Sewing machine for motorcycle leathers

[Devid]

Hi everyone, I'm pretty new here although I asked a few questions in the past logging in through my Facebook profile. I'm no longer able to sign in using my Facebook profile for some reason, so I've created a new one. 

I lived in the UK for about 12 years and repaired motorcycle leathers for the last 4. I've now relocated to Italy and I'll be starting a new motorcycle leathers repair business. I always worked with a walking foot flat bed machine, which I sold and a Singer 29k71 that I brought with me. 

I'm in that position again where I need to buy new machinery and I can only afford 2 industrial sewing machines. At first I was more oriented towards getting a flat bed and a post bed, but I'm now thinking that it might be best to go for a cylinder arm which can be made flat by adding a small table to it and a high post bed instead. Someone has recommended the flat bed Adler 267-373 and a modified post bed Adler 267-373. Is having a flat bed machine really necessary? From what I can gather, it seems that most second hand cylinder arms available here are Adler, Necchi and Pfaff. I'm just not too sure which exact model would be best to look for. 

 

Any advice would be much appreciated. 

 

Many thanks 

Devid

[Wizcrafts]

You *can* do it on a post machine. The only trade off it that you won't have a flat surface for zippers or certain more critical seams. I prefer to sew in zippers on a flat bed machine. It keeps them aligned properly. Sewing them on a cylinder arm or post machine distorts the alignment between the zipper and the two layers of leather that are doubled over inside the zipper pull path.

Then, there's the hanging weight to consider. If the jacket gets heavy, the hanging weight will try to pull it off the arm or post. You may get bad stitch lines. I have hossed a lot of leather jackets around sewing in zippers and I prefer a flat bed if they are heavy.  I suppose you could try using a cylinder arm machine with a table attachment and see how it works out. I have one that is mounted on what's called a U shape table. With this table there is a flat surface, albeit a foot below the arm.

[cdthayer]

I preferred a flatbed machine for most work on leather coats other than sleeve patches (Singer 29K70 then).  I agree that zipper work is best done on a flatbed (I used a Singer 16-41 jumpfoot treadle or a Consew 225 w/speed reducer).

When using a cylinder arm machine (Singer 29K70 or Adler 205-64), I used an old “across-the-bed” adjustable-height hospital table to support the heavier items.

My eyes have gotten so bad that I no longer sew.

CD in Oklahoma

 

[shoepatcher]

cdthayer,

You get the 205-370 rebuilt???

glenn

[cdthayer]

On 9/23/2024 at 4:54 PM, shoepatcher said:

cdthayer,

You get the 205-370 rebuilt???

glenn

Yes Glenn. Thank you. I got it into service with a set of Weaver Harness feet on it in April 2019, and then we closed the shop in May 2019 when we found out my wife had lost function in both kidneys and needed dialysis three times a week in a town 40 miles away. I never actually got to do a repair project with it, but it’s ready to go.

My son will be setting up a hobby sewing shop at his home in SW Colorado, so he’ll be taking it along with one of my Singer 29K70 patchers and a couple of other machines.  I’ll keep my Adler 205-64 jumpfoot machine and my other 29K70 in case my wife needs to do some heavy duty sewing. She can operate any machine we have. She got a kidney transplant in July 2022, and is doing fine so far, but we never reopened our shop. We just stayed retired.

CD in Oklahoma

 

[shoepatcher]

So sorry to hear that.

[Devid]

Thanks guys for the info. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with other members.

Since I already own a Singer 29K/71 and really need a post bed machine, my best option might be to go for an Adler flat bed machine instead of a cylinder arm. Let's see if I can get my head right!

 

Best

Devid

[Devid]

Hi everyone, I'm after a flat bed machine and I've been these two models below. The Adler 267-373 is 1200 euro plus vat and the Pfaff 1245 is 1000 euro plus vat. The seller is recommending the Pfaff since it's a bit stronger, although a bit cheaper he said. Both look to be in good condition. 

What's your thought on them please?

 

Thanks in advance. 

[Cumberland Highpower]

Of those 2 I'd buy the Pfaff if it's not Chinese. 1245's are pretty good machines and would do anything you want.

If you were to shop for a different machine I'd buy a Seiko LSC-8 or Pfaff 335 or something similar. (There are some made for binding, don't buy one of those) and use a flat bed table with it.

Edited January 9 by Cumberland Highpower

[Devid]

17 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

Of those 2 I'd buy the Pfaff if it's not Chinese. 1245's are pretty good machines and would do anything you want.

If you were to shop for a different machine I'd buy a Seiko LSC-8 or Pfaff 335 or something similar. (There are some made for binding, don't buy one of those) and use a flat bed table with it.

Thanks for this. The seller said the Pfaff 1245 was made in Germany. 

The only thing is that it doesn't have a servo motor and it would cost 200 euro if I want them to install it. Is it really worth having it? I think it is.

[dikman]

Servos are definitely worth having on a leather sewing machine, you won't feel like you're fighting the machine to control the speed! If you have any mechanical skills at all you should be able to fit a servo yourself. The mounting holes are pretty well standard spacing, you will probably have to source a couple of belts but that shouldn't be too hard.

[Cumberland Highpower]

On 1/9/2025 at 10:36 AM, Devid said:

Thanks for this. The seller said the Pfaff 1245 was made in Germany. 

The only thing is that it doesn't have a servo motor and it would cost 200 euro if I want them to install it. Is it really worth having it? I think it is.

A servo is probably a good thing if you're just starting out.  I have clutch motors on most of my machines, and have even removed servos to re-install clutch motors. BUT that also is a factor of what I'm doing with them and I have allot of experience.   I do have a couple servos and put one on a Seiko LSC.   They're ISM and made in Taiwan.  They're fantastic for the price.  I wanted the needle positioner feature mostly. I bought one from the UK, college sewing I think?  came in 220v.   I'd recommend that option.   If I remember right they were like $230?

I really can't see letting a motor influence the machine you buy though? It's kinda like saying you're choosing between a Fiat and a Mercedes,  but you're going to buy the Fiat because it comes with snow tires.   You can change a motor just as easy as tires, lol

 

Edited January 13 by Cumberland Highpower

[Devid]

Thanks guys for all the info. I went for the Pfaff 1245 in 220V with needle position servo motor as I needed the machine ready to go quite urgently although I do have some mechanical skills. I'm just not that very experienced yet unfortunately, but I'll get there eventually. It seems a great machine so far, but the motor looks pretty small to me compared to the Efka mounted on my other 2 machines. I'll look at the Wattage tomorrow and upload a picture to show you guys what it's like. 

Edited January 27 by Devid

[dikman]

Sewing machine servos look small because the electronics are in a separate housing, if it was all combined as one unit they would be considerably bulkier (like your Efka). This modular approach would be cheaper to make but also gives flexibility in mounting (makes it possible to mount the motor on top of the table if you want to).

[Devid]

On 1/27/2025 at 11:19 PM, dikman said:

Sewing machine servos look small because the electronics are in a separate housing, if it was all combined as one unit they would be considerably bulkier (like your Efka). This modular approach would be cheaper to make but also gives flexibility in mounting (makes it possible to mount the motor on top of the table if you want to).

That makes sense. That's why it's quite small then. It is a Chinese 750W servo motor, so it should be enough hopefully. It comes with a 2 years warranty card.

 

Thanks very much for your help.