picked up my Cowboy 4500

[Tequila]

Ok, Ok, I’m officially jealous now.  

[Wizcrafts]

The most thickness I have sewn on my Cowboy cb4500 is 1 inch, in January of 2015. I had to increase the height of the presser foot and reduce the alternating height. I think I also removed the feed dog and curved throat plate and installed the thin slotted needle plate. It was difficult and left some top and bottom drag marks that I was able to smooth out.

The photos show the holster I sewed along the outside edge, which with the inside welts measured 1 inch along the stitch line.

[RockyAussie]

Hey @Wizcrafts, You did not stitch that 1" part that close to the edge when you sewed it did you? It was sanded back after stitching somewhat was it not? I hate to think of the consequences of trying to go that close to the edge on anything near that thick, especially for a beginner.

[Wizcrafts]

1 hour ago, RockyAussie said:

Hey @Wizcrafts, You did not stitch that 1" part that close to the edge when you sewed it did you? It was sanded back after stitching somewhat was it not? I hate to think of the consequences of trying to go that close to the edge on anything near that thick, especially for a beginner.

No! lol

The edge stitching was about 1/4 inch in. Then I sanded, slicked and dyed the welted area.

[bladegrinder]

Well after some practice on this machine I did a knife sheath. I've never done a pancake style so that's what I tried for a small skinner I finished recently. first, the design is a little off with the vertical stitches not close enough to the knife so I ended up with bad retention. lesson learned. I messed up one of the stitches on the top left going around the belt cut out, and lastly... there's not a 2" oblong punch available on the planet right now so I tried hole punches and cutting them out with a razor.  that doomed this to some kind of tool holder for around the shop but things are going to get better each time I get on this machine I can feel it. I've got a pile of scraps with all kind of mistakes so I'm learning!

[Dwight]

On 7/17/2022 at 7:32 AM, Handstitched said:

I've never had a job that needed that thickness, but nice to know it can do it. 

HS

 

 

My Tippmann Boss will also sew pretty much that thick.  In over 20 years . . . only had one job that needed that thickness . . . a very special .22 pistol holster . . . it was for a handgun with a scope on top of it.

I used the machine to punch the holes . . . then hand sewed the 35 or so stitches.  It was a fun project . . . but I'm sure glad I have never had to make a bunch of them.  

Now however . . . with the Cowboy . . . it would not be as hard.

May God bless,

Dwight

[RockyAussie]

1 hour ago, bladegrinder said:

Well after some practice on this machine I did a knife sheath. I've never done a pancake style so that's what I tried for a small skinner I finished recently. first, the design is a little off with the vertical stitches not close enough to the knife so I ended up with bad retention. lesson learned. I messed up one of the stitches on the top left going around the belt cut out, and lastly... there's not a 2" oblong punch available on the planet right now so I tried hole punches and cutting them out with a razor.  that doomed this to some kind of tool holder for around the shop but things are going to get better each time I get on this machine I can feel it. I've got a pile of scraps with all kind of mistakes so I'm learning!

That is some pretty fine looking stitching going on there in my opinion. With your crew punch holes, you may find a bit of practice with a pointy tip soldering iron could help. I run one through a light dimmer switch to keep the temperature down. Other thing I just thought, I have made up my own crew punches at times using seamless pipe. I make a steel piece up first the shape of the hole to help hammer the pipe into shape after I have flattened the pipe down a bit. I heat up with a gas blow torch and tap away until the shape is getting close then drive the pre made punch down into the hole and tap away some more. Grind the tip shape and finish off with a polish. I then find a bolt that is a little loose fit on the hammering end and put some tape on to keep it in place while I use the punch. You want it loose enough to take out to empty the cut out pieces.

[dikman]

Bladegrinder, there's nothing wrong with your stitching, it's just your oblong holes, they don't fit properly.

[Tequila]

Springfield Leather has 2” oblong punches in stock 

[bladegrinder]

I just ordered the only one they had in stock, their Craftsman brand. I really didn't like the looks of it over the Osborne but I can't find any other ones anywhere. I hope it works ok.

I have a pretty well equipped knife making shop so I should be able to make it work if it needs to be tweeked.