Singer 99K

[Bert03241]

Would putting a hand crank on my 99 make sewing heavy leather easier ? Not depending on the motor to punch thru the leather?

[Matt S]

Maybe. The bigger balance wheel usually fitted to hand-crank machines will certainly help. Cranking by hand rather than a small motor of unknown age and condition may help, but sewing machines tend to work by storing the energy in the balance wheel (having it spinning earlier in the stitch cycle before the needle hits the material). I have a 99K that came with a hand crank from the factory in 1936, it's got a 3:1 gear reduction and if you have to lean on the handle to pierce what you're sewing you're doing something wrong.

I don't know what you consider "heavy leather" but a 99K or any other domestic machine can't be expected to sew more than 2-3 millimetres total thickness of medium-temper leather with a TKT40/V69 thread, using a NM100-110 leather point needle. For firmer leathers like tooling veg, less thickness. You are likely to get foot marks on the top, dog marks on the bottom, will have layer slippage if not pasted, may encounter inconsistent stitch length, and will have issues climbing up and down thickness changes. Some individual machines and operators may be able to do more due to a combination of luck, skill, modification and selective reporting but don't expect it as the norm.

Whatever exaggerations may be read on the internetz these are domestic machines intended for occasionally running up cushion covers, shirts, dresses and the like. Hemming trousers and basic repairs. The heaviest work they were expected to do was sewing a pair of curtains or perhaps making an item of clothing from soft, thin suede. On leather I'd suggest them adequate for sewing wallet internals, small pouches and maybe watch straps so long as the above limitations are accepted and the owner is aware of the increased likelihood of early wear and catastrophic failure (something going PING that's no longer available). Interesting as entertainment in and of itself, and a possible start on machine sewing for those on a very tight budget but not something that should be relied on to produce large quantities with professional levels of quality or reliability.

[Bert03241]

Thanks for the answer . This is strictly a hobby for me and I make something every couple of weeks. Not like I'd use this machine everyday , maybe once a week to sew up a sheath or something. I haven't even tried to use it yet.