JimTimber

There's a lot going on, on the drive side of that platen. Neat to watch, not so neat to try to reverse engineer.

There's a Camatron converted Singer here with a Box-cross configuration for sale at $300, and it works per the owner. One program size, one set of cams, no real adjustments to speak of. A great deal if that's what you need, a $300 paperweight if it's not quite perfect.

Would there really be 6-8 distributors of the 441 clones if they were overly problematic? Same design in continuous production for 30 years - bad? Some people struggle with getting them dialed in more than others, some people who are struggling don't post about it online too. I'd argue most people understand that you're going to need to make some test seams when changing materials and thread, and it might take a couple dozen 2" tests to get the thread/needle/stitch length/tension all in harmony before you're able to "sew" your part. If that part is only 6" of stitching in super thin leather, you might have gotten it done faster by hand vs getting the machine dialed in to bury the knots in a lockstitch (sometimes the work is unforgiving like that). I have a 441 clone, and I have had material(s) that didn't want to play nice for me. I didn't post about it because I knew some part of my configuration was responsible (ended up being the thread and needle size I was using were incompatible in that leather). I find it an easy machine to use, and most of the time it takes very little adjustment before it's making great stitches. As Wiz has said in other threads; the 441 is really in it's sweet spot on thicker materials. Not that it can't sew a 69 thread and 500D fabrics (I've done it, and it did great), but that it's not as good in the lighter stuff as a bed type machine which is made to sew those weights (at faster rates, no less). I'm glad I have two different machines. My 441 will never sew two layers of canvas with the speed of my Singer 211G.

We got a couple half price meals out of the coupons that came in one of those "Welcome to the neighborhood" mail packets (that had at least 30 useless ads in it). Best I can figure we landed on someone's "list" when I was shopping a re-fi on the house note. Never did do a new loan, so we aren't in that pile of product the bank's selling on their behalf. Our suburb gets money from the proceeds of the recycling program in the form of free "not garbage" disposal days for residents a couple times a year (the stuff the dump charges you for). I shred the name/address labels and the rest goes happily into the bin for removal.

Rusty did respond to my email, and Monique is on vacation which explains the lack of follow up with her. I was given a refund and offered something else that was well above what was necessary to rectify the situation (I respectfully declined as it's not necessary). SLC has shown themselves to be an honorable business and I'm no longer of the opinion that they shouldn't be considered in the future. Thank you Rusty! I hope your growing pains are short lived and you continue on the road of success.

Most is under hand size, more like 3 fingers size; that's my beef. I haven't opened the bags (no point). We'll see what Rusty says.

Small is relative. 6x12" is half a square foot which is small when compared to the smallest piece they'll sell firsts in is a whole square foot. It's also small relative to a shoulder, bend, or side. What they sent me is 1/4 of half a square foot, and worthless scrap. This is what's on my emailed receipt: "2lbs of veg tanned leather scraps with leather ranging in size from hand to 1 sq. ft. Mix of import and Hermann Oak veg tan leather 7 oz and above Item # 144-88838" Hand is relative too - they must've meant toddler sized. Still no call tag, no reply to yesterday's email to Monique, just sent one to Rusty.

If I had to mail order, Tandy wouldn't make the list (based on what's on their tables in the store). Being able to go pick my leather makes them a viable option along with the deep discount veterans pricing. I've only been to the Roseville store, but have to be near Bloomington for a VA doc appt tomorrow so I'll probably go check out the other one.

I did my research. The pieces shown are small (can't make a large holster out of anything in the listing pic, but you can make a sheath for something larger than an X-acto knife!), the ones sent to me are tiny and worthless.

A representative sample showing 2x4" to 4x6" pieces would've told me "these aren't worth buying" and we wouldn't be having this discussion. Their suede scraps are a perfect example of something clearly comprised of thin remnants based on the stock photo. Every piece shown in their heavy veg tan sample is 3x larger than 85% of what I got. I don't do key fobs, and these pieces are useless for a snubby j-frame holster. I haven't gotten the call tag yet. Is it possible they don't know what one is? If this goes to my bank (I'll dispute the charge before I pay to return this stuff), it's not going to make me think highly of them.

I was misremembering on the minimum large piece from a different item. However, if you look at the item stock photos, you'll see multiple 1/3sf pieces. I got maybe 1 of those per bag and numerous tiny pieces with irregular edges which work out to 6-8 square inches per piece - nothing like what's shown on the listing.

Monique responded to my email within a couple hours saying she'd send me a label. Haven't gotten it yet, but it's a good start. I was really hoping to repeat the purchase that I made at a local surplus shop a few years ago. $9 got me (5) 9x16" pieces of mostly square, mostly perfect (some grain problems) very usable black and brown drum dyed heavy veg tan, and some odd chunks of belly as well. Not so with the Springfield garbage bags. Compare the pic of what I got to the listing photo: http://springfieldleather.com/2lbs-Heavyweight-Veg-Tan-Scrap Nice big useful pieces, right?

There's supposed to be a square foot piece in each of these bags, but the bags aren't even 10" wide. It's all clickered out unusable crap for $9.33 each. I emailed for a call tag, I want to return the whole order.

My 6# of heavy veg pieces and my utility side showed up. The ad says each 2# lot of pieces would have one piece that's a square foot and several that are hand size. They didn't give me any that are even close to a square foot, and their hands used for reference are toddlers. "Useful for holsters and knife sheaths" - not any main part of a holster unless it's for a derringer. My $19 Herman Oak utility side is not the 2x2+ square piece shown in the picture, but a belly strip no more than 12" wide at any useable point. Same cut from W&C is $13 (aka: 33% less money). Add me to the list of former customers.

Pffftttt.... Once you thread it and get the tension set right, it's just sewing. You might want to re-work the pedal set up. Having the throttle under the bench puts you at an odd angle to the needle unless you're bow legged. Look at some stands/tables for the other cylinder arm machines for ideas on how to make the linkages. Btw, the tension disk you added is cranked down way too tight unless that spring is much lighter than mine are. And don't mess with the bobbin tension at first. There's a lot of adjustment that can be made with the top tension to get good stitches without changing the bobbin. My 441 will run 69 to 207 thread without any adjustment of the bobbin tension.

Looks like you're well on your way!

My stuff is moving per the USPS. Should be here with Monday's mail.

You meant "make her a handbag", right? "Honey, I couldn't have done this without the new machine." :D I had to pass one up similar to that for $450 because I don't have the space, and it wouldn't gain me that much over what my 441 already does (smaller cylinder diameter is the only up side). I thought $450 was a deal. lol Goldstar might have your missing tensioner. https://goldstartool.com/

Wow, that's a steal!

How's SLC for shipping, normally? I ordered some of their remnants and a utility belly on Wed after business hours, they packaged it at 3:52 yesterday afternoon and it hasn't even been picked up by the Post Office yet. Is this going to sit on their dock until next week? ETA: USPS took delivery at 8pm, so they should've picked it up yesterday. Scheduled for Monday delivery.

Wow... That's good to know!

Some of the pics look good, and some look nasty. Some of the hides have stripes running across them like this one: http://kentuckyleatherandhides.com/products/beige-colored-finished-borehide-leather-j1-5

Another vote for SLC (Springfield Leather Company).

My thought was maybe to add a foot or knee lift to gain more height without screwing up the presser foot tension. I have to be mindful about what I'm sewing because the 441 I have will climb over a lot more material without needing to be pushed under the foot than the 211 will. When you get a big difference in height across a junction (like 2 layers of thicker webbing sewn to a flat piece of 6oz veg tan), the 211 will drop stitches in that transition. I'm not sure it's a needle deflection issue or a thread tension issue (like the thread getting tugged as the foot slips on the junction so the hook misses it), but it is something I'm becoming aware is a reason to not use the 211 on certain types of projects. Don't get me wrong here, the 211G will sew to the point of sticking the taper of a #18 needle in the top of the stack and lifting the work as it pulls out and still make a great stitch. I'm constantly amazed at just how capable that thing is, it's just got some things it doesn't like doing and I need to plan my work accordingly.

I'm not sure how close in design the 111 is to the 211, but the foot pedal lift on my 211G is significantly higher than the hand lever lift is able to do.