New guy from Germany

[Tigweldor]

Hi,

When the Corona lock down started in 2020 , I wanted to sew masks for myself, family and friends.

Having absolutely no experience in sewing plus not owning a sewing machine - I started from scratch.

My first sewing machine was a Pfaff 138-6-U - before I knew it, I owned two of them.

One I gave to my sister - the other one I kept for myself after having built the table top from 10mm aluminum and having mounted a VFD to change top motor speed on the old clutch motor. I can also reverse sew with a touch on the second pedal - and of course installed a knee lever.

All parts were bought individually.

 

[AlZilla]

Very nice, very sleek looking. 

How do you like that aluminum table?

I have an aluminum table for my 441 clone. My work space is not well heated in winter and it makes my hands cold.

[Tigweldor]

The 138 is a pretty good Zig Zag machine - but in thicker leather is lacks power.

So I bought an Adler 5 - and manufactured a speed reduction for it.

I also use it with a clutch Motor in combo with a VFD

All presser feet were polished - as well as the sewing guides

I have a second pedal to raise the presser foot - had to make the lever in the back of the machine from an old Pfaff lever though

[Tigweldor]

@ AlZilla,

I like the aluminum table top - it is longer than a stock table top and material glides on it well.

I keep my machines in my "sewing room" - which is inside the house

[Tigweldor]

well, having been bitten by the bug, my next machine was a Dürkopp 239-3 walking foot needle feed machine - I also run it on the same VFD as the one for the Adler 5

Presser feet can be obtained from ebay/AliBaba for the Juki walking foot machines - they fit well.

I like to mount my thread spools horizontal - makes less of a mess with loose threads jamming up under the bottom of the spool.

Plus (this may just be my opinion) : if you stand the spool upright and pull of some thread - you have a major coiled thread dangling in mid air.

You pull thread of a spool mounted horizontal - the thread does not coil - it comes of straight.

I have done this on all my sewing machines.

 

Edited March 21 by Tigweldor
more pics found

[Tigweldor]

other sewing machines : Adler 167 (sold), Kansai Special belt loop sewing machine, Adler 4 flat table walking foot and my newest purchase last week is a Gritzner sole stitching machine with #4 cover plate, a #4 needle and a leather knife transporter.

 

It is in mint shape - the little alcohol burner has never seen use nor has the basin for gum tragacanth/oil for the top thread ever been filled.   

Bought it off a guy who bought a house that belonged to a deceased cobbler - had to drive 120 klicks (one way) - but it was worth it.

I oiled it well and it works like a charm - will post pics after I have made some.

If anyone needs needles size #4 or size #5 - I have searched the internet and found a source that sells packs of 10 needles for 92€ - that is less than 10€ per needle. Other sellers want horrendous amounts for that little bent piece of round stock (etsy : 761 PG needle = 27€ PER NEEDLE)

If interested, send me a message and I will give you contact data.

Edited March 21 by Tigweldor

[Tigweldor]

Oh, I forgot : I have also own(ed) several singer 29K - a 29K56 that I sold and a 29K33 that I mounted on a custom stand with a gear reduction motor mounted in such a way that gravity on the motor tightens the belt, but I can raise the motor to eliminate belt tension via a parking brake from an old Hummel walk behind tractor to crank the machine by the hand wheel.

The unit also uses a VFD and a foot pedal - it sews real nice.           A quick tap on the pedal equals about 1/8 stitch.

This is a long arm 29K33 with the larger 20mm bobbins - tomorrow I will buy a Singer 29K56 with a short arm (thought for parts for my Adler 30-7)

 

The last pic is just doodling after a few brews to get my ideas onto paper before I start building - I do this with most of my projects

And yes, I know - the bolts are too long - I meant to change that a while ago but they don´t bother me - so I haven´t done it yet - but I promise to better myself .

The brass handle to fit a man´s hand I turned on a lathe and polished it - BUT - it is to heavy, so when the machine is not under belt tension it moves the hand wheel until the handle sets at the bottom - very anoying - needs further lightening on the lathe on the handle inside.

Edited March 21 by Tigweldor

[Tigweldor]

Here is a very unique open arm sewing machine - a Heinrich Koch open arm saddler sewing machine built around 1895.

There is not one single gear/sprocket on this machine - all action is produced/transmitted via cams, cam wheels and levers.

Stich length can be changed directly on the revolving sewing head via thumb screw - in my eyes technically leaps ahead of later built Singer 29Ks and Adler 30s      ---        on the second pic the thumb screw on the lower head pointing towards the hand wheel

 

I also like the way the machine body is hand painted with tear drop / dragon scales - this was made in the days before they used decals to pretty up sewing machines.

Edited March 21 by Tigweldor

[Tigweldor]

I got the Heinrich Koch for a decent price as it was missing the bobbin winder - which even in Germany are rare as hen´s teeth.

So I looked and looked around the German craigs list (Kleinanzeigen) until I found an old Vesta sewing machine for small coin - and told the seller : I just want the bobbin winder but will pay for the whole machine.

He agreed as it would save him packaging and it also reduced my shipping costs - actually I did not want to throw the rest of the machine into the scrap.

I had to modify the winder as the Vesta bobbins were way longer - plus add a "foot" to the unit which I clamped in a M10 long nut drilled out to 11mm with some set screws to obtain proper height so it can align just right with the drive pulley of the machine - I have yet to mount it to a plate which will be clamped/screwed to the table.

Edited March 21 by Tigweldor