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Please contribute recommendations to the best currently available servo motors to slow down Juki LU563 (or other machines) for Leather Sewing. What is the best quality, reliability, and longevity for servo motor and is it worth having a needle positioning mechanism? I have a head injury and seem to have forgotten a lot of what I knew and greatly appreciate your help with this!

I have a new job working with a juki 1541 leather machine. I work with size 69 1/2lb nylon thread and size 22 needles to see through quite thick leather. The thread consistently gets caught in the tension disk and snaps while sewing. Online wisdom is this is caused by threading the machine with the foot down, but when I thread it with the foot up it actually makes the issue worse- the thread feels stuck as soon as I put the foot back down. If I loosen the top thread tension spring I get loops on the bottom of my seams so it's not too tight. Any insights?

In business since 1995, producing leather and fabrics bags, shoes and much more, it is time for semi-retirement from contract sewing... We have leather and shoe making machines available for sale in Wauconda, Illinois. You can come and make your pick, or we can arrange for crating and shipping. Our inventory includes clickers, double needle high posts, single needle high post, double needles of various needle settings with and without pullers, walking foot, cylinder, bartackers, programmable pattern tackers, fusing, seam roller, boot turner, paint booth, seam pounding, antique outsole seam stitcher, single needles, puritans, single head creaser, 12 needle elasticizer, automated double belt loop, Western punch die, etc. plus material (zippers, threads, foams, fabrics, pellon, plastic and metal hardware, etc.)

I just acquired a Consew 206RB-3 in near mint condition for $250.00 and am beside myself excited! I have not used a walking foot machine prior to this and am wondering about any and all things related to it. I am thinking a Servo motor might be the way for me to go but don't know what model or where to purchase? I am planning on sewing heavier fabrics and leather. I have been reading everything I can get my hands on most of which has been online. I do have operators manuals for ever Consew 206RB except the 3, (my model of course). I have gone over the entire machine and everything seems to be working as it should. I'm not certain but it looks like the oil wicks on the top of the machine may have gotten shredded, (I've included some photos). I have been searching online for replacement oil wicks and haven't found any. Does anyone have a source for those? Also are there supposed to be any wicks in or around the needle bar area? Is there anyone out there that lives in the Lexington, Kentucky or Ohio that may have sources for supplies like thread, needles and etc., or even online sources that can help someone like myself new to this kind of machine? Any help or advice greatly appreciated. Thanks, Heidi ,

These machines were used for a special leather product (vintage BMW) tank bags. Set up with teflon feet, split needle bar on 112w140. Also has special speed reduction pulley that can be quickly converted to high speed. The table also has plate you add to front of cuttout so you can use regular 111w style machine (included) Machines are near Daytona Beach but could be moved to southern Colorado in may (yearly) trip. total $650

Anyone have experience with THOR sewing machines out of Texas??? glenn

Ok guys and gals, I had an idea. This could fix a lot of newbie questions (me included). Please play the game to help us novices along. Post a few really good pictures of your machine. And even different feet that you use. Explain what you sew with your machine. Explain a little about what you like about it, and don't like about it. If you have more than one machine to brag on, by all means, share about it too. If you guys are willing to participate, we will have a great thread to point people like me towards. Thanks everyone. Keep having fun.

I have done the homework. I am working a side project to put the funds in place. Now comes the hard part, which machine first. The Contenders: Consew 206RB-5 Cowboy 4500 What I am Sewing: I have been a fan if smaller projects and am looking towards craft fare items. Bracelets, wallets, small passport journals and the like. What I might sew: Knife sheaths and concealed holsters. Messenger bags, maybe some simple purses. I thought in the past a 3200 could support both areas, but now I see I need more dedicated equipment. Here are a few future possibilities to consider. My brother slings guns at every show in DFW. He offered to sell my holsters if I send them. No Charge. How cool is that? My wife and I have worked a few craft shows with little to show for it but experience. What experience I gained was a bunch of husbands getting drug from booth the booth with nothing to get excited about. They need some man items. This could be wallets or holsters. If I hold out for the 4500 I think I could have the consew in no time flat afterwards. Plus the smaller investment later sounds easier. Things to keep in mind: I want this to stay a hobby part time gig. I would also like to keep breathing (wife). I shy away from the larger stuff due to time constraints and lack of wanting to hand sew large items. I already have the dealers in mind. They are three hours away. I have almost talked myself into the 4500 by posting this. One last thing. Question: Will these two machines pretty much handle all the items above? Is a guy set with these two machines? Thanks everyone.

What would be a good "all a round" leather sewing machine? I have been looking at one of the cobras but not sure which one. Thanks

I’ve been stalking the forum and educating myself for months, but I have a few questions that I can’t find answers to. I can’t find the holsters I need/want, so I decided to make my own. I’ve acquired a Singer 111W151 machine that’s in perfect shape, and I successfully upgraded it to a Family Sew FS-550s servo motor from Toledo Industrial, and it runs beautifully. I have a couple of things I'm trying to work out, and I'm sure they're simple adjustments. I'm trying hard not to spend $2k on an actual leather stitcher. 1. Does anyone know if this machine can handle 346 thread? If not, what would potentially be the largest thread it can handle? And what needle would I use with it? 2. I'm still learning about needles. I ordered some leather needles that go through the leather like butter, but they're not long enough to catch the thread from the bobbin. I go back to the original needle that's longer, and it just isn't as suitable for leather. I saw several threads in the forum about needle size and I'm reading through them now. 3. I replaced the bobbin last night and apparently changed something, and now the bottom thread is being pulled up through the leather. I assume this is a tension adjustment. I'm still trying to figure this one out. 4. I have several PDF copies of the original manual. Does anyone know of a clearer, more updated manual or set of instructions for making adjustments or maintenance? I'm sure I'll have a few more questions and I'll post some pictures. Gary

Hello, I'm new to Leatherworker.net and impressed with the wealth of technical knowledge on sewing machines. I was just given a Singer 191 D300A, made in Japan. The person giving it to me said it was in good working order but it has been sitting unused for several years. I sew handbags, chrome-tanned leather, some nubuck, some suede, the occasional veg-tan, nothing extra thick. Is it worth investing in this machine? The body of the machine itself seems in good nick but there are several rusted accessories (e.g. thread tower) and the table is wavy. Reading through leatherworker forums wondering if it can (or should!) be optimized for sewing leather. Attaching photos, would appreciate advice --

Hey All! Have been scanning this page for months now and finally decided it was time to join and be able to ask some questions frpm all the experienced craftsmen on this site rather than just searching for answers- so heres my question : I've got a Mini tack business just up and coming, and I work primarily with Biothane/Betathane. I've been hand sewing all my projects with an awl, but my hands and shoulders are saying it's time for a machine! The problem I'm having is trying to figure out WHAT kind of machine I need, nothing fancy for now, just one that'll do the job, and not give out on me 3 months down the road! Some day when I have learned more and want to move into heavier leather equipment, I'll be on the hunt for a suitable leather machine, but for now it's fairly lightweight- 1-3 layers. I have searched our local classifieds, and found an older model Singer Walking foot Industrial machine, but will this do it? Thanks for any advice!

I work in a luggage and leather goods shop and we are interested in acquiring a Cylinder Arm Machine, we currently use a Juki LU-562, but it's limitations for our purposes are many. The machine we seek would be used for luggage and leather goods repairs, as well as light manufacturing such as wallets, briefcases, and duffel bags. I was told a pfaff 335 would suit my needs, however there appear to be many clones out there which have very little feedback. As far as I can tell, current "pfaffs" are now known as Mauser Speziale, manufactured in china and tuned in germany. Since these are made in china, is there really any advantage over a chinese made clone such as a reliable, highlead, supreme, etc? How interchangable are replacement parts and accessories, would I be stuck paying an arm and a leg for Pfaff/Mauser parts? Is there a big difference in build quality between clones? Does support vary a lot between clone brands? Here's a description of what we are looking for: -Able to sew as thin as 2 layers of 1000D nylon to as thick as perhaps 20oz of leather -Single Phase Servo Motor (the reliable 5000 looks ideal) -Ability to handle thread weight 69 and up -Narrow cylinder arm -Available removable attachments (binders, roller guides, etc) Based on the requirements above, which of the following would you recommend? Or would you recommend something else? 1. Used - rebuilt german Adler 69 for $2100 (available at local shoe repair supplier) 2. Used - rebuilt older german Pfaff 335 $2200 (available at local shoe repair supplier) 3. New - Supreme 335 free arm machine - head only $1575 (available at local shoe repair supplier) 4. New - Reliable MSK-335B for $2299 (would have to buy this online) 5. other... Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.