31-15 with a foot treadle??

[TheBestMonty]

Greetings!

I just got a 31-15.  Is it possible to sew leather, canvas, fire house etc. with this machine...with a Singer foot treadle?  Or will the power of a Servo motor be needed?  Maybe the pulley wheel of the treadle could be replaced with a heavy flywheel?  I've seen a multi-tool (scroll saw, mini table saw, sander etc.) made from a foot treadle which utilized a heavy flywheel (25 lb. dumbbell weight) in place of the pulley wheel.  

Thanks, cheers, Mark 

[Sham]

I have one on a treadle, works good for thin leather, shoe uppers, etc. the machine is not made for real heavy stuff anyway. Easier to control on a treadle

[Wizcrafts]

On 8/29/2023 at 1:21 PM, TheBestMonty said:

I just got a 31-15.  Is it possible to sew leather, canvas, fire house etc. with this machine...?

The 31-15 is a tailoring machine. I have one from the early 1920s, as did my Dad in his tailor shop.These machines aren't made to take a pounding from sewing anything heavier than a wool coat. They are meant for cotton or polycore thread, but I use #69 bonded nylon thread in mine. Some members have used a 31-15 to sew chaps with #92 thread. But, chap leather is soft temper.

What you're up against with firehose and possibly canvas is that their density will force the take-up mechanism and needle bar to take more of a pounding than they can handle. The take-up lever might bend and the needle bar might slip, throwing off the timing.

I recommend getting an upholstery class walking foot machine. Most can handle 3/8 inch under the feet. Most will tension up to #138 bonded thread, which as 22 pounds breaking strength. OTOH, #69 bonded thread only has 10 to 11 pounds breaking strength. Their take-up components are usually double the strength of a tailoring machine.