CFM chuck123wapati Posted March 10, 2023 CFM Report Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, kgg said: That is a really nice belt anyone would be proud of. If it takes you 4 hours at say $20 (pick a number) an hour to hand-stitch that alone in itself would be an extra $80 you would have to charge where as with a proper machine you could cut that part down to say 1 hour or less ?? with similar results and a lot less stress on your hands. My opinion is hand stitching is really nice but most people wouldn't / couldn't appreciate the effort it takes to hand-stitch the belt and might not want to pay the extra. kgg you mean it costs me 160 bucks just to get a good nights sleep? lol. Lets say 1500 for a machine how many belts to pay it off plus the time sewing. Lets say you charge 20 bucks for your shorter amount of time sewing with a machine, what do you charge for the machine itself, lectricity? His 20 bucks an hour is all profit. Plus in some folks opinion yes it is worth more, the question is can you sell your belts for what you want if so then there is no issue. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
Members Outfitr Posted March 10, 2023 Members Report Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, kgg said: That is a really nice belt anyone would be proud of. If it takes you 4 hours at say $20 (pick a number) an hour to hand-stitch that alone in itself would be an extra $80 you would have to charge where as with a proper machine you could cut that part down to say 1 hour or less ?? with similar results and a lot less stress on your hands. My opinion is hand stitching is really nice but most people wouldn't / couldn't appreciate the effort it takes to hand-stitch the belt and might not want to pay the extra. kgg Completely agree! Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted March 10, 2023 CFM Report Posted March 10, 2023 2 hours ago, Outfitr said: This is what I usually use, .8 tiger thread, 4mm hole spacing. All hand done...about 4 hrs of stitching per belt. I think it looks better than machine stitch but is it worth the time?? Not sure. If you sold it and got what you wanted for it then yes it was worth your time. If you want to make more faster and charge less then buy a machine. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
kgg Posted March 10, 2023 Report Posted March 10, 2023 50 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said: you mean it costs me 160 bucks just to get a good nights sleep? lol. Lets say 1500 for a machine how many belts to pay it off plus the time sewing. Lets say you charge 20 bucks for your shorter amount of time sewing with a machine, what do you charge for the machine itself, lectricity? His 20 bucks an hour is all profit. Plus in some folks opinion yes it is worth more, the question is can you sell your belts for what you want if so then there is no issue. There is always going to be market for items completely hand sewn and those willing to pay for the extra time but the market is much smaller then similar items sewn with machines. You are getting 8 hours of sleep? Hell I only get 5, I feel cheated. You'd be lucky to get a good machine for $1500. Since a hobbyist should be able to get at least 10 years out of a machine so the machine would cost $150 per year. If you were just doing belts that would be 7.5 belts or 7.5 hours of machine time plus cost of electricity to run a 1hp servo motor for 7.5 hours which would be $1.40 ((1hp=746watts) /1000 x .25 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity x 7.5 hrs = $1.398). kgg Quote Juki DNU - 1541S, Juki DU - 1181N, Singer 29K - 71(1949), Chinese Patcher (Tinkers Delight), Warlock TSC-441, Techsew 2750 Pro, Consew DCS-S4 Skiver
Doc Reaper Posted March 10, 2023 Report Posted March 10, 2023 I use the KISS method, life is short and I’m old! I have a cowboy 4500 to sew everything that needs sewing. Saving up was hard, but to me people see a leather item and will always think it was done on a machine. In rare cases do I do it the slow and agonizing way Quote Doc Reaper
Members Outfitr Posted March 10, 2023 Members Report Posted March 10, 2023 I don't do a lot of belts. If I did I'd certainly get a good machine. I try to incorporate stitching in all my projects because I love the look of good hand stitching...just a personal thing. Fortunately I'm more of a hobbyist, if takes me longer I'm ok with that. Here's another one I just completed. Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted March 10, 2023 CFM Report Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, kgg said: There is always going to be market for items completely hand sewn and those willing to pay for the extra time Bingo. Someone has to make the stuff on the top shelf. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
CFM chuck123wapati Posted March 10, 2023 CFM Report Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, Outfitr said: I don't do a lot of belts. If I did I'd certainly get a good machine. I try to incorporate stitching in all my projects because I love the look of good hand stitching...just a personal thing. Fortunately I'm more of a hobbyist, if takes me longer I'm ok with that. Here's another one I just completed. your work is definitely top notch stuff. I don't mind hand sewing its kind of relaxing. plus i can do it out in the back yard in the summer or just about anywhere. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted March 10, 2023 Contributing Member Report Posted March 10, 2023 On 3/6/2023 at 9:24 AM, PastorBob said: Others will know for sure, but I would guess 277 thread with a 25 needle. Close 277 and #24 needle (LL point - it matters). I've hand sewn quite a few belts, and many other items. Still do sometimes... as the situation calls. But its NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to find a GOOD sewing awl/haft these days. Everything is basically JUNK or JUNK. Yeah, yeah.. somebody will pop in to say you have to spend for the "good" ones, but I'm not one who buys into that garbage that more expensive = better. So the machines do a good bit of the work Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members Hags Posted March 11, 2023 Members Report Posted March 11, 2023 Roger that Doc. Arthritis and my time is worth something. I bought a cobra class 3 and never looked back. Been about 2 years and many holsters, belts, knife sheaths, axe covers, and who knows what else. Wouldn't have been able to do all that by hand. But, I still do the occasional handstitched item that is just to small or awkward to fit in the machine. Quote Not so retired RN. Living on the Washington Peninsula.
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