Limited funds / first tools

[Cumberland Highpower]

On 12/16/2024 at 7:28 PM, DJole said:

I got an arbour press last year. (Vevor #1, a one ton press.) I made sure to get one with the hole and set screw already drilled in the square pressing shaft. I use it to set rivets, snaps, and for my custom maker's stamp. It is a lot more accurate than hammering!
I don't have any clicker dies for use on it yet, but I'd like to try that next. I have been pleased with it so far.  

You know, that's exactly what I bought back in my "youth" when getting into leatherwork.  An arbor press and then made my own additional tooling on a $30 garage sale drill press..

Later on I bought a few more out of the old Lionel Train shop.  Think I paid an average of $20 for older US presses, really upgrading my capabilities! lol 

My first piece of real machinery was a stitcher. When I was 24 I used my old VW as collateral at a bank and borrowed $1200 for a Randall. ( I still have and actually use it).  I didn't have a clicker for another 5 years....Even though I was working pretty much full time.  I would order/ship my leather to another shop that would die cut everything on my dies for $20/hr.  Worked out.  When I got married I suddenly had help available and bought a clicker!  The clicker actually paid for itself in the first year.  (As a bit of "unique" fact, the hired machine that cut my parts for those years belonged to Harry Weaver until he died, father of Paul Weaver of Weaver Leather fame).

OP keep your needs simple though...There is a machine for just about everything.

The OP will definitely buy a machine, it's only a matter of time like said above.   Canada has that site Kijiji don't they? I used to see some really good deals there.

for bags, a basic unison feed machine will work well and not hard to find. I'd think $500 Canuk could surely buy something?  That's probably a weeks worth of bags/project work to cover it.

Edited December 21, 2024 by Cumberland Highpower

[kgg]

On 12/18/2024 at 10:37 PM, Pan5N3 said:

Not sure if that's a good deal or not. And for an additional $75, I can get a new Consew T-1919 Sewing Machine cost $950 CAD from Tandy.

The Consew T-1919 is just another knockoff portable walking foot sewing machine of the Sailrite LS. You can get either a Reliable Barracuda ( $779 CAD) with zig zag or a KOBE LSZ-1 with zig zag for about $500 CAD. Over the years I have owned the Sailrite, the Barracuda and the KOBE. The last one was a Sailrite LSZ-1 and it had their new "servo" motor and may have been slightly better build quality then the KOBE ???? I would not recommend any of the portable walking machines regardless of price but I can assure you you will not be pleased with either of them as first / only machine for leather.

On 12/18/2024 at 10:37 PM, Pan5N3 said:

Not exactly single arm machines, but saw an add for a Juki LU-562 walking foot machine for $875 CAD

The main drawback is that the machine will have a small "G" bobbin. If the machine is in good condition with a servo motor in Ontario it usually goes for about $600 to $700 CAD. If you have to replace the old style clutch motor with a servo motor to get speed control then add to whatever price you pay an additional $150 -$200 CAD to the price.

kgg

 

 

[Cumberland Highpower]

I found this on Kijiji (Apparently still a thing!)  It might still be available, I don't know.  Been on there 29 days.

Juki LU-562 Walking Foot Sewing Machine | Hobbies & Crafts | City of Toronto | Kijiji Classifieds   

Has a cheap servo and speed reducer on it.  Would probably give you pretty good service for the cost.  You're in Toronto, right? That could do allot of work, backpacks, etc. A mid size cylinder arm machine would be a little more versatile down the road, but they cost more.

 

Edited December 21, 2024 by Cumberland Highpower

[chuck123wapati]

First, you have to figure out just what you plan on making, Shoes, saddles, clothes or maybe wallets, all take somewhat different tools. You can make most anything without a machine of any kind so I would/ did start with quality hand tools first IMO. Bruce is the man for those!!

[AlZilla]

45 minutes ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

I found this on Kijiji (Apparently still a thing!)  It might still be available, I don't know.  Been on there 29 days.

Juki LU-562 Walking Foot Sewing Machine | Hobbies & Crafts | City of Toronto | Kijiji Classifieds   

Has a cheap servo and speed reducer on it.  Would probably give you pretty good service for the cost.  You're in Toronto, right? That could do allot of work, backpacks, etc. A mid size cylinder arm machine would be a little more versatile down the road, but they cost more.

 

I thought the 562s had reverse but I don't think I see it on this one. Also looks to be missing some pieces in the needle area. Neither is the end of the world.

[Cumberland Highpower]

On 12/21/2024 at 6:11 PM, AlZilla said:

I thought the 562s had reverse but I don't think I see it on this one. Also looks to be missing some pieces in the needle area. Neither is the end of the world.

Could be missing something, I can't tell from the tiny photos I'm looking at.  Would probably be a good starter machine for bags/etc 

Reverse, I don't know. Some can't live without it. I almost never use the reverse on a manual machine, but then I don't sew large canvas goods or coats, etc.

Really the ideal machine for the OP (But OP is on a real tight budget) based on the goods made would be a machine such as this:

Could sew anything from cloth/canvas/denim/cordura to fairly heavy upholstery leather, wallets, belts.  Small arm for reach into small goods, etc.   I have the Seiko Badged versions and think they're probably the ideal "All around" machine.  Of course, I'm spending someone else's money here! LOL

Edited December 23, 2024 by Cumberland Highpower

[kgg]

1 hour ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

Really the ideal machine for the OP (But OP is on a real tight budget) based on the goods made would be a machine such as this:

Could sew anything from cloth/canvas/denim/cordura to fairly heavy upholstery leather, wallets, belts.

The Consew 277RB-1 is about $3000 USD or $4400 CAD plus by the time the main dealer in Ontario adds other cost it probably would top out at around $5500 plus tax so the finial price would be $6200. For that price he could get a brand new Juki.

kgg

[Cumberland Highpower]

2 hours ago, kgg said:

The Consew 277RB-1 is about $3000 USD or $4400 CAD plus by the time the main dealer in Ontario adds other cost it probably would top out at around $5500 plus tax so the finial price would be $6200. For that price he could get a brand new Juki.

kgg

Come on, who buys new machines?!??!  LOL

I was just using a stock photo to make a suggestion of a machine type.

Personally, I've never bought a new machine.  The most recent mid size machine purchase I made happened to be a white 277r from Japanese days and cost me $600.  With Canada's busted economy, should be some real deals out there?  To hear Poilievre, It sounds like it' better than 2008 for finding great deals on goodies.

I've actually looked at a few things up north for sale myself and seen some good deals, but the border crossing/import kinda sours things.

Edited December 23, 2024 by Cumberland Highpower

[kgg]

16 hours ago, Cumberland Highpower said:

It sounds like it' better than 2008 for finding great deals on goodies.

For the last six months in Ontario there have been very few used industrial sewing machines for sale and most of what's around looks like they were rode hard and put away wet. The cheapest prices are for the Consew and PFAFF machines as both have always been hard to sell at any price irregardless of condition or age. The ones that sell fast are the older Juki's and Singer's but are commanding a premium prices if in fairly decent shape. Then you have the  portable walking foot machines like Sailrites / Sailrite clones and those are the easiest / fastest selling.

kgg 

[jrdunn]

On 12/21/2024 at 5:11 PM, AlZilla said:

I thought the 562s had reverse but I don't think I see it on this one. Also looks to be missing some pieces in the needle area. Neither is the end of the world.

Some do, some don't.  Mine don't. I don't really miss it.  JM2C