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I am looking for a sewing machine that can handle a minimum of 1/2" thick of leather but can also do a small thickness of leather. so far I have been looking at the Cowboy 3200, but I would like to know some other alternatives(preferably less than $1700). Please help, Im a little lost when it comes to this stuff. Thanks, Payton

Hi guys, Long time lurker, first time poster. Looking at converting a low shank machine to accept high shank feet, it's not going to be used for any heavy leather so machine won't be used outside its capabilities, just wanting to have access to the huge range of high quality high shank feet. Has anyone conducted such a conversion? Thanks in advance!

Hello there, first of all i just wanted to say that I am very happy that I found your website! So helpful! I would like to ask for some advice on finding accessories for my machines. I have a butterfly 335 cylinder bed compound feed sewing machine which I believe is a clone of pfaff 335 but not entirely sure and a emel-protex EM 3300 flat bed lockstich machine. I intend to use these machines to make leather bags. I have bought the machines in Nigeria and I believe the manuals that came with them are not even for these machines. I cannot find any information on parts for these machines or where to buy them. I would like to buy the following: butterfly: straight stitch Guides, motor belt(10mm x1275mm) zipper guide and possible some other parts that I may need in leather bag making and someone could advice? protex: straight stitch guides(I don't think there are holes to attach it though?) zipper guides and other feet that could be of help? i live in France now so best would be some suppliers in Europe. i am also looking for a leather skiving machine but I have a limited budget. I was thinking about this one: http://www.sieck.de/en/machines/skiving/leather-goods-and-automotive-interieur/details/1382/ is anyone familiar with it? Any opinions? i'd highly appreciate any help! thank you, Sandra

Hi everyone, new to the forums here but have been doing leather work for 3-4 years now. Mainly heavy/thick items like sheaths, holsters and other odds and ends. Over the past year I've had much interest in some leather cases I make and I honestly can't keep up with the demand while hand stitching and hand cutting everything. I'm planning to get some clicker dies made and using my shop press to help speed up cutting. For sewing, I'm going through 4 layers of 7/8 OZ so just about 1/2 inch. Hand sewing is very beautiful and strong but It simply takes me too long, maybe an hour per piece now that I've gotten pretty good at it and use my drill press to pilot the holes. Questions for you guys: What sewing machine would you recommend that gives a good looking stitch? I've been having the typical tippmann boss vs power machine debate myself. Leaning towards a powered machine. In your experience does something like a Cowboy 3200 or similar machines give a nice clean stitch? How does it compare to hand sewing? How does the Tippmann Boss compare to these in terms of stitch quality? I'm planning to call the shop in Toledo, OH to get their ideas and see what used machines are in stock. Since I live close by I may road trip there one day soon. Thanks everyone! Any tips would be much appreciated! Jon

My wife learned to hand build felt hats a few years ago and we have been collecting the blocks, hand tools, steamers, etc for a few years, but she still sews the edge bindings on by hand. Very tedious and time consuming. i know there is a machine out there that will precisely and easily sew that edge binding ribbon on the hat and think I have heard a Singer 108K20 may have been one of those machines. Does anyone have such a beast or any knowledge and experience? Thanks for the help. Tom Harrington

Selling these two machines, we bought them to learn how to use them thinking we'd be able to add sewing in our studio but they've been sitting for 6 months, brand new, unused. Purchased from Alberoni Sewing in Anaheim, CA last July. We paid $2200 for the 1508N, and $1000 for the 1181. Juki LU-1508N Industrial Walking Foot Leather Sewing Machine Juki DU-1181N Industrial Walking Foot Sewing MachineThe 1508 is for super thick leather, the 1181 can sew thin leather, canvas, denim. If you're interested please do not lowball me. These are brand new machines with table, servo motors, ready to go. I can ship. These machines are currently in our studio in Los Angeles, CA.

Hi all, Not sure about the rules here but wanted to say hi - have been lurking for a month or so and figured I should actually sign up as a member! My day job is machining and fabrication in South Brooklyn; sewing is very much a side project, but I've always been interested in leather and webbing work, so when a shop around the corner from me closed up and posted "walking foot machines for sale", I went for it. I'll post pictures of the machines and some modifications I did to get a cylinder-bed industrial into a New York apartment in another thread, and I have a couple extra box and bar tack heads that I'll post in the "For Sale" section shortly. All the info here helped greatly in figuring out what to look for in a machine and what to do with one once I got it - I look forward to learning more and maybe showing you all some cool stuff down the road! -Zac

For those who don't know about it, there is an auction site for Government surplus stuff called Govdeals.com. They occasionally have industrial sewing machines. Tonight I watched a pristine Consew 287RB go for less than $500(w/o shipping). I cried. That said, if you check this site often, you may find a deal on good equipment.

Hello there I have a singer 42-5 that I have "pulleyed down" for sewing leather. It is a flat bed machine, the setscrew that holds the needle sticks out to the right. This makes sewing cases, and anything that is not flat problematical as the setscrew hits the work. I have researched the screw size, and bought some 6x40-1/4 inch hollow head set screws, that can be used to replace the existing fillister head screw. We will see how this works, but it should work well. SDGengineer

I was looking to buy one of these machines but wanted to know the difference. Does anyone know. I do auto upholstery wich do u recommend. Or is there a difference? ?????

Can anyone tell me pros and cons about these two sewing machines? Juki LU 562,and Nakajima 280L. Thanks Illusion

Does anyone know if a Singer Centurion Industrial sewing machine can be used for leather? I have had no luck searching the web for info on it. Any help would be appreciated.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/atq/4446860042.html Above is my CL ad for a 29K51. I am selling this working and in good condition beauty for $500 firm. It is available only to people who can pick it up in Hastings, MN

Hello all, I am looking into buying a Singer 29 series machine for my business. I am a start up business that needs a low cost solution for machine sewing products. I am dealing in single layer 8 and 11 ounce products as well as multi layer 4-6 ounce products. Are the Singer 29s capable of sewing and stitching my products? Any particular model i.e. K that I should look for? All input welcomed. Pat 1042 Leather Works

I am looking for recommendations on a good quality basic machine that will sew hair on cowhide to make purses and bags. Don't need anything fancy just a good quality machine that can sew that type of cowhide reliably. I need a table top model that is portable, if possible. I am making bags like those in the picture. I do embroidery on them with my commercial embroidery machine with no problem at.

I was gifted an old sewing machine a few weeks ago and I'm not sure what to do with it. I know nothing about this machine or weather it will even work with leather. It has a small 80 watt motor and wasn't designed to work with leather its just something someone had sitting in their barn. Does anyone know anything at all about this thing? It needs a lot of work and cleaning up and rewiring and I want to know if I should just sell it or clean it up. ~Thanks in advance

I have been a member for a while but this is the first time posting. I mainly work with thicker leather mainly 5oz and above. I do a lot of dog collars, leashes, spur straps, holsters etc. I want to do more with tack and stuff like that down the road. Finances are fairly tight I am trying to take this from a hobby to possible business. I am disabled from MS and started the hobby as PT for my hands. So cost is a major factor since I am on disability. I have heard a lot about the Tippman Boss. I know it's a manual machine which is fine but I am curious as to what other users think of it. Do they love it or hate it is it even worth the money? One thing I like is that the Boss will go through thick leather easily and being manual I can control the speed better. Sometimes the legs don't cooperate as well as I would like them to with pedal machines. Is there other machines in the same price range or cheaper I should consider? I have just wasted so much money and time thinking metal sewing machines from the 50-70's or earlier would work only to find they don't event make it through a wallet let alone what I need. I have only been doing leather work for about a year. Thanks

In and out of leatherwork for years. Now need retirement income. Looking at the Cobra Class 4. Will be doing holsters, cases and the like. Any input? Thanks, SteveSprout

I am in the market for a used leather sewing machine. Right now I will be sewing horse tack....halters, nosebands, breastcollars, headstalls, etc. Nothing too thick....the majority would be under .5" thick. At some point I might want to sew leather corners onto wool saddle pads and they are usually about 1" thick...but I do have someone that can do that for me and this is not something I expect to do too often. I was looking at the Cobra Class 4 machine...long arm but wonder if that is really overkill for what I need. I talked to a local machine guy and he recommended the Adler 467. I can get a refrub head with new table, motor, speed reducer for $1195. My thinking is that I could always start off with a flat bed machine and then sell it, if and when I need to upgrade to a cylinder arm. thoughts? suggestions?

I need some help selectingg a sewing machine. I only have room for one so what is the most versital for holster making. I thought about the Tippman Boss But I think I need both hands on the project! I would like to keep it down around 1300.00 Used is acceptable.

Hi, I'm moving to Nelson, New Zealand for a few months in mid November. I'm trying to avoid shipping my machines there - I'm a custom leatherworker (Black Horse Leatherworks) and I'm wondering if anybody knows of someone there in the south island - or anywhere in New Zealand with a working leather shop. If possible, I would like to "rent" shop space ie: use a sewing machine suitable for chaps and one suitable for some leathers for bridles and other smaller top grain tooled items. Maybe once a week for an afternoon. I could also work a trade for lessons, etc. whatever would work. Thank you for any help. Carol

I recently aquired a Mercury M-406. I think I have figured out how to thread, oil and needle it but I am not sure that I am doing everything correctly. Anyone know anything about these machines. Also, Does anyone know anything about the Consew CS-1000 servo motor?