 138 is plenty large enough.The Nakajima 280 isn't the best machine for large thread.Get a Singer 111w,211,Consew 225,226,255,206,Juki 562,563. There really isn't much difference between the above models except bobbin size & where it loads.

Since you want to do uph type of work w/277 you need to look @ Singer 144w ,Consew 744 or Adler 220,221 type of machine. Anyone of the above will even use #346 if needed. HTH Bob

Doug, Take your needle plate off & turn your machine in the direction it runs & when the point of the shuttle meets the needle the top of the eye needs to be 1/8" below the tip of the shuttle.The problem with the longer needle is if you have a needlebar thread guide on your machine you might need to take it off so you can raise the needlebar enough to get the timing correct for the longer needles. HTH Bob

A roller foot lets the leather slide through easier than the standard foot. Yes,we stock the bobbin case & bobbins for it. Bob

I'll have to agree @ $300.00 it's a great price & we work on alot of these & have all the parts,needles,thread,servo motors & etc in stock. Bob

We sell the same machine & I'm very fimiliar with it too.The next step would be to check the needle bar height.You need to take the needle plate off & turn the machine around in the direction it runs & when the needle goes down all the way & starts to go up you need to make sure the top of the eye of the needle is about 1/8: below the hook. Bob

just posted earlier today http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=43014

No way will either one of these machines that were made to sew shirts,dresses @ high speed & other lightweight stuff will sew holsters with the size of thread you need to use. Bob

If you do not have enough foot pressure to hold the leather down it causes the leather to lift as the needle pulls out this will cause skip stitches.When you keep the leather down as the needle pulls out this allows the needle to make a loop large enough for the hook to catch it. How thick are you trying to sew right now? Bob

I'd say it's worth $500.00,it will sew close to 3/8",the knob your talking must be for the stitch length. Bob

Tachgirl, We have a chart here:http://www.tolindsewmach.com/thread-chart.html Bob

The rotary machines won't sew as heavy as a oscillating shuttle machine.You MIGHT beable to use #69 thread if you tighten up the tension alot.Parts will be almost impossible to find for this too since it's so old. HTH Bob

Yes,it's a good machine that has a bobbin slightly smaller than a 563 & takes the same feet & needles too.Wiz has one he modded & sews to 3/8" with. HTH Bob

They all are good machines BUT I wouldn't even think of buying the 211 alot of parts & some screws have been discontinued on it & they are special to this machine.The stitch length is the same adjustment as the 111w which even though it's an older machine ALL the parts are still available & since it has a larger handwheel it will sew slower,parts are very low priced for it. The Pfaff is probably the best & the 545H4 is the one with the higher lift,the 545H3 has a foot lift real close to the 111w, 1/2",there is quite a few common aftermarket replacement parts for the Pfaff on the market. HTH Bob

I'm glad it was easy. Bob

Well there'sw the zipper feet were either the left or right toe is off,we also have edge guide feet that have a builtin edge guide that will let you sew 1/8",3/16" or 1/4" from the edge.Then there is the cording or piping feet that come in sizes 1/8-3/4" HTH Bob

No all DBx1's are the same length.Maybe you need to lower your needlebar alittle,try just holding the needle down alittle a couple of mm & see if it works.

Tighten your foot pressure alittle.Needle length won't affect this lifting of the material,it do to #1not enough foot pressure #2 trying to sew to thick or hard of material. Leather needle might help alittle.

Do to the rotary hook design in the Consew 230 it won't sew the heaver threads & thickness as the 31-15 will. The 31's are a great workhorse of a machine no matter how old it is you can still buy parts for them. The Consews rotay hook makes it a higher speed machine like 4000 stitches per min great for sewing thin stuff like shirts,drapes & etc. Bob

They usually have 3-sets of gears in them,the stitch length is controlled by a knob under the left end of the machine,you it has 3 detents on it that stops on each different stitch length,you pull the knob it out or push it in to change the stitch length. Bob

You might be trying to use to large of thread,this machine is limited to the largest size of #92 or smaller like #69 or #46 HTH Bob

I can get gears f/12 pr in.It can use #138 & sew close to 20oz Bob

Kevin, It's a tossup.The Adler of course is made in Germany very good quality but parts are very costly & any attachments you need will almost usually have to be handmade,the 618 is a very common machine,feet & parts are much lower cost & there's more of a selection. We do stock some knockoff Adler feet but they still cost almost 2x as much as the more common 618 feet. You might want to try sewing on both & see which one you like better. HTH Bob

Jeremy There stitch length is controlled by gears,usually real short like something like 14,16,18,22,24 pr in. They were made for shoe uppers. Bob