BIG hole in feed dog!

[toxo]

I'm certain I'm not the first to bring this up. Seems enormous on my 341 and because I use a variety of weight leather including upholstery weights and sometimes sew close to the edge the hole is a problem. How can I make it smaller? Solder? Maybe ram a thick copper rivet down there and re-drill the hole? Any other suggestions? I'm about to Whatsapp my Chinese lady to ask if the company does one with a smaller hole but I'm not holding my breath.

[DieselTech]

On my class 441 machine I bought narrow feed dogs & needle throat plates for it, because of this problem. 

I do not know if they are offered for the class 341 machines. 

The narrow feed dog & throat plate fixed/solved a lot of my problems I was having. 

I'm sure you can modify them to your needs if careful. 

[purplefox66]

Silver solder it closed and then re drill the hole.

[toxo]

40 minutes ago, purplefox66 said:

Silver solder it closed and then re drill the hole.

I soft soldered it and it filled it nicely but it's a straight bore hole so didn't stick. Never used silver. I know it's harder/higher melting but will it stick?

[DieselTech]

11 minutes ago, toxo said:

I soft soldered it and it filled it nicely but it's a straight bore hole so didn't stick. Never used silver. I know it's harder/higher melting but will it stick?

Toxo can I ask, does a magnet stick to your feed dog? 

High percentage silver solder will adhere to most metals. 

If a magnet don't stick it is probably stainless & will require a good flux for stainless & a high percentage silver solder. 

Thanks. 

Edited yesterday at 05:08 PM by DieselTech

[toxo]

11 minutes ago, DieselTech said:

Toxo can I ask, does a magnet stick to your feed dog? 

High percentage silver solder will adhere to most metals. 

If a magnet don't stick it is probably stainless & will require a good flux for stainless & a high percentage silver solder. 

Thanks. 

Magnet sticks so must be a mild steel. Been meaning to try silver for a while now. I have two large compasses?/dividers and the bit that holds the pencil  has fallen off both. Tried soft solder but didn't work so I can see some more learning on the horizon. (If I can find the bits that fell off).

[DieselTech]

30 minutes ago, toxo said:

Magnet sticks so must be a mild steel. Been meaning to try silver for a while now. I have two large compasses?/dividers and the bit that holds the pencil  has fallen off both. Tried soft solder but didn't work so I can see some more learning on the horizon. (If I can find the bits that fell off).

Good silver solder has a lot of good uses. Expensive as heck. But a good supply to have around. 

Make sure to get flux too when you get silver solder. A lot of times for me the flux is the key to good solder job. 

[toxo]

16 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Good silver solder has a lot of good uses. Expensive as heck. But a good supply to have around. 

Make sure to get flux too when you get silver solder. A lot of times for me the flux is the key to good solder job. 

Seems we are both boy scouts. I also like to be ready for all eventualities.

I will go out for some silver later but I found some "JB Weld" and without much hope I stuffed the hole with that and blow me it seems to have worked. I got impatient and drilled the hole before it was fully hardened and so is a little bigger than I wanted but much better than before. Got some sewing to do today but if alls well now it's fully hardened i'll bung some more in there and do it again. I've asked China to send another feed dog to modify.