Sewing machine suggestions

[blue duck]

@Wizcrafts that was an great thread / sewing explanation. Thanks for taking the time.

[Spicytacoman]

13 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

Just ask the seller if they can show you that it sews These are solid machines. It would be wonderful if he could give you some pointers to get you going. Ask if he has some thread and needles for it and some extra bobbins and some oil. This is the machine you were after! If you turn the hand wheel, always turn it towards you from the top, in a counterclockwise direction. Doing so while holding onto the top and bottom thread should result in the top thread picking up the bobbin thread and overlapping it. If there is material under the feet, a stitch should be formed. If it can be plugged in, ask to see it in action. If it has a servo motor you won't have as long of a learning curve to control the speed.

A complete machine and table will have an unwarped table mounted on a steel K-Legs frame. There will be a motor hanging down and a rod connecting the control arm to a foot pedal. There will be another smaller pedal that lifts the feet, which releases the top thread tension. There should be a drawer with accessories. On top there should be a bobbin winder, unless there is one built into the machine head. Also, there should be a thread stand with platforms for 2 or 4 spools of thread and some kind of flexible work light. There should be a switch box under the right front end of the table to turn the motor on and off. It'll probably have pushbuttons, or a rocker switch. Make sure the power and motor all work.

Good luck in advance!

I love you man! I dont know you but, I can tell you want others to succeed and you go out of your way to give them the best fighting chance when you dont have to...

Thank you being who you are my friend it is incredible.

[MtlBiker]

@Spicytacoman - I know all about not having the budget to get what you want, SIGH, but one thing I've learned over the years is to do your utmost best to get the machine/product that most suits your intended use.  It's false economy to buy the wrong thing and then find you need something better.  Much more costly.  I also agree with the comments suggesting that a cylinder arm machine (with flatbed table attachment) would be the ideal machine for what you intend to do.  If I could only have/afford one machine, it would without question be a cylinder arm with flatbed table attachment.  I started my industrial machine (habit) with a flatbed.  And shortly after added a cylinder arm.  If I had to do it all over again, I'd just get one suitable cylinder arm.

Maybe you could negotiate a better price on that used Cobra 26?  Maybe instead of buying what very likely is the wrong machine for you now, you'd be better off saving up your money and waiting until you can afford the right machine for your purposes.

You talk about sewing "medium temper chrome tan at 14 oz"... is that just one layer or more?  Whatever thickness you are using, you'll often be sewing double and even triple layers. 

And I'd also suggest searching for a good used machine... you seem convinced that new will get you less problems but unless the dealer you get it from is close by, you may not actually have less problems with new.  If I was in your shoes I wouldn't hesitate to get a used one, especially with the help of the members here to help you determine if it's a good machine and worth the price.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Spicytacoman]

6 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

@Spicytacoman - I know all about not having the budget to get what you want, SIGH, but one thing I've learned over the years is to do your utmost best to get the machine/product that most suits your intended use.  It's false economy to buy the wrong thing and then find you need something better.  Much more costly.  I also agree with the comments suggesting that a cylinder arm machine (with flatbed table attachment) would be the ideal machine for what you intend to do.  If I could only have/afford one machine, it would without question be a cylinder arm with flatbed table attachment.  I started my industrial machine (habit) with a flatbed.  And shortly after added a cylinder arm.  If I had to do it all over again, I'd just get one suitable cylinder arm.

Maybe you could negotiate a better price on that used Cobra 26?  Maybe instead of buying what very likely is the wrong machine for you now, you'd be better off saving up your money and waiting until you can afford the right machine for your purposes.

You talk about sewing "medium temper chrome tan at 14 oz"... is that just one layer or more?  Whatever thickness you are using, you'll often be sewing double and even triple layers. 

And I'd also suggest searching for a good used machine... you seem convinced that new will get you less problems but unless the dealer you get it from is close by, you may not actually have less problems with new.  If I was in your shoes I wouldn't hesitate to get a used one, especially with the help of the members here to help you determine if it's a good machine and worth the price.

Best of luck to you!

 

I mainly work with 4-5oz leather and given the total amount of 14oz with multiple layers at most for wallets. I have been considering this advice for a used machine since it has been stated as these machines are meant to last and shouldn't realistically have much issues that can't be fixed easily according to you all  

I really appreciate it. I hope this guy sells me the 206rb-5 for $900. It is a flatbed however I don't really know what else to consider besides the outlaw posted above! So much information to find and not enough knowledge on my end to differentiate what the right end goal is besides a budget haha

[MtlBiker]

1 hour ago, Spicytacoman said:

I mainly work with 4-5oz leather and given the total amount of 14oz with multiple layers at most for wallets. I have been considering this advice for a used machine since it has been stated as these machines are meant to last and shouldn't realistically have much issues that can't be fixed easily according to you all  

I really appreciate it. I hope this guy sells me the 206rb-5 for $900. It is a flatbed however I don't really know what else to consider besides the outlaw posted above! So much information to find and not enough knowledge on my end to differentiate what the right end goal is besides a budget haha

FWIW, my first industrial machine was the 206RB-5 and I absolutely love it. But in making pouches, totes and purses I soon found the need/desire for a cylinder arm machine. One machine never seems to be enough!  But as I said, if I could only have one, it would be a cylinder arm with flatbed table attachment.  But believe it or not, I’m now drooling over a post bed machine. Once addicted, it never stops.

My opinion, is that you will love the 206 if you get it but my crystal ball says you’ll be wanting a cylinder arm machine before a year is over.

 

[Spicytacoman]

So let's entertain this for kicks and giggles.

To get a cylinder arm i would have to spend over $2k correct? Like the cowboy 3200 or the cobra class 26? Any other options you would recommend?

I like that the cowboy is triple feed that won't mark my leather but limited to 2 spi..I ask because if I had to I could get the Tandypro Class 26 which im assuming is the same machine as the cobra class 26 and not have to worry about paying for shipping..

Im not certain I will but I may convince myself to do it if it is realistically worth the money as a one time purchase.of course if there are cheaper solutions for a cylinder arm that will work for the 14oz wallet or bags im making id like to hear those too.

Edited April 16, 2023 by Spicytacoman

[Wizcrafts]

3 hours ago, Spicytacoman said:

I like that the cowboy is triple feed that won't mark my leather but limited to 2 spi.

My Cowboy CB4500 does go up to 2 stitches per inch when the lever is all the way up or down. I used that spacing once to pre-punch holes for edge riveting a custom belt. I used a #27 needle which is the largest I could find at the time in system 7x3.

[MtlBiker]

4 hours ago, Spicytacoman said:

So let's entertain this for kicks and giggles.

To get a cylinder arm i would have to spend over $2k correct? Like the cowboy 3200 or the cobra class 26? Any other options you would recommend?

I like that the cowboy is triple feed that won't mark my leather but limited to 2 spi..I ask because if I had to I could get the Tandypro Class 26 which im assuming is the same machine as the cobra class 26 and not have to worry about paying for shipping..

Im not certain I will but I may convince myself to do it if it is realistically worth the money as a one time purchase.of course if there are cheaper solutions for a cylinder arm that will work for the 14oz wallet or bags im making id like to hear those too.

Is that used Cobra 26 no longer available?  From what you earlier described as wanting to sew, the 3200 may be more machine than you need.  And what do you mean by "... limited to 2 spi..."?  That's the longest stitch that the machine can do, and it's really (probably) a lot longer than you need for your wallets and pouches.  It can certainly do more stitches per inch than 2, without question.  I can't believe you would ever need 2 spi for what you are making.  More likely you'd use 4 max, maybe 6 or 8.

I still think you should search for a good used cylinder arm machine.

[Spicytacoman]

1 minute ago, MtlBiker said:

Is that used Cobra 26 no longer available?  From what you earlier described as wanting to sew, the 3200 may be more machine than you need.  And what do you mean by "... limited to 2 spi..."?  That's the longest stitch that the machine can do, and it's really (probably) a lot longer than you need for your wallets and pouches.  It can certainly do more stitches per inch than 2, without question.  I can't believe you would ever need 2 spi for what you are making.  More likely you'd use 4 max, maybe 6 or 8.

I still think you should search for a good used cylinder arm machine.

Yea apparently he sold the Cobra class 26 like 2 weeks ago and didn't remove the post. 

I have been searching like a mad man on facebook marketplace, offerup, and craigslist for "industrial sewing machines" I don't see many cylinder arm machines I seen one from Yamata but, the guy wants 2k and didn't put the model number so I can't really search if it is something worth the time / effort besides the fact that it's over my comfort level. I will indulge a machine over my budget if it really makes sense but If I don't have to I wont on that account.

I watched a video about the cb3200 and it stated it can only do 2 spi. So I thought it was locked into it.. I certainly don't want to sew that long haha

I'm mostly seeing just flatbeds and old singer models in the used market. A few 206rb-5 for around $1k but no replies just yet.

[MtlBiker]

50 minutes ago, Spicytacoman said:

Yea apparently he sold the Cobra class 26 like 2 weeks ago and didn't remove the post. 

I have been searching like a mad man on facebook marketplace, offerup, and craigslist for "industrial sewing machines" I don't see many cylinder arm machines I seen one from Yamata but, the guy wants 2k and didn't put the model number so I can't really search if it is something worth the time / effort besides the fact that it's over my comfort level. I will indulge a machine over my budget if it really makes sense but If I don't have to I wont on that account.

I watched a video about the cb3200 and it stated it can only do 2 spi. So I thought it was locked into it.. I certainly don't want to sew that long haha

I'm mostly seeing just flatbeds and old singer models in the used market. A few 206rb-5 for around $1k but no replies just yet.

Yes, 2 spi is the longest stitch length the machine can do, not the shortest.

Surely there's an industrial dealer in Tampa or Orlando, maybe even Lakeland.  Call them.  See if there's a used machine they have.  Give them your name and tell them to keep their eyes open.

The 206RB-5 is a great machine (I love mine!) but for you I really think a good cylinder arm machine with flatbed table attachment would be your best choice.  My own cylinder arm machine came with a table attachment which was really horrendous.  It was wooden and took way too long to attach and adjust.  Removing it was easier but still the whole thing was such a pain that you wouldn't want to do that every day and certainly not several times a day.  I've since bought an after market aluminum flatbed table attachment and it's a piece of cake to attach and remove.  I have no problem changing back and forth every day or even more often.  But luckily I also have the 206 so I rarely have to change... other than scooting my roller chair from one machine to the other.

We're trying to save you money.  Trying to keep you from buying a machine that would not be the most versatile for you, meaning you'd have to change it or buy another machine in the near future.  Be patient, keep searching and for your first machine do try to get a used one, preferably cylinder arm.  If you buy a new machine and it's the wrong machine for you, that would be even more expensive.

Edited April 17, 2023 by Wizcrafts
I bolded the sentence about the longest and shortest stitch lengths on the cb3200.