Catharina

I can't wait for the revolution to start! Very much needed! Bring back the guillotine too! (For some....) I did a bit of research in Spain too, and the Netherlands (since I am Dutch) but prices all over Europe are about the same. Not much availability either, most are flatbed machines and then they are not even compound feed... Will call a Dutch dealer today, to see what he has available.

Nice find, but since Brexit, I'd have to pay VAT on anything importes to France ..

Yes, sound can be a big problem especially when having neighbours! I remember my daughter not being able to do leather stamping because of her neighbours....... what a pain! Off grid will be a big adventure.. and I really hope it will work out ok, we are so used to just turn things on these days. But the political situation in France is getting rather worriesome these days, we will be very happy to leave (I have no idea what news goes out in the world about France!)

Oh, wow... crying right now! LOL! That is a much better price! Stuff is so expensive here these days. Last year I bought my Pfaff 545 and I paid 1200 euros.... The Pfaffs 335 I passed were priced at 800 (because not working!) and the other at 1500, and it needed a new servomotor........... A pneumatic system here, will not be a problem for the noise, living in a remote area and I don't think I'll be able to live in an apartment...... but the extra electricity might be a problem when moving to Spain (hopefully soon) and living off grid..

If I go for this one, I may ask him to put a mechanical kneelift in, if he will not raise the price that is. If not, I will need to buy a little compressor to go with it, extra expenses.... The asking price on this one is around 1700 euros, add 20% VAT on that and you end up around 2000 euros, almost 2200 dollars..

Thank you very much KGG, it makes a bit more sense now. The picture was taken as the machine was still in the professional juki dealer's workshop (very messy I agree) and is currently being checked and made ready for selling. That explains de missing things. The machine is equipped with a pneumatic foot lifter, so yes, no knee lift for this one. I cannot for the life of me figure out why on earth somone would scratch the information from the plate. And this is indeed worriesome, I will ask and see what the answer will be.... Things would be soo much easier in life with a bit of extra money, and go out and buy a new one... but it will be sold with a year's warranty.

As said, a follow up, I left two Pfaff 335 advertised on facebook where they are. One, because the owner was selling because she couldn't get the machine working, cheaply priced, but since I wasn't sure about parts needed, and If I could get it going, I passed. Second one older type machine, with an older type motor, adapted for use on 220V from 380 V, needed to be replaced as well as the belt, too expensive...passed. So, I was advised to look at Juki machines, the LS 1341. Asked an official Juki dealer about second hand machines, he has a LS 1342 that just came in and thinks it is perfect for me. (Ha, well, dealers.......LOL) I am having a very difficult time to find out the essential differences between the two machines, as I find the Juki website a little confusing. Currently sewing with a size 18 needle, Tex 80 thread, handbag making, hence the search for a cylinder bed. I will mainly be sewing handbags, not too thick leather, but might venture into dog collar and leashes, horses head collars, belts etc. Comparison chart here https://www.juki.co.jp/industrial_e/products_e/lether_e/cylinderbed_e/detail.php?cd=LS-1341_LS-1342_LS-1342-7_E Am I correct, that the 1342 takes a slightly thicker thread, and has a larger bobbin capacity? What I see here: https://casanieto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/General-Catalog-non_appa_E_High_2019.pdf Page 8 and 9 of the pdf document, Is that there are different subtypes of the LS 1342, from the pictures it is definitely not the "7", as it has not little screen on top. So, there is a thick thread LS 1342 machine, a small cylinder LS 1342 machine or a small gauge LS 1342??? Can anyone confirm, please? I cannot read the machines type on the little plate on the machine on the picture sent by the dealer, numbers are erased......... which I find, very very weird? I maybe able to upload a picture, I'll try!

Exactly... thanks, I'll keep looking! I am not in a hurry anyways, it is going to be quite an investment for me. Thinking I should sell the Pfaff 545 (but really like that machine!) and get a table for the cylinder bed so I can turn it into kind of flatbed.......

Thanks Kgg, I'll think I'll pass on this one anyway. Apparently the motor is a 380V transformed into 220 V, according to boyfriend, this may cause some problems starting the machine up (person said she had to use her hands on the flying weel to get it going..) Juki machine are less common here I think, all I can find are Adler 69 machines and Pfaff 335, and some of its clones. A professional advised me an Adler 269. I am getting confused! And my budget is going to explode........

I am thinking of buying a cylinder machine, as sewing bags on a flatbed machine is not always very easy. I have found a Pfaff 335 17B S for sale, what are your thoughts on this machine? I know, S stands for stoff, so fabric.......is there a real difference with machines that are the L (leder, leather) type? This is a compound feed by the way. It seems as the motor is a bit old, it comes on with a lot of noise, so not the more modern servo motors. The owner says that the belt is sometimes slipping...... (it held together with a little hook, that is broken, repaired with a home fix.....adhesive tape.....) What is the lift on these machines, compared to my Pfaff 545 H3? Thanks for all the information you can give me. I think the person is honest, but is selling the machine for too much, given its age, the old motor and probably a belt problem..

I think I got the timing right, if anyone wants to look Foot lift adjusted to high. I can stop with needle down. But still not with lift on lowest... I will think about it , and leave it on high for the moment!

I am laughing so hard right now... no, the shaft is not rotated, screw goes in from the right way. But using a chinese foot adapted to pfaff 545 is NOT the same thing as the original Pfaff foot that came with the machine, that foot sits nice and tight in the shaft.. That will teach me a lesson! Will try and get the front foot and needle rightly timed today.

Oh, just went into the sewing room to check. I can see now, walking foot timing is off... hmm, I will see if I can ajust that then. Thanks so much for your help Uwe! Can I ask another question too? I noticed that the rear foot is quite wobbly (front - back of course, it cannot go sideways) , no matter how much I tighten that screw.. is that normal, or not?

Thanks for your video too! I'll take it to my sewing room tomorrow first thing to check! Needle positioning sensor ... so I should look at the servo motor controller then?

Second video, feet presser lift adjusted to its highest, needle stays down I can turn my work, needle up with heel function works great too

Ah thanks Uwe! Making my first steps on youtube right now, not much of a good video maker as of yet! I thought about the needle positioning system, but why on earth would it work with the foot presser lift at its highest ajustment and not in its lowest ajustment? I have a Ho Hsing G60 servo on the machine. It does have the heel function which works great. First video , foot presser lift at its lowest, after stopping, needle comes up, you can see the difference, needle coming up completely when I press the heel function. But it will not stop with needle down

I wish I knew how to upload videos here, they are too heavy.....

Hello all, my Pfaff 545 h3 is doing a little strange these days......... With presser foot lift adjusted at it highest point, with the adjustment screw at the back, the needle stop position is down, as it should, most of the time anyway, sometimes it comes up a bit after the stop and a bit more when after putting presser foot down after turning my work. This is really a problem if I ajust the presser foot lift to its lowest position, when stopping the needle comes completely out of my work, so turning is not an option anymore. Does anyone have any ideas what I have to do to make it work again as it should?? Many thanks in advance! PS I might be able to add a video. Catharina

Thanks all for the input! Lots of information. I really think people should bring in clean, washed rugs. I don't think all hairs will be gone..... but most of them, and the rest is washed. How much I try to keep dog and cat hair out of my workshop, it is impossible. So probably, when people bring in rugs, there will be a few hairs on it as well. If it is an inexpensive rug, then, no, it isn't worthwhile repairing it. Same is with putting in new zippers in trousers, repairing holes in sweaters etc. There is just no point in it. I have no idea if this is going to be worthwhile or not. Just trying to see what I can do, create objexts either textile or leather, to make, or repair and make this into a little business. That is going to be difficult, so don't worry all, I have another job that is making some money. But if I can make this work, and quit my other job......dreaming.... https://www.facebook.com/AC.catharina

That sounds a bit like the situation here in France. I don't think it will be a problem to find horse owners that need horse rug repairs. But before I start making myself known I would like to have some material to get started. I'll have a look around on various websites.

I am so sorry about your loss, loosing a pet is always very difficult.

As suggested in the new member gallery, I am starting a new thread in here,for horse blankets repair, while technically not only leatherwork, they are part of the horse care and ownership, right? If not, please move the thread over to where it belongs, if there is one in this forum? So, having aquiered a new to me Pfaff 545 H3 machine, and thinking about making felt saddlepads, I could also do some blanket repair work, there a quite a few horse owners around my place (in France) that might be in need. So what would be a good thing to have on hand for the repair work? Strips of leather in different lenghts? Buckles? And what about the fabric? I could use probablly some fabric from the beyond repair blankets, but to start with, I haven't any. For those repairing, do you match the fabric color as closely as you can or are you just patching away? And another important question, do you get your blankets in already cleaned? I really don't mind horse smell, having horses myself, but not in my workshop where a lot of things non horsey are being made too.. Any hints, tips and suggestions welcome? Thanks! Catharina

Oh, another Frenchie!! Merci beaucoup! Joli travail sur ton blog! Thank you! Ok, I'll start another thread, maybe in tack as you suggested, because they really are part of the horse care and ownership! Thanks!

Lol, trying to find chinese brands on amazon France is a bit of a problem. There translation is completely of! A binder translates into back of chair, or back of book, bookbinding etc. Looking directy on the Chinese website is easier. I didn't think of a 3D printer, that is a good idea! Thanks! Thanks, precious links!! I may end of writing to Zieger to have one made, as of now, I have not found what I want or need! Could I ask some questions about repairing horse rugs? I might be able to offer that here in France too.. Maybe talking off Forum?