AlZilla

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However well intended, that sounds like heartache waiting to happen. I'm going to gamble that we probably shouldn't host the discussion. Also the whole tariff discussion is just going to devolve into politics.

@BurntLeatherCo, you probably need to resize the pics. The usual advice is a max of 800 pixels in whatever the longest dimension happens to be.

Wallets, belts, key chains and coasters all seem like popular rookie projects. I bought one of those "starter kits" that had several small projects like that. The nice thing there was it had all the leather and tools I need. It saved looking for and cutting out a pattern right away. I didn't have to worry about which thread, needle, etc. I got straight into the dyeing, sewing, stamping, burnishing part.

I usually wet the leather as if for tooling, lay the pattern on it and trace with something blunt. Ballpoint pen works. Laser owners can laser engrave a pattern. I bet there are more ways.

Wow. That is a great way to use the beaver tail. Definitely eye catching against the rabbit. I just got a few beaver tails last week that need a use.

Al Bane has a video where he suggested learning by buying a hide and making belts for all your friends. My friend are still waiting ... But it seemed a good idea.

I think you got a great job of it. The stitching is straight and neat and you managed to keep that stamp aligned over the whole field. I think you've got a knack for this craft.

2nd or 3rd post, he said he used a regular sewing machine foot controller.

Hi Vincent, I won't say for certain because there's much I don't know. However, I'd see no reason why not. I have a much older 22W156 twin needle that came to me with one needle and I've sewn with it that way. In my case, the second hook was disabled by adjusting the gears apart. Wait for one of the big dogs to chime in. There may be some downside I don't know about. Also, why not sign up for an account? It'll make communicating, getting notices of replies and so on much easier. Welcome aboard.

@washe, I split you out into a new topic in the Saddle and Tack area. Maybe you could post the specific pattern you're using and tell us if you've made all the pieces to the exact specified length? A picture would be worth a thousand words, too. I don't do saddles or halters, but this is where the experts hang out.

Yep, @CowboyBob, somehow you linked to the copy on your harddrive instead of uploading it. Seems like it ought to be around here somewhere ... darned if I can find it, though. EDIT: Last post in this thread might be what he's trying to send:

Wow. Fine Art that happens to be in leather. Thanks for posting it!

Well, without a lot of context to go on, I'll relate a similar experience with my 111W class machines. I was having on and off problems where the bottom stitches would get tangled and the workpiece would pull out from under the needle hard. There would be 2 or 3 strands of thread coming out of the needle plate. Finally I noticed that when that happened, my needle thread was split on the hook. It turned out I was holding my threads back way too hard when I was starting to sew. I only hold back lightly now and haven't had a problem since. You'll see advice here to "hold the threads back hard". But I think that applies to larger machines, like the CB4500 and such. Maybe someone else will comment.

I moved this over to Suppliers since it seems like you're trying to create a resource list of people and companies that repair leather items. If I got it wrong, let me know and we can figure out where you might get the best response. Leather Sewing Machines wasn't it.

Assuming you want the band permanently attached to the hat ... How you attach the concho strap kind of depends on how it all comes together in the back. Some options are to use Chicago screws or hand sew. Is it going to join between conchos, or under one of them? You could butt the ends of the band and use an X stitch or a corset stitch. You could skive the ends to a taper and overlap them. Maybe all the parts could join at center/back between conchos, everything could butt together and use about 3 rivets on each side of the joint to join it to the hat. It you want it removable, I would skive the ends of everything to a taper, glue and sew them. You could look at how bullet loops are made on gun belts for how those conchos might attach.

I'd be much more inclined to listen to Wiz and KGG than any of my ramblings... Those guys have been there, done that and have a closet full of t-shirts to prove it.

@Bobcustom, moved you to the For Sale area. We require shipping info and pictures on this type of ad. Thanks.

@lehmanjack945, I merged the 2 topics together so we can keep all the discussion in one place. You can re-add the original photos in a new reply. The edit button only stays for an hour or so. You'll get the hang of it. KGG has given you pretty much definitive info on the factory machine question. Good luck with your purchase decision.

You don't need or want a 441 class machine. It won't sew the light thread you want. Why not take a look at this one: https://tolindsewmach.com/cb341.html It's got your thread range and thickness covered. You'll need to dig in to the safety clutch, etc. The 206RB meets your spec, too, if you can live with the flatbed. The big dogs will no doubt be along with more and better advice.

You should make the effort to host your pictures here. Those imgur pics won't be there forever, then we have potholes in the forum for future users. And there are people who just aren't going to click that 3rd party link. You'll maybe need to reduce your images to get under our size requirements. 800 pixels in the longest dimension works pretty well. I've not been hands on with any of those particular machines so I can't offer any specific advice. That LS 1341 gets a lot of good press around here, though.

Letters ... Such a hard thing to get right. Stamped or carved, doesn't matter. You got a great job on them. A friend of mine carves beautiful letters. No matter how I do them, it looks like Mrs. Applebottom's kindergarten art class.

Very nice, very sleek looking. How do you like that aluminum table? I have an aluminum table for my 441 clone. My work space is not well heated in winter and it makes my hands cold.

Pictures are really required to give any kind of opinion. But your boyfriend is the best one to ask. Welding can cause distortion that might lead to misalignment of previously machined parts. Cast iron can also be it's own particular challenge.

@SkullzandHides CowboyBob is the proprietor at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machine and you can find his number at https://tolindsewmach.com/