Techsew Ron

Our 1HP / 800W SmartServo motor gives plenty of torque even at low speeds but we do offer a speed reducer as an add-on if the customer wants it. cheers! Ron

Hi Kristen, either package would be good for sewing purses, wallets and bags. The 2700 Pro comes with extra features such as a needle position motor, laser guide, swing down roller edge guide, flatbed attachment, LED lamp and accessories (needles, bobbins, thread). The standard 2700 package includes table, smartservo motor, and some accessories to get you started (needles and bobbins). There's a chart comparing the 2 options on our website at the following link: http://shop.raphaelsewing.com/images/cylinder-machines-compared.jpg Feel free to give us a call with any questions ! Ron

Your best bet is to call each of the companies you're considering doing business with and see which machine works best for you. All of the advertisers on this website will stand by the products they sell. Cheers, Ron

Most dealers will include an adjustable speed Servo motor with the machine - they make the machine much easier to use for beginners.

Hi Paige - if you're sewing thin leather I would suggest focusing on a machine designed for sewing thin leather. A 441 clone like the Techsew 4100/5100 can do a whole lot and would allow you to do something heavier down the road however it wouldn't be the best machine for you right now. For sewing wallets, leashes, handbags, collars you definitely need a light/medium cylinder walking foot machine - our 2600, 2700 and 2750 all have the option of a flatbed table attachment so you can sew round or flat items. Feel free to call us with any more questions! Ron

This is a new one re-linseed oil however I had a customer ask me if olive oil was ok once. Long story short if the machine locks up on you immediately when you're testing it's a big red flag. You may want to take a pass on this one and look for a machine with a known history. We discontinued the 2603 but have a similar demo model available if you're interested. Ron

If you have the choice, always good to go as narrow as possible for sewing into hard to reach areas.

For making purses, wallets, belts and other general leather goods the Techsew 2700 or 2600 would be perfect for you. For 2 x 10oz leather and more you'll need the Techsew 5100 which can sew anything from 5-6oz up to 7/8" thick. We ship all over Europe and the rates are very reasonable, sometimes even comparable with rates in North America. I can provide a quote if you send us your shipping details. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions! Ron

Hi Josh, you can consider the 5100-FLP which doesn't quite have all the extras of the 5100-SE. Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions. thanks! Ron

If most of your work is light weight leather, you should narrow your focus to a light-medium, cylinder walking foot machine. You may not be able to do holsters but like you said it'll cover 90% of what you need done. Ron

the future is here!

For sewing satchels your best bet would be a light/medium cylinder walking foot machine which can sew 2-3 layers of 4-5oz leather but you'd be sewing at the machine's maximum capacity at 3 layers and limited to size #138 or #207 thread. If you're planning on sewing beyond 3 layers and want to leave yourself room for thicker materials in the future a 441 clone would be better. Ron

For leather bags you're probably best off with a cylinder machine and add a flatbed attachment if available. A narrow cylinder arm will allow you to sew into hard to reach areas and the insides of a bag. I'd say about 95% of our customers making handbags use a cylinder machine, whereas post machines are more commonly used for shoe and boot production. Ron

As others have mentioned, new machines with servo motors are extremely quiet and noise is no longer a concern as with the older style machines/motors. You can consider a light-medium walking foot machine (flatbed or cylinder) for close to the same price as one of the hand operated machines available today. We do sell our 2900 series patchers as head-only, but for sewing a wider variety of leather goods it wouldn't necessarily be the best machine for you. Feel free to contact us if you need some more guidance! Ron

Just PM'd you a copy of the Techsew 2700 manual. Let me know if you're having any specific issues with your machine. Ron

Hey that second photo looks familiar! Unfortunately these feet are custom made for our Techsew 5100 and aren't compatible with the Juki 1508. For increased visibility you can use a left toe zipper foot, most industrial sewing machine dealers have them for your machine. Ron

Hi Suzanne, the 227 or equivalent would definitely be a good machine for leather and canvas. Our version (Techsew 2700) is very commonly used for sewing purses, bags and other leather goods. You may also want to consider a similar machine with a large bobbin or more narrow cylinder arm. We carry a few different types of these machines. Ron

Shipping to Alaska isn't too difficult - I know we've shipped many fully assembled machines up there. Most dealers will offer free technical support by phone/email. For leather purses and leather products up to 3/8" thick, a light/medium cylinder walking foot machine will be sufficient. If you're exceeding 3/8" you may want to consider a heavy duty walking foot machine such as a 441 clone. Ron

A narrow cylinder bed, walking foot machine would be best for this application. cylinder bed machines are great for sewing the inside contours and getting into hard to reach areas.

Yes, they're all based on the design of the Juki 441. Ron

We deal with a number of hockey production/repair companies - typically these use a machine like the Techsew 2900L for glove re-palming and skate boot repairs. A light/medium narrow cylinder walking foot machine like the Techsew 2600 for skate boot production, and Techsew 5100 for repairs on most parts of goalie pads including the thick straps. Considering the presser foot clearance, needle size and thread size required for sewing 1/2" of leather a patching machine would not be appropriate for work on goalie pads. You should start your search with a cylinder walking foot machine and go from there depending how thick you want to sew. best regards, Ron

I'd recommend going with the Techsew 5100 over the 3650HD - you'll likely approach or exceed 1/2" for your holsters and you'll want the ability to dial down to thinner leather for wallets and chaps. Give us a call if you have any other questions! Thanks, Ron

If you want to give some more details about what you're sewing, I'd be happy to steer you in the right direction to make sure you get the right machine for your work.

sounds fishy...got a photo?

What you're looking for is a compound feed aka walking foot machine - these machines have feed dogs but will more evenly distribute the pressure on your leather to avoid leaving marks on the bottom. Ron