new Stitch Master??

[Russ]

Hi Art;

I keep going down to the Tandy shop to see if the stitch master is available to try....but I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with an Artisan 3000. I've heard nothing but good stuff about it.

I believe competition is a good thing, and it seems like there's a need for it in the leather/leather tool business, so I hope any talk of a Tandy/Weaver merger is premature.

Russ

Edited November 13, 2007 by Russ

[Art]

Russ,

Unless you need to be mobile or are a glutton for punishment, pass on the manual machines. The Artisan 3000 has been around for four or more years now with not even a whisper of a complaint. Any newly developed piece of machinery is bound to have a few problems, why be a beta tester when you have work to do, if you absolutely have to go manual, get the Boss or wait for the Stitchmasher to get some mileage on it.

Which Tandy do you go to, one of the Big ones?

Art

Hi Art;

I keep going down to the Tandy shop to see if the stitch master is available to try....but I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with an Artisan 3000. I've heard nothing but good stuff about it.

I believe competition is a good thing, and it seems like there's a need for it in the leather/leather tool business, so I hope any talk of a Tandy/Weaver merger is premature.

Russ

[Leather Bum]

I'm wondering if there is room in the market for two machines so similar. Especially with the Artisan 3000 so close in price. Are the Tippmann machines made in the USA?

SkipJ

On the front page of the Tippmann website, it says, "All of our machines are made in the factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana." So I think we can safely say that the Boss is indeed made in the USA. Thankfully, not everyone has fallen to the level of those who outsource their product manufacturing to China; yet more and more companies seem to be heading in this direction. . .

Edited November 13, 2007 by Leather Bum

[Russ]

Art;

I agree with you completely about being a tester for new machinery. I've avoided new products like that for years (new truck engines, etc). I guess I'm just nervous about owning a machine, since I've never owned one....maintenance, fixing it, thread tension....it's all going to be brand new to me.

Does Artisan sell direct, or do I need a dealer? I've seen several ads and they are all the same price, $1950. I'd love to find a deal close to me (Dayton/Cincinnati, OH area) so I can go there if I have problems or questions.

Tandy just opened a Cincinnati store this summer. It's got everything except for a big selection of heavier leather. If I need saddle skirting, I'll probably have to have them order it in or go back to the one in Columbus, which always had a pretty good selection. I asked the Cinti store to have 4 good sides for me next Fri (black Friday sale), so we'll see how they do. It's a 20 minute drive versus 80 minutes.

Russ

Russ,

Unless you need to be mobile or are a glutton for punishment, pass on the manual machines. The Artisan 3000 has been around for four or more years now with not even a whisper of a complaint. Any newly developed piece of machinery is bound to have a few problems, why be a beta tester when you have work to do, if you absolutely have to go manual, get the Boss or wait for the Stitchmasher to get some mileage on it.

Which Tandy do you go to, one of the Big ones?

Art

Edited November 14, 2007 by Russ

[Art]

Hi Russ,

Call Steve at Artisan and ask him about dealers in your area although they deal direct for big stitchers. Even major sewing outlets don't see stitchers that often if ever, some places never sell an industrial machine. The folks I know sell about three or four industrial machines a year at the most, almost never a big machine. Steve at Artisan will take whatever time needed to get you going and keep you going, and we are always here, even on weekends. Read back through the forum and you will get more info than you ever could get in the manual. Also, when you order your machine, have them set it up to sew whatever you will be doing. Once you get it unpacked it won't take more than a half hour or so before you are sewing, they set it up and test run it so all you have to do is unpack, put head on stand, put belt on, thread it and you are off. Please oil often.

Art

Art;

I agree with you completely about being a tester for new machinery. I've avoided new products like that for years (new truck engines, etc). I guess I'm just nervous about owning a machine, since I've never owned one....maintenance, fixing it, thread tension....it's all going to be brand new to me.

Does Artisan sell direct, or do I need a dealer? I've seen several ads and they are all the same price, $1950. I'd love to find a deal close to me (Dayton/Cincinnati, OH area) so I can go there if I have problems or questions.

Tandy just opened a Cincinnati store this summer. It's got everything except for a big selection of heavier leather. If I need saddle skirting, I'll probably have to have them order it in or go back to the one in Columbus, which always had a pretty good selection. I asked the Cinti store to have 4 good sides for me next Fri (black Friday sale), so we'll see how they do. It's a 20 minute drive versus 80 minutes.

Russ

[ryan]

I haven't heard that rumor about Weaver and Tandy and I really hope it isn't true!! I was just at the Weaver factor last year and got to run the new "Chinese Clone" as well as the Adler 205. I opted to go with the Adler just because it seemed fail safe and it's been around longer. I believe the new machine is a Juki with a fancy paint job. (If I want something that tastes like chicken; I'll order chicken right?) Can't say much about the Toro 3000 but if price is a big concern; which it always is, I would go with that over any of the manual machines. On a side note, if you plan to be in leatherwork for a while, I would try to find a way to purchase a machine like the Adler or Juki they are worth their weight in gold (literally lol) I am somewhat disappointed with the appearance of this "Stitchmaster" as Weaver informed me that they were coming out with thier own manual but I too was told that it was going to be cheaper and bette.r than the Boss. I would strongly recommend a visit to E-bay and searching the Boss there; it's usually flooded with them. Not a good sign!

[Art]

Hi Ryan,

If you are talking about their new powered stitcher, the bottom end looks a lot like the Juki and the head looks a lot like an Adler. Not a bad combination if you need the inch or so extra room. Looks like a little Yankee ingenuity has gotten into the Chinese factories (the Yankee ingenuity being combining the best of German and Japanese designs).

Art

I haven't heard that rumor about Weaver and Tandy and I really hope it isn't true!! I was just at the Weaver factor last year and got to run the new "Chinese Clone" as well as the Adler 205. I opted to go with the Adler just because it seemed fail safe and it's been around longer. I believe the new machine is a Juki with a fancy paint job. (If I want something that tastes like chicken; I'll order chicken right?) Can't say much about the Toro 3000 but if price is a big concern; which it always is, I would go with that over any of the manual machines. On a side note, if you plan to be in leatherwork for a while, I would try to find a way to purchase a machine like the Adler or Juki they are worth their weight in gold (literally lol) I am somewhat disappointed with the appearance of this "Stitchmaster" as Weaver informed me that they were coming out with thier own manual but I too was told that it was going to be cheaper and bette.r than the Boss. I would strongly recommend a visit to E-bay and searching the Boss there; it's usually flooded with them. Not a good sign!

[pella]

i was sure it was the boss witha new name!!!!!

i hope tandy will not buy weaver...burk!

[Luke Hatley]

the machines look very similar..........AND I HOPE WEAVER WILL NOT SELL TO TANDAY.