Aetolian

Hi everyone, I’ve been doing this craft for over three years now, so I’m still a bairn compared to many of you. However, since the beginning of 2024, I’ve taken it more seriously. Aside from tools, I no longer import leather or hardware to avoid the extra 20%+ fees. Here in the UK, things have changed a lot since Brexit. Prices have skyrocketed on nearly everything, and import taxes are just extortionate. For example, I bought a press from Tandy (based in Spain) a couple of months ago—it was on sale for about £200, but FedEx delivered it with an additional £65 charge! I couldn’t believe it. There are a few UK-based online shops (which I won’t name) that source tools and threads from the EU and the States, but they end up costing more than if I bought directly from those countries, even with import taxes. Thankfully, there are still some good suppliers here in the UK for leather and tools, like Metropolitan, George Barnsley, J Wood Leathers, Abbey England, and Le Prevo. Of course, there are also A&A Crack and Sedgwick, which offer some of the finest leathers in the UK, though their prices are a bit out of reach for me at the moment. Lately, I’ve been checking out other makers’ shops in France and Spain. I noticed they use some really unique rivets—chunky, embossed ones that aren’t laser-burned, as well as D-rings with snake designs and embossed buttons. I haven’t seen anything like that here in the UK, apart from a few on Etsy from Asian shops, but they go for £3-5 each. If anyone has a list of trusted suppliers for leather, hardware, and threads (excluding tools), I’d really appreciate it. Here’s what I’m looking for: High-quality solid brass and nickel hardware Veg tan, waxed leather, and quality chrome leathers Tiger thread or similar Thanks in advance, God bless

I visited the seller on Monday the 23rd and he changed the motor to a silent motor and the binding setup to a normal one for me. I tried the machine and the stitching wasn't that good to be honest, he used a tex 70 thread which, as far as I know, is what this machine usually gets and he tried it on some 1-1.5mm chrome tan leather (I want to use it on veg tan 2mm+2mm so about 4-5mm thick) The result was some skipped stitches, probably a problem with timing, he said it's the leather (ok, it can be fixed I suppose), then the tension seemed too loose underneath. I started getting red flags, so I phoned all the suppliers for industrial sewing machines I could find in the UK. One of them laughed at me basically, when he heard the price and in general most if not all of them told me the price is too stiff for such an old machine. So I gave up on this one and hopefully I'll get a better deal somewhere else. A guy from this forum offered me a better Adler, same model but modified. Same price as the Tysew though, so I'm a bit sceptical on that.

Hi everyone, This is my first time posting here and I need some expert's advice on this matter. I found an Adler 069-373 cylinder arm industrial sewing machine on eBay and the seller is not far from where I stay - Edinburgh, UK (about 15' drive) The seller is offering to install a silent motor on (instead of the clutch motor) and change the binding attachment you see on the photo for a normal one. His offer is £900 with free delivery and 6 months warranty. This will be my first cylinder arm machine, my only experience with sewing machines is my very old singer 99k. I want to use this machine for waxed canvas and some leatherwork where canvas meets the leather and maybe use it more often for leather straps and/or belts. So I can get this machine or go for the Tysew TY-3600C-1 for £1.300+ (new). They say Adler parts are available in the UK same as for the Tysew, since Tysew is based in UK. I will avoid the good and trusted American brands since I cannot get much support from where I stay, neither parts as far as I am aware. Any expert to help me with this please? Is this a good deal? The seller said he bought it 2 years ago from London and fixed it, but he didn't tell me what he fixed. This is his side hustle he added, buying old machines, fixes them and sells them for some extra money. Shall I go for this deal or go for something else? Thank you