picked up my Cowboy 4500

[bladegrinder]

Picked up my 4500 today I bought from Toledo industrial, had it shipped to a truck depot and save a lot of money. pickup went smooth and no damages.

took it home and got it together. note: this friggin thing is heavy, it was going straight into my shop from the truck, it's best if two people manhandle these things but after I got the stand off the truck and the castor wheels on it, the stand was almost level with my tailgate - I pulled my truck right into my shop - then I just manhandled the machine onto the stand and bolted it down.

First, this is just one good looking machine. got it all set up and ran off a couple pieces of three layer 7 oz. then made a little adjustment to the stitch size and speed at the motor control.

man, this thing is sweet!  I hand stitched my sheaths for over 30 years and never ran a machine until today and just my first couple practice pieces looked great. I'll probably have a few knife sheaths to stitch up next week, I'll post pics.

[Dwight]

I got the table attachment with mine . . . loosened up those height adjustment bolts . . . let it ALL THE WAY DOWN.

Then . . . I removed the two pedals . . . re-drilled the mounting holes for them . . . moved them as far back as I could on the platform.

Got me a stool . . . and life is so much better.

I also got this   https://www.ebay.com/itm/164394345099?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649    to hold extra spools of thread . . . was cheap enough  . . . and I've got all my most used threads out front there . . . just grab the end and thread it.

You'll really like that if you are any relation to me . . . one heck of a great machine.

Holler at me some day if you get interested in doing some smaller stuff and start thinking about another machine.  There's an attachment you can get from Australia for a hundred bucks . . . lets you do small cases with thinner thread . . . etc.  Makes your machine a WHOLE BUNCH more useful.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Northmount]

@bladegrinder Moved your post to Leather Sewing Machines

[dikman]

Bladegrinder, it's a bit like comparing a small car to a muscle car -  as you Yanks are fond of saying, there's nothing like cubic inches! As Dwight mentioned, get the modified needle pale and feed dog from RockyAussie on here, it will let you use from #138 thread up. In my opinion it should be the standard fitting on these machines as it makes them far more versatile.

[bladegrinder]

Thanks guys, I did order and have the narrow plate and feed dog, I'll probably install it this weekend.

Edited July 13, 2022 by bladegrinder
speling

[dikman]

[Handstitched]

On 7/13/2022 at 9:31 AM, bladegrinder said:

this friggin thing is heavy

Yeh, don't we all know it  

For me, that height is too high, I'm short anyway , but a chair or stool will come in handy, as @Dwight mentioned standing up to sew is not good. Get a good strong one ....o'h, and a good  adjustable light.

Congratulations on your purchase . 

Good luck and happy sewing with your new machine   

HS

[RockyAussie]

11 hours ago, Handstitched said:

For me, that height is too high, I'm short anyway

Gotta get your eyes checked mate. Even his fold up table has extended legs and that beautiful machine already has a good adjustable light. Only thing missing as yet I can see is a drop down guide in place.

 

11 hours ago, Handstitched said:

Congratulations on your purchase . 

Good luck and happy sewing with your new machine   

Double ditto on that.

@bladegrinder on the back of the head you may see 2 screw holes already waiting for a drop guide as this pic below shows. I just finished modding a heap of these guides up for them so they can be a straight bolt on.

Edited July 14, 2022 by RockyAussie

[Tequila]

@bladegrinder congrats on your new machine.  I think you dun did good and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!

[Doc Reaper]

It’s fan-effin-tastic, congrats on a smart purchase! I have one that was made without the two pre drilled holes for a drop down. When you see fit get a flat bed and the in-line presser foot from Uve Gross. 
just so you know it’s ready to sew 3/4 of an inch thick items when ever you are ready (something I found out 7 years after purchase)