R8R

The Juki America parts website shows the binder kit for the LS-1342 is in stock, (214-34956) but for the LS-1341 it's back-ordered. (and probably will never come back) I know dedicated binder operations usually mean a custom binder attachment, but it's weird they would eliminate the parts kit that make the machine a synchronous binder in the first place, and no apparent replacement for it for the LS-2342. That leaves the DSC-246 as the only synchro option in Juki's lineup, which have clones readily available (and which I'll probably go with).

Just re-read a email from my local Juki distributor in SF. The LS-1341 is being phased out in north America and only the LS-2342 will be avail. And no sign of a synchro binder option for it. Alrighty then!

Ok so this steers me back to my original plan - a Techsew 2600 with their add-on binder kit. (Juki DSC-246 clone) Only thing I'd miss out on is the square feed of the 1341 (which is nice), the vertical adjuster dial and a top loader bobbin. The sewing capacity is similar, right around 3/8" with 138 thread.

Well... that's that.

I had a similar feeling once, although not to that degree. I worked for several different screen printing companies in the SF bay area from the late 80's into the 90's. One I worked for in the mid 90's grew HUGE and quickly. They fell even quicker when their market shifted. When was there in the mid 90's, it was the night shift in a shop with one automatic and one manual press, in a tiny building. When they shut down in 2009, they had a huge shop with 10 automatic machines, a giant distribution center, multiple offices, etc. I think the building was well over 100,000 sq feet. I bought a shop's worth of manual equipment from them and the next day 9 semi trucks and an army of techs arrived and stripped the shop of the rest of the equipment in like 12 hours and hauled it all off to Mexico. I closed my shop after several years and worked as a facility and maintenance supervisor for a couple other shops. I whipped those places into shape, but I know they've sold off gear since I left. It's weird to see equipment go after you spent many hours wrenching, cleaning and greasing it. You get that sick feeling in your gut that the next guy won't keep it clean and tuned. Ugh. Onward.

Found a vid of this binder kit in action on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BkDIe08nejz/?taken-by=javran Pretty sweet! Emailed them and they said the kit can be ordered from MJ Foley but it takes awhile. Now a question - how different (if at all) are the various clones of the LS-1341 compared to the original Juki? Would the Juki binder kit work on a clone machine? There are some nice clones that include the vertical lift adjustment dial that the base model Juki does not have, and they are of course much cheaper. (Like a whole other sewing machine cheaper). Thoughts? Or would I be inviting disaster trying to make binder kit fit onto a non-Juki machine where they modified the design when they cloned it? Mainly looking at the Thor GC1341 or maybe the Sewpro.

Ok then! Singer made too many different machines. There. I said it.

I owned a Fabricator. Nice machine for what it is built for - heavy canvas, sails, upholstery and light leather. It is NOT a dedicated leather machine. The machine head itself is nice and Sailrite tunes it perfectly, and the Sailrite motor is great. However, if your hobby includes sheaths, holsters etc then the Sailrite machine will struggle punching through some of that. It *can* do it occasionally but it's not built for it and hammering it with heavy leather projects will wear it out prematurely. I would look at something like Artisan's copy of the Juki 1508H or a similar machine if you wanted to go for a reasonably priced heavy flatbed, or just go for the Cowboy 3200 and don't let anyone put limits on your hobby.

For lighter leather, yes. They are made for heavier work bu no the *heaviest* work. They are mid way between heavy stitchers and garment machines. I had a Sailrite machine identical to the P1206RB (Fabricator) and it was great. The 206, 227, etc are just a tad stouter. Craig's List is your friend here. Machines like the Juki 562, Consew 206, etc seem to crop up on there every week.

I recently had an Enduro SM1050-2PF motor set up on my Juki 2810. I had a foot lift solenoid like that PF-2 and It plugged into the Enduro easy enough. The lift feature was great BUT I think the solenoid was messed up. (it was a takeoff from a well used machine I got in a factory sale) It made a high pitched noise when engaged and even had a faint burnt smell. Not good! I ditched it and have since pulled the Enduro off as well, as I will be moving shop eventually and wanted to go back to a 115V motor instead of being stuck with 220V. Currently running an Artisan ACF-625C and a reducer pulley and that gives me *ok* control and needle positioning, so 2 out of 3 on my motor wish list. It doesn't have good modulation past a certain point though - the start speed is slow enough but at a certain point it jumps from slow to near top speed. So not zero to full but like instantly from 10% to 90%. Annoying. The SP-1100-NPFL looks awesome though. How is the speed ramp-up and is that adjustable? Can it crawl without a reducer?

Lol just noticed this is an OLD thread.

These machines don't run at the same cheetah-speed that garment machines run at that need a full oil bath reservoir, so yeah just keep it clean and manually oil everything on a regular basis and you'll be fine.

I am looking at the Techsew 2600 and I am wondering if it can swap between horizontal (synchro binder) and elliptical feed the same way the Juki 246 can? Techsew sells the synchro binder kit (binder plate, feed dog and throat plate, etc) but they don't post manuals so hard to say if it's the same procedure and set up as the Juki. I got a quote for a new Juki 246 and they seem to be over-priced. Over $5k for the NON automatic version.

Here is a full auto version of the 2810. If I did not already have one I would jump on this machine in a heartbeat. https://www.ebay.com/itm/JUKI-LU-2810-7/253857157926?hash=item3b1b10d326:g:m-cAAOSwerRbkvKV This vid shows everything the full-auto version is capable of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhQoB4cksz8

I looked long and careful at the Juki 1541's, the 1508NH, (and related clones like Artisan, Techsew, Thor) I settled on a Juki LU-2810A and I am VERY happy with my choice. Huge bobbin, high foot lift, adjustable climbing, longer 13" arm, dry head, etc etc. It will sew through anything I can stick under the foot and ask for more. It's primarily a "big" format upholstery machine (auto interiors etc). It's made to sew multiple layers of plastics and leathers and vinyls and thick foam padding. The "A" version I got has Euro style feet (Adler style) but the "S" version is available "standard" feet (Singer 111W, Juki 1541, Juki 563, etc) A good Juki dealer should be able to get you one with a servo motor for about $2600 give or take. It's basically Juki's answer to the 867 but with a much less painful sticker price.

Awesome.

The Sewline SL5-1R...Hmm... Is that place in Spartanburg? Same place that sells on eBay? Avoid. Generic machines, unresponsive (and then rude) owner.

The 111W's are compound (triple) feed. Needle feed, inner foot feed, feed dogs, all synchronous. If his does not have a needle feed it's not really a 111W, or it's broken.

That Artisan is a good bet if it's been well cared for. Decent upholstery class machine. I think they are Mitsubishi clones. (Reliable 4000SW is basically the same machine) Horizontal hook, much like the 1541's. The Singer 112W is a DOUBLE NEEDLE machine.

I'm reading that eBay ad in the first post and cracking up. What a train wreck of an ad. The description is for a portable chainstitch bag-closer machine, not a tabled lockstitch machine. Slap any old sewing machine pics and mix and match a description - then take the money and run. The 1541S is a great machine as is the 1508, etc. If you do need a drop feed machine for garment work, and you look at a Juki or a Juki clone, check Craig's List as they always seem to pop up there. A decent Juki can be had for about $500 or less. (or a Brother DB series, etc) Keep in mind - the Juki 8700 type is a slightly heavier duty machine than the Juki 5500 type. The 5500 type (5550, etc) are light weight machines built purely for garment production speed. With swapped out feed dogs, needle plate, etc the 8700 can handle some heavier garment fabrics, denim, light canvas, etc.

Saw those. Luckily I don't live near there any more, otherwise I would be cramming one into my way-too-small amount of space I had and then looking for reasons to justify it! Cool machines if you need em.

I bought a full set of these a couple months ago and I can say without hesitation that Craftsman screwdrivers have become absolute and complete garbage. Every flat head driver in the kit had the plating coming off the tip on the first use. All of the flat head drivers were essentially unusable after a few uses. Nothing major, just basic adjustments to a machine and a couple uses around the house. The tips would flare out and chip and would often not even fit in the slot anymore. Garbage. Returned the whole kit. I got a set of Klein's that I'm happy with for now.

I use the Gingher version of these, the "knife edge" thread nippers. I have big hands and they are very comfortable and precise to use.

What is it that people are even answering here? This is like if I posted a topic called "Ford or Toyota?" and my only post in the topic was "rubber tires". What is the actual question here?

I'm glad you are asking (whatever it is you are asking?), cause there is literally zero information on this site about either Cobra or Cowboy machines. Hopefully someone will come along and enlighten us in this thread. Seriously though: SEARCH FUNCTION. Both brands have been discussed to death here.