Handstitched

G'Day G'Day , We had our local country show at the weekend, the weather was awesome, and had some great sales through out the day. I couldn't fault the day at all . It was a long tiring day, but the best of all... I made a Cane Toad Skin Handbag and a stubby holder to go in the exhibition shed. I got the bag finished about an hour before the entries closed...phew!! The bag got first prize , and the stubby holder got second . heres a link to the pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/7814084780/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/7814085270/in/photostream/ P.S. 'Brutus' my Q'Stitch Colt machine should also get a mention...it did all the stitching .( the Pfaff 60 under the red cover did a little bit too) http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/4111321665/in/photostream/ All the best, HS

G'Day From Western Australia, It does sound like something is a miss on the linkage on the motor perhaps (?) Sounds like something needs adjusting? This is my 441 clone: http://www.qstitch.com.au/Page/leather-saddlery-sewing-machines ( I didn't pay that price ... mine was cheaper It has a 3/4 HP motor, and I have really put it through its paces. It can really sew that thickness.) http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/7010739149/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/6864625162/in/photostream/ If you can see by the pic, its a direct metal rod type linkage to operate the motor, not a chain, but there is a chain for the foot. I have adjusted that so I don't have to press too far to drop the foot. Although I don't have a servo or speed controller like the Cobra , I've learnt how to speed up and slow down the machine.( after much practice). The harder I press down on the pedal, the faster it goes , and vice versa. I've done so much sewing on it now, I'd be lost without it, and I have my machine adjusted just right and set up for me and me only ...and no-one else. If anyone else used my machine, it may seem totally foreign to them compared to their own machine. Perhaps when you get your new machine, you can adjust it and have it set up to the way you want it. Hope there is at least some help on here for you, and I wish all the best in the future, HS

G'Day from Western Australia I too have a 441 clone . A 'Q Stitch Colt' from Queensland. http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/4111321665/in/photostream/ The pic is a bit old now as I now have a slotted plate and the apt feed dog ( not the blanket plate in the pic) , a double toe foot, with a centre groover, and I use that for just about everything. I did buy an edge guide, but I've never used it. I seem to have developed my own technique of keeping things straight.......practice I guess , ( a good light also helped) I did go slightly off sewing a gun belt , my friend then said to me "thats called a 'humanity stitch' " , I like that But I am fascinated by the 'French Boxing ' attachment. It would be good to know if anyone here has tried that? I just bought the accessories that I know that I was likely to use frequently ( apart from the edge guide), and as a result, I've now set up my machine to do a variety of leather sewing jobs, and have the tensions etc just perfect ( that took yonks) , and without having to change plates, feet and feed dogs all the time. All the best, and Happy Sewing HS

G'Day again, Thank you for your responses. I almost used the air compressor, but I changed my mind. I'm glad I did. I think I'll just stick to using a brush for my own peace of mind. A good oiling and a simple brush over sounds the best. All the best HS

G'day from a very wet Western Australia. Apart from making leather goods, I also do horse rug repairs, and as many will know ( and as someone on here put it) 'it's like throwing a handful of sand onto your machine.' When I clean and service my Seiko STW 28B,( Consew 226 equivalent) I use a new or a clean paint brush to remove any debris, dirt, dust etc. from around the feed dogs and various moving parts. Is it a good idea to use an air compressor to blow the dirt and debris away, or does this just blow or force all that dirt into places that it shouldn't go?? Thanks for any help Handstitched:)

Sorry for the delayed response. I have an account with Birdsall Leather. They have been very helpful right from the very first day I started leatherwork over 8 years ago. They help anyone from a beginner, to the advanced ( I once was a beginner, but I'm now somewhere in between) . I also have an account with the Cane Toad skin wholesaler . best regards HS

Thank you for your response. And your right, they do get quite messy. On my machine, I do make regular checks , do regular cleaning, and indeed, regular oiling, its become a (good) habit now. And, as my own rule of thumb, after I do an inspection of the rug for damage, what repairs need doing etc. I go over the whole rug with a stiff brush to clean away any 'debris' etc. . Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of washing facilities so I end up smelling like a horses butt by the time I've finished, and when I've done quite a few rug repairs, my dog is real friendly with me too !! But I enjoy it Best Regards HS

G'Day from Western Australia, I had a similar problem with my Seiko STW28B ( once was a twin needle , now single needle, see pics) I use mine for horse rug repairs, and I found that the thread was 'codging up' underneath, (bobbin side) . It was getting frustrating as it was happeneing on every job. After spending a bit of time paying closer attention to it (and giving it a good service) , I took apart the shuttle,removed the bobbin, and I tightened the tension screw ( its very tiny, you can just see it on the pic ) , and hey presto, no more 'codging up'. The diagram that Bob has attached is pretty darn close to how my machine is threaded. And despite the foreign language, those diagrams are very helpful. That may not be the exact problem, but I hope this helps:wave: Best Regards HS:wave:

G'Day again...( it's still a scorcher ...again) Thank you so much for your responses and the PDF. I do have an old broken camera lens that I use like a magnifying glass and to see stuff really REALLY close up, close enough to see the numbers clearly on the shaft. Now after having an even closer look through that old lens , the difference I can see is this: The Schmetz 794 S is more 'chisel shaped' at the end, and the GB 794 H appears to be a lot sharper and pointier at the end, and the 'scarf'' appears to be beveled slighty on one side. I'm guessing that this has something to do with the picking up of the thread as the shuttle comes around. It seems to work OK though, and as far as sewing leather goes, I can't really tell the difference. I've learnt so much more about needles in these past few days . All the best, and thanks once again. HS

G'day from a scorching Western Australia, I have just purchased a packet of needles for my Q Stitch Colt ( Juki 144 clone). The needles I normally use are 794S 180/24,the brand is Groz-Beckert.The thread I use is 277. But I didn't notice until after I got home that the number is 794 H. 180/24 I looked closely under a magnifying glass, but I couldn't see any difference whatsoever. I was hoping to see a difference in the points ( ie chisel point & round point. ) but they looked the same....unless I need to look even closer still? Is there a difference between the two numbers?? All the best, HS:)

G'Day, I think it would pay to keep the screw threads clean so as not to get a build up of 'old' loctite. It would be good to get some feedback on that question ? HS

G'Day, I got the loctite 222 on Monday, and at $21.00 a bottle, its a lot just for one screw, but it may save me a fortune over time. HS

G'Day, Have a look at the 'Cane Toad' thread on here, and a few pics as well. I would think they would be quite durable. I have had some of my customers that have shown me Cane Toad leather products like wallets, purses etc. that they bought 20 years ago. ( not from me). Although showing obvious signs of wear and tear, they looked quite good. But I'm not sure how long they would last on heavy items like holsters etc. HS:)

G'Day, Amongst my many leather talents, I can also make various leather goods from Cane Toad leather. I'll attach some pics from my photo page. I do get a lot of pre-made Cane Toad leather goods like bags, wallets etc. from a taxidermist, but I can also obtain the skins as well to make a lot of my own Cane toad leather goods. The skins can come in a variety of colours. They are very easy to work with, and , depending on the project, some parts of the skins can be sewn using a domestic machine (with a leather needle), however, because the Cane Toad secretes a toxin from glands near the head, that part is often quite thick & tough ( after tanning) and care needs to be taken not to break a needle when sewing that part. It does take a little time to trim and arrange the skins,( if making large items) and to sort them as each skin has a *different texture ( *after tanning ,also, males & females have different textures), so a project may take longer than usual to make, but the end result is worth it. When I make anything from cane toad skins ,I just trim the daggy bits off, I then glue each piece into place and then sew, a bit like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Most of the items in the pics are pre-made, but some of my own items are, stubby holders, barrettes, BIC lighter cases, books covers, tobacco pouches and asstd. small items. http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/6828793379/in/photostream/ Have a browse at the other Cane Toad pics on my photo page. Enjoy:yes: best regards HS

G'Day, Thank you all once again. I have printed off a copy of the application guide. Just reading through the guide, I might try the Loctite 222 'Low Strength ' for now and see how that goes,if a need a stronger one later, then I'll go for the Loctite 242 Medium Strength.( the blue Loctite that Bob mentioned) . It will depend on how frequently I change feed dogs for different jobs etc. So far , I haven't had any problem with the needle bar screws. Before and after each use of my machine, I do a quick check over, and make sure its clean, and cover the threads and the machine when finished. ( its just a habit that I got myself into). But I will be paying closer attention to screws etc. from now on. I'll be off to the hardware shop tomorrow. ( its Sunday here right now, and the shops are closed in my town ). Thanks:wave: HS

G'Day again, Thank you for the suggestions and input. I had thought about using a loctite, but just wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but reading your posts puts me at ease, although choosing the right one will be important, like 'Northmount ' mentioned. I wanted to point this out in case anyone else had a similar problem ( or made a similar mistake to mine ) Sewing on these machines are a breeze and vertually noiseless, so yes, certainly pay attention to any noises that are out of the ordinary, listen to it while sewing , it may well save you a lot of $$ one day. Thanks once again HS

G'Day from Western Australia, After spending the arvo sewing belts, I did notice a strange *click click click* on every stitch, or every time the bobbin went around. We all know the sound or the 'tune ' of our own machines, and this was out of the ordinary. It was due for a service anyway, so I took the retainer plate off, removed the bobbin/shuttle case to check the feed dog. The screw holding it in place was loose. Hence the 'click click click'. It was either because I didn't tighten it up properly when I changed feed dogs, or it has worked loose over time. I'm guessing it was the first suggestion...OOPS!! I'd hate to think want would have happened if I didn't take any notice of it. All fixed now....and nice and quiet All the best, HS.

G'Day, It certainly is in great condition after 40 years. But it does look like croc or gator. I hope you post a pic of what you make with it . HS

G'day again, (Its still very hot here at the moment) The machine next to it, is a Necchi domestic machine ( the model number escapes me right now) Julia Supernova I think. I bought it at a local market for $20. Its in perfect working order, and comes with extra feet and accessories, handbook and a bunch of cams that fit in the top of the machine, and allows me to do all sorts of embroidery type stitches including fancy zig zags etc. Not bad for $20 bucks . I've only used it a few times. It can sew thin leathers like garment, and upholstery etc. but nothing thicker than that. But because it can do embroidery type stitches, it does use a LOT of thread. I'll try to take a pic for you later. I have two others in my shed, that I sometimes have uses for parts etc. All the best Handstitched

G'Day, I've just posted this arvo, about my machine in "'Thickness Test- Q Stitch Colt' . similar to Cobra machines " Thats a great investment you have a there. They're pretty impressive machines. I've had my machine for approx 4 years now, and never looked back, and no regrets. Happy sewing !! Best Regards, Handstitched

G'Day from a VERY hot Western Australia. Anyone that is considering buying a leather sewing machine of this type and had any doubts about what they can sew, I did a test for my own curiosity. I got 5 layers of a reasonably firm 4mm veg tan leather ( 20mm is the maximum thickness) ,and put the machine through it paces. It never missed a beat, or in this case, it never missed a single stitch. I'm very impressed. I've sewn some thick material before, but not THAT thick !! None of my jobs will ever be as thick or as extreme as that anyway, but it is comforting to know what my machine can do. No doubt, there are machines that can go beyond that thickness and although my machine is a clone of a 441 , it performed beautifully, as will all the other good quality machines like it. For anyone on the market for one, you can have absolute confidence that these machines are up to the task. Its the best business investment I have ever made. Look after it, and it will look after you. All the best Handstitched

G'Day from Australia and a Happy New Leathercrafting Year. That looks pretty good. I make a lot of stubby holders, ( everyone has a different name for them) and heres just a few examples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/3861507695/in/photostream/ I have also used small chrome spots/studs etc. for added effect, which look quite impressive with the 'skull ' designs. I also enjoy doing carved designs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40990121@N05/3861453943/in/photostream/ I use a 2.5-3.0mm veg tan leather , to keep cost down, but it carves just as nicely. I have set dimensions to fit the foam insert, and they are laced at the back. Some may recognise the 'skull' pics from a motor bike pattern pack. Feel free to browse the other pics on my photo page. Best Regards, Handstitched