Sewing machine suggestions

[Spicytacoman]

Looking for recommendations for best bang for the buck under $1500. Im currently making leather goods no thicker than 1/4 mostly wallets at 3/16-1/4. Making totes and clutches not nearly as thick. 

I am currently looking at the consew 206rb-5 and the consew 1206rb-1.

Leaning towards the 1206rb-1 since it is cheaper and has the servo motor already. This is my first "real" sewing machine and going without the servo may be too fast for me.

Also, if there are any recommendations that are cheaper that are highly recommended for my work criteria I would be happy to take a look too!.

Please no recommendations over $1500 that is almost uncomfortable already for me :)

 

[Burkhardt]

You want the best bang for a buck, get a cylinder arm. It will do everything you want easier than a flatbed. And it will keep it's value really close to what you pay for one.

[Spicytacoman]

9 hours ago, Burkhardt said:

You want the best bang for a buck, get a cylinder arm. It will do everything you want easier than a flatbed. And it will keep it's value really close to what you pay for one.

That is a fantastic deal! Wow. I hope he isn't too far. Still need more recommendations in case I cant buy from him but that is certainly a fantastic deal!

[MtlBiker]

13 hours ago, Spicytacoman said:

Looking for recommendations for best bang for the buck under $1500. Im currently making leather goods no thicker than 1/4 mostly wallets at 3/16-1/4. Making totes and clutches not nearly as thick. 

I am currently looking at the consew 206rb-5 and the consew 1206rb-1.

Leaning towards the 1206rb-1 since it is cheaper and has the servo motor already. This is my first "real" sewing machine and going without the servo may be too fast for me.

Also, if there are any recommendations that are cheaper that are highly recommended for my work criteria I would be happy to take a look too!.

Please no recommendations over $1500 that is almost uncomfortable already for me

 

For the price you're talking, those are new machines, right?  If so, what makes you think the 206RB-5 doesn't have a servo motor?  I bought my 206RB-5 NEW, with table and servo motor for $1,300 CDN a couple of years ago.  That translates to under a thousand bucks US at current exchange rates. 

Personally I'd pick the 206RB-5 over the 1206 mainly because it has a safety clutch which could save some serious repairs if the machine jams.  And I don't like the automatic oiling either, mainly because at the relatively slow speeds most of us working with leather use, the pump wouldn't be as efficient.  And properly oiling the machine is really fairly simple.  Plus the 206 is a lot more common and if you're considering a used machine, probably a lot easier to find.  Just make sure the machine is in good working condition and hasn't been beaten up on a high production factory.

[Spicytacoman]

1 hour ago, MtlBiker said:

For the price you're talking, those are new machines, right?  If so, what makes you think the 206RB-5 doesn't have a servo motor?  I bought my 206RB-5 NEW, with table and servo motor for $1,300 CDN a couple of years ago.  That translates to under a thousand bucks US at current exchange rates. 

Personally I'd pick the 206RB-5 over the 1206 mainly because it has a safety clutch which could save some serious repairs if the machine jams.  And I don't like the automatic oiling either, mainly because at the relatively slow speeds most of us working with leather use, the pump wouldn't be as efficient.  And properly oiling the machine is really fairly simple.  Plus the 206 is a lot more common and if you're considering a used machine, probably a lot easier to find.  Just make sure the machine is in good working condition and hasn't been beaten up on a high production factory.

Right im trying to stay in the new section  Because I don't really know what I'm doing with these sewing machine so I wanna make sure I get something that starts off strong. That cobra 26 though!!

[kgg]

3 hours ago, Spicytacoman said:

Because I don't really know what I'm doing with these sewing machine so I wanna make sure I get something that starts off strong.

Have you visited a industrial sewing machine dealer? Having local support to help you get familiar with a machine maybe of benefit if you have very little experience, they may have a good used machine that would work for you needs and you would be able to test drive probably different machines before you purchase.

I would suggest buying a cylinder bed machine with a flatbed table attachment. You can then have the option of doing items not only items best done on flatbed but also items best done and sometimes only can be done on a cylinder bed machine.

You may have too either increase your budget or purchase a good used machine.

Buy Once, Cry Once.

kgg

[Spicytacoman]

Im already crying with the thought of spending $1500 haha.

Thing is,, I'm not really selling  much at the moment because the amount of time it takes to stitch things brings my price up past what others are offering. Thats why Im considering a machine to be reasonably priced and make more per hour essentially.

So it feels like a shot in the foot not having sales and investing even more lol. 

[kgg]

8 hours ago, Spicytacoman said:

I'm not really selling  much at the moment because the amount of time it takes to stitch things brings my price up past what others are offering.

If you want to level up the playing field with your competition and gain more sales based on price you need equipment to reduce the main cost, Labor. To do that you need to invest in equipment, sewing machine, clicker press, burnisher etc.

Lets assume the quality of your work is as good or better then the competitions. Lets assume a couple of other things the labor cost is $20 per hour, the material cost to make a wallet is $5 and the selling price is 2 times the cost to make the wallet. There are two fronts that you have to become competitive in:

i) The time it takes to be ready for sewing. If you and your competition have similar wallets that sells well they are probably using a clicker press and produce the pieces for their wallet in less then two minutes where as you are hand cutting the same pieces for a similar wallet and it takes 15 minutes. In an hour they have 30 or more wallet pieces ready to be sewn and you have 4. Their cost per wallet is $0.67 and yours is $5.00.

ii) The time it takes to sew. It takes your competition say 15 minutes to sew the wallet and it takes you 60 minutes to hand-stitch one. Your item costs $20 and theirs is $5. Your competition can sew all day long with very little fatigue day in day out. I don't think you would want to try doing that by hand.

Summary:

Competitions wallet costs: $5.00 in material and $5.67 in labor for a total cost of $10.67. Selling price: 2 x $10.67 or $21.34

Your wallet costs: $5.00 in material and $25.00 in labor for a total cost of $30.00.

Your competition could sell the similar wallet for less then what it costs you to make it and still make a profit.

Ask yourself would you pay the extra. If two items are of equal quality most customers will chose the one costing less. You have to either have a better item or be at least at a similar price point.

There is and will always be a market for items made totally by hand but the general population can't appreciate or if they do they don't want to spent the extra dollars.

Also since you are hand-stitching what size of thread do you want to use in the machine? This will also be a factor in selecting a machine. Most upholstery class 1541 flatbeds can handle V138, most class 1341 cylinder beds can handle V207 while the class 441 can handle V415. The totally manual machines like Cowboy Outlaw ($1400) can handle up to V346 and the Tippmann Boss ($999) can handle up to V415.

kgg

Edited April 13, 2023 by kgg

[Spicytacoman]

20 minutes ago, kgg said:

If you want to level up the playing field with your competition and gain more sales based on price you need equipment to reduce the main cost, Labor. To do that you need to invest in equipment, sewing machine, clicker press, burnisher etc.

Lets assume the quality of your work is as good or better then the competitions. Lets assume a couple of other things the labor cost is $20 per hour, the material cost to make a wallet is $5 and the selling price is 2 times the cost to make the wallet. There are two fronts that you have to become competitive in:

i) The time it takes to be ready for sewing. If you and your competition have similar wallets that sells well they are probably using a clicker press and produce the pieces for their wallet in less then two minutes where as you are hand cutting the same pieces for a similar wallet and it takes 15 minutes. In an hour they have 30 or more wallet pieces ready to be sewn and you have 4. Their cost per wallet is $0.67 and yours is $5.00.

ii) The time it takes to sew. It takes your competition say 15 minutes to sew the wallet and it takes you 60 minutes to hand-stitch one. Your item costs $20 and theirs is $5. Your competition can sew all day long with very little fatigue day in day out. I don't think you would want to try doing that by hand.

Summary:

Competitions wallet costs: $5.00 in material and $5.67 in labor for a total cost of $10.67. Selling price: 2 x $10.67 or $21.34

Your wallet costs: $5.00 in material and $25.00 in labor for a total cost of $30.00.

Your competition could sell the similar wallet for less then what it costs you to make it and still make a profit.

Ask yourself would you pay the extra. If two items are of equal quality most customers will chose the one costing less. You have to either have a better item or be at least at a similar price point.

There is and will always be a market for items made totally by hand but the general population can't appreciate or if they do they don't want to spent the extra dollars.

Also since you are hand-stitching what size of thread do you want to use in the machine? This will also be a factor in selecting a machine. Most upholstery class 1541 flatbeds can handle V138, most class 1341 cylinder beds can handle V207 while the class 441 can handle V415. The totally manual machines like Cowboy Outlaw ($1400) can handle up to V346 and the Tippmann Boss ($999) can handle up to V415.

kgg

That is what im saying! I definetly noticed. I think I have great products but most people are looking for style and low cost. I have the style just not the low cost because I can't physically lower the labor.

This is why I am trying to get something to help lower it. No guarantee of sales but will help appeal to the lower cost audience.

I think I will be using #138 for right now since that is what I have on hand at the moment. 

I may just get the 1206rb since toledo can ship it for around $1550. I can't find anything that can compete or anyone that will say so otherwise for me work environment :p

 

Edited April 13, 2023 by Spicytacoman

[kgg]

13 minutes ago, Spicytacoman said:

This is why I am trying to get something to help lower it.

Just adding a sewing machine that can do your items will cut your labor cost. In my example your cost would drop to $15.00 rather then $30 which would give you a fighting chance at attracting sales.

kgg