Most useful machine?

[AlZilla]

So, I'm curious ...

What if you had only hand tools for your leatherwork and you could choose 1 free machine? Money is no object, space is no object and supplies for your new fantasy machine are no object.

What would you choose?

(I'm not in this position and this is not an offer!  )

[Constabulary]

Machine for sewing or generally? I`m a vintage machine guy and have a been bitten by the Singer bug but most likely it would be a Juki 341 or something in this class or a CB 3200 but I´d choose the 341 first I think.

[Dwight]

Cowboy 4500 . . . not even one hesitation.

May God bless,

Dwight

[kgg]

2 hours ago, AlZilla said:

Money is no object, space is no object and supplies for your new fantasy machine are no object.

Unequivocally the one and only Juki TSC-441. No harm in dreaming but that ain't happening anytime soon unless I win the lottery.

kgg

Edited September 2, 2024 by kgg

[BigBore]

Another for the Cowboy 4500.  It changed my life as a leather smith.

[purplefox66]

It would depend on what you wanted to sew 

[bruce johnson]

Back when I was shopping machines money was a factor. Any powered machine that could reliably sew a saddle was either a relic that came with a spare machine for parts or cost around $6000 to buy new. 

My dream machine then was and still is  - Ferdco 2000 with the original diamond hole bottom foot and all the accessory feet and plates. Leased mine for 5 years and paid $1 at the end to own it. Added a servo motor when they became more available. Still tight after at least $800K worth of stuff through it. 

[AlZilla]

Well, I was thinking of just any machine in general. Skiver, clicker press, laser to who knows. I've been prepping straps the last couple of days, edge slicking, getting everything square and centered, punching endless holes and thinking about all the machines and tools I don't have  I do have a 441 clone and a few other bigger sewing machines.

[AlZilla]

4 hours ago, purplefox66 said:

It would depend on what you wanted to sew 

Well, but maybe a person wanted to hand sew. Their dream machine would be ... I wonder.

[Goldshot Ron]

A really good power splitter.  Left over leather could be split down to use in many projects. It has to be 14 to 18 inches wide.  My 6" Landis is fine for small pieces. But like Tim the Toolman said: "...more power,  uhg, uhg."

 

[purplefox66]

alzilla there is no one machine that does it all. A cobra 4 is Great for saddle makers and holster makers but if you are sewing wallet interiors it is to much. So what is it that you are doing.

[AlZilla]

If you're still here, I should have asked:

If money and space were no object, what machine, besides a sewing machine, would be your next most useful machine?

I should have seen the sewing machine being the #1 answer.

[AlZilla]

2 hours ago, Goldshot Ron said:

A really good power splitter.  Left over leather could be split down to use in many projects. It has to be 14 to 18 inches wide.  My 6" Landis is fine for small pieces. But like Tim the Toolman said: "...more power,  uhg, uhg."

 

This is kind of where I'd be - or a bell skiver, maybe. I'd need to research and think.

[DieselTech]

I would want either a 12"-18" leather splitter or a giant clicker press & dies. 

[TomE]

I’ve grown fond of every machine in my shop but if I had to choose I’d keep the splitter, or maybe the power burnisher. I like to hand sew, hate to rub edges, and make lots fiddly little parts of different thicknesses. 

[Chakotay]

I'll go against the grain and say my lasers have become my most used and indispensable machines; even more so than my sewing machine! 

I do most of my cutting on them. I can create, modify, and tweak my patterns quicker and more accurately. I now also incorporate the stitch holes into my patterns. Makes saddle stitching a breeze.

[jcuk]

If it were me i would like one for edge staining its the one thing about this craft i find a chore yes i know there are machines out there but do seem pricey for me or maybe a robot or something that will clean up my workshop after i have finished working also put my tools away, don't know if it a age thing with me but i have seemed to have gotten lazy concerning this these days use be more organised a while ago, now just searching for tools i have not put away after use some that would be handy.

 

Hope this helps

JCUK

[purplefox66]

My apologies alzilla I now see what you mean sorry. A leather splitter 

[AlZilla]

Yep, I asked an incomplete question. Glad I tweaked it!

Some interesting answers and I knew someone was going to like a laser, @Chakotay!   @TomE, a burnisher is definitely on my mind after making a half dozen 3 to 5 foot straps. That's what got me wondering what else would be most helpful.

A clicker press (especially with supplies (the dies)) being thrown in, @DieselTech would be cool but I don't make multiples of the same thing to justify buying or making dies. I think the cost of the dies is what keeps the clicker off my radar.

@purplefox66, I was browsing splitters today and  think something in a smallish range may soon have shop space with me.

[AlZilla]

13 hours ago, jcuk said:

If it were me i would like one for edge staining its the one thing about this craft i find a chore yes i know there are machines out there but do seem pricey for me or maybe a robot or something that will clean up my workshop after i have finished working also put my tools away, don't know if it a age thing with me but i have seemed to have gotten lazy concerning this these days use be more organised a while ago, now just searching for tools i have not put away after use some that would be handy.

 

Hope this helps

JCUK

 

I'm surprised you find edge staining a chore.  All I ever do, if anything, is a quick swipe with a dauber. About half the time I'm happy with just a slicked edge. Mine turn somewhere close to a tan/brown color that contrasts nicely with Saddle Tan or Brown, which are my usual go-to dyes.

 

Thanks for playing, guys. Interesting thoughts on different machines.

Edited September 4, 2024 by AlZilla

[toxo]

8 hours ago, AlZilla said:

 A clicker press (especially with supplies (the dies)) being thrown in, @DieselTech would be cool but I don't make multiples of the same thing to justify buying or making dies. I think the cost of the dies is what keeps the clicker off my radar.

I think  discounting clicker is a mistake. A die doesn't have to be expensive. Doesn't have to be for a repeating project either. It can be extremely useful for part of a project though. I make em with a wood core, my most recent I showed in my patchwork post. Now  I can cut lots of patches in no time. It would take hours to cut 50 patches by hand. 

Don't need an expensive press either. Before I got mine I used a 1 ton arbor press. 

[kgg]

On 9/3/2024 at 1:17 AM, AlZilla said:

If money and space were no object, what machine, besides a sewing machine, would be your next most useful machine?

One of the most valuable machines for me are 3D printers which allows me to print stamps, gauges, table tops, edge binding attachments, etc not only for the sewing machines but other other equipment like hand presses, burnisher etc.

kgg

 

Edited September 4, 2024 by kgg

[AlZilla]

10 hours ago, kgg said:

One of the most valuable machines for me are 3D printers which allows me to print stamps, gauges, table tops, edge binding attachments, etc not only for the sewing machines but other other equipment like hand presses, burnisher etc.

kgg

 

Yeah, a 3d printer is on my radar. Kind of confusing to research online only, but I'll get there.

[AlZilla]

11 hours ago, toxo said:

I think  discounting clicker is a mistake. A die doesn't have to be expensive. Doesn't have to be for a repeating project either. It can be extremely useful for part of a project though. I make em with a wood core, my most recent I showed in my patchwork post. Now  I can cut lots of patches in no time. It would take hours to cut 50 patches by hand. 

Don't need an expensive press either. Before I got mine I used a 1 ton arbor press. 

I know that the die material can be purchased in lengths. Are you saying that it's easily formed around, say, a wooden cutout?

[kgg]

1 hour ago, AlZilla said:

Yeah, a 3d printer is on my radar. Kind of confusing to research online only, but I'll get there.

My take on 3D Printers so take it with a grain of salt.

Like all things it comes down to what you want it to do and dollars.

Once upon a time the 3D printers were for your tinkers and now they have evolved in print accuracy, speed, accuracy and ease of repairs/ replacement parts. It use to be that Prusa lead the pack for the hobbyist but they have fallen behind both in the customer service and equipment capabilities while still being expensive for what you get.

The company that has really changed the filament 3d printers is the Bambu Labs equipment. From the cardboard box to being up and running with your first print it takes about maybe 30 minutes. It is decent equipment, fast, accurate and replacing parts is pretty straight forward as well as cost effective. The Bambu Lab PS-1 for about should do most hobbyists needs.
 
I want a 3D printer to be Fast as I hate waiting and the prints to be accurate, less 0.25mm tolerance.

Beside the 3D printer you need:
i) good CAD design software which can have steep learning curve like Autodesk Fusion 360
ii) good filament
iii) filament dehydrator  

I own 2 Prusa's (now gathering dust) and a Bambu Lab X1-Carbon 3D Printer. I run the hell out my machines.

kgg

Edited September 5, 2024 by kgg