CowboyBob

Mark, Sounds to me like your sewing on old or dried out leather,that's what the noise is,try putting some lube on the leather or at least between the 2- pieces & I'll bet the noise will go away. Bob

Mike is real close,although it's more like a Juki 563 or Consew 255 w/a vertical bobbin, around 1/2" foot lift should sew 20 oz of leather,use up to #138 thread & it takes very common pressure feet just like the Juki & Consews. HTH Bob

I'd rather own a Mitsubishi than a Yamata there's a big difference in quality.

If it includes the table & motor yes that's a great price.

If I was some 2000 miles closer I'd buy that Juki myself,your right tnawrot2 that is a great buy!I've seen alot worse looking ones than that. Bob

Yes,that is a walking foot machine that would work for upholstery. Bob

That's probably your best choice.

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.