Advice on Singer 34K11 or Adler 5-6

[Gryning]

Hi all, 

First time posting and new to this forum. Im looking for a leather sewing machine to fit my needs in sewing leather. Its still a hobby and budget is somewhat tight. Also, I live in Sweden, which highly limits the availability of machines. However, there is a Singer 34K11 being sold on marketplace for some $350,  but a bit to far away to just drive over just to test so I would appreciate some advice before taking on the trip. I would like to sew leather up to 1/2 inch and preferably veg tanned leather. I also need it to sew with some thicker threads like 207 and above. The items is medium heavy bags and leather slippers (Not shoes or boots) . Would this machine be capable of this? How heavy duty is it?

There is a possibility to wait a bit and perhaps buy a Adler 5-6 but for a considerable higher pice (Around $2300 including VAT and freight) http://www.sieck.de/en/machines/sewing/saddlery-machines/?produkt=11154. 

The issue is that the person who sells the Singer don't know how to use it and it seems to not pick up the bottom thread. Motor works fine. It might be an easy fix but what if its not? How easy is it to get spare parts for such a old machine? I have more videos but upload limit doesn't allow me to show them here. 

Appreciate input in these machines. 

 

[Wizcrafts]

It's probably not threaded correctly on top. I've seen machines where the owner forgot to feed the top thread through the take-up lever. They never pick up the bobbin thread with the take-up lever pulling the top thread back up. Also, I can't tell if the thread is actually going through the needle in the video!

[Gryning]

Hi Wiz! 

 

Thank you for the reply. Yeah I think there is some issue on treading, perhaps both top and bottom. But would the machine be up to par on my demands? Its hard to find information on the capacity. 

[Gryning]

[Constabulary]

When you want to pick up the bottom thread you have to hold the top thread with your fingers. Send me a PM with your email address so I can forward you a manual for the 34K11 - file is too big to attach here.

I think 12mm is pretty much the max. you are able to sew with either of the machines so keep in mind that with 12mm material thickness you run them at their very limit! Not sure if the 34K11 will be good at this at all with it´s rather narrow feed dog.

[Gryning]

7 minutes ago, Constabulary said:

When you want to pick up the bottom thread you have to hold the top thread with your fingers. Send me a PM with your email address so I can forward you a manual for the 34K11 - file is too big to attach here.

I think 12mm is pretty much the max. you are able to sew with either of the machines so keep in mind that with 12mm material thickness you run them at their very limit! Not sure if the 34K11 will be good at this at all with it´s rather narrow feed dog.

12 mm would be absolutely max. Most likely around two or three layers with 5 ounce leather (6-8mm?). 

[Wizcrafts]

8 hours ago, Gryning said:

Thank you for the reply. Yeah I think there is some issue on treading, perhaps both top and bottom. But would the machine be up to par on my demands? Its hard to find information on the capacity. 

This model is from the turn of the 20th Century. It is probably similar to a Singer class 17 in capacity. This would mean it is best used with thread sizes up to #138, using needle sizes up to #23. That combination is okay for sewing 10 to 12 ounces (~ 4mm) thickness of leather. If that machine can actually clear and sew 12mm, you would need to use #277 thread to properly hold it together if it was under any stress. I doubt that it can handle anything even close to that size thread.

Looking at the shuttle and bobbin, it looks like a large 29k72 patcher set. I have an Adler patcher that uses the large Singer shuttles. They have half the capacity of a standard G size bobbin that is used in the Singer 111 series walking foot machines. The timing has to be done under the head. There are two screws securing the hook to the gear that drives it. Maybe some of those screws came loose after a thread jam and retarded it out of time.

I watched the lest video and the timing is late. The hook needs to be advanced so that it intersects the needle in the scarf area, 2mm above the top of the needle's eye. Also, you need to hold onto the top thread, or both threads, when you start trying to sew, or to bring up the bobbin thread.

[Constabulary]

Wiz, the 34K11 subclass it the much heavier subclass in the 34K range. The upper arm and hand wheel are from the 45K and it has a larger hook than the other 34K's (like 34K5 or 34K1 or the like). It is using the 214x2 / 328 needles.

Edited February 21, 2023 by Constabulary

[Wizcrafts]

2 minutes ago, Constabulary said:

Wiz, the 34K11 subclass it the much heavier subclass in the 34K range. The upper arm and hand wheel are from the 45K and it has a larger hook than the other 34K's (like 34K5 or 34K1 or the like). It is using the 214x2 / 328 needles.

Okay, thanks Folker. Still, the shuttle sure looks like the one in my Adler 30-7. I think it will help if the O.P. can take the bobbin out and place it by a ruler so we can see the diameter and depth. Also, he could remove the needle and tell us what number is printed on the shank. It looks like a really large needle.

[Gryning]

6 minutes ago, Wizcrafts said:

Okay, thanks Folker. Still, the shuttle sure looks like the one in my Adler 30-7. I think it will help if the O.P. can take the bobbin out and place it by a ruler so we can see the diameter and depth. Also, he could remove the needle and tell us what number is printed on the shank. It looks like a really large needle.

Thank you all for the efforts. As I said Im not about the sew a saddle but rather some leather bags so it should at least sew through some layers of 5 ounce leather. 

 

I will ask the seller to measure the bobbin. She did provide this image of the shuttle and needles earlier. Although Im beginning to suspect that she never has done any sewing on it so I would take the needles with a grain of salt. Perhaps part of why the threading situation isnt working. 

 

 

[Gryning]

3 hours ago, Constabulary said:

Wiz, the 34K11 subclass it the much heavier subclass in the 34K range. The upper arm and hand wheel are from the 45K and it has a larger hook than the other 34K's (like 34K5 or 34K1 or the like). It is using the 214x2 / 328 needles.

Thanks for the help so far. 

 

Realised now that the machine I'm thinking of buying is the Singer mentioned in here. If I do drive up to her and the Koch is in working order I'll try to snap some videos to you for your record! 

 

[Gryning]

On 2/21/2023 at 6:06 PM, Wizcrafts said:

Okay, thanks Folker. Still, the shuttle sure looks like the one in my Adler 30-7. I think it will help if the O.P. can take the bobbin out and place it by a ruler so we can see the diameter and depth. Also, he could remove the needle and tell us what number is printed on the shank. It looks like a really large needle.

Outside height: 1.2 cm 

Inside height: 1 cm

Width: 2.6 cm 

[Wizcrafts]

That bobbin is twice the inside capacity of my Adler patcher large bobbin. it is about 5.5mm inside depth, 6mm outside depth and 2cm wide.

[Gryning]

8 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

That bobbin is twice the inside capacity of my Adler patcher large bobbin. it is about 5.5mm inside depth, 6mm outside depth and 2cm wide.

Should make for a heavier thread then?  Anything else I should look out for / check when picking the machine up? Might go next Sunday. 

[Constabulary]

do you have a picture from the left side / the face plate so we can see if parts of the tension unit are missing.

[Gryning]

2 hours ago, Constabulary said:

do you have a picture from the left side / the face plate so we can see if parts of the tension unit are missing.

Will ask for photos on this! Also how do I assess if the rest of the machine really is as heavy duty as it should be? Take up lever measurements? (And of course tension unit?) 

[CowboyBob]

2 hours ago, Gryning said:

Will ask for photos on this! Also how do I assess if the rest of the machine really is as heavy duty as it should be? Take up lever measurements? (And of course tension unit?) 

Here's a pic of my 34-11 & yes it is the HD model,the bobbin is same diameter but slightly wider than a standard M bobbin.It can use real heavy thread since it has the 45K upper arm on it,some just had the smaller 16,17 class upper arm.Parts for it will be almost impossible to find.The shuttle looks like but is larger than the 30-7.

[Gryning]

Hi all, 

 

So it should roughly look like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/144896567757 on the top parts? 

[shoepatcher]

Bobbins can easily made.  or larger bobbins turned down.

glenn

[CowboyBob]

I just measured the difference  a M bobbin is .80 thinner,so he could put a piece of cutout business card thickness in the bottom to prevent the bobbin from backlashing if he had to.

[DonInReno]

As with anything used, if this machine isn’t just what you’re looking for, there will always be another better deal next week or next month.  Be careful of buying a machine that doesn’t work for $350 that you can’t get parts for.    My personal rule of thumb is it’s only worth half as much if the seller can’t demonstrate it sewing correctly, than if it sews perfectly - maybe it’s an easy fix, maybe it will never sew right.

Having said that, it’s a cool machine and if it’s in the budget I’d grab it and keep looking for another.

 

 

 

[Gryning]

11 minutes ago, DonInReno said:

As with anything used, if this machine isn’t just what you’re looking for, there will always be another better deal next week or next month.  Be careful of buying a machine that doesn’t work for $350 that you can’t get parts for.    My personal rule of thumb is it’s only worth half as much if the seller can’t demonstrate it sewing correctly, than if it sews perfectly - maybe it’s an easy fix, maybe it will never sew right.

Having said that, it’s a cool machine and if it’s in the budget I’d grab it and keep looking for another.

 

 

 

Thank you. Yes if its not working then I will def argue on the price. 

[Gryning]

On 2/24/2023 at 8:16 AM, Constabulary said:

do you have a picture from the left side / the face plate so we can see if parts of the tension unit are missing.

Here is some picture of the tension unit. Does it look complete? Also, could you send the manual. I did send you a DM