Replacement feed dogs for my Artisan 246. Suggestions?

[Piko]

I got the replacement doggy thingy for my Artisan 246. The problem I am having is that the hole in leather is very large even with smaller needles. Someone said the hole in my dog feet thingy was too big so i bought another one. Looking at it, it does not look much different. What do you think, should I change the part on the machine? Would it be worth it? 

 

Edited May 25 by Northmount
Resized and re-uploaded giant image / fixed title

[eblanche]

I dl'd them despite the risk. They seem very similar size hole. New one has a slot...not really sure what the difference in use is?? I think I posted that Juki still sells the $200+ thin material feed dogs with smaller feed dog hole but I'm not sure that is what you need.

I also have a 246 so I am taking notice.

 

IMO, changing to that feed dog will not have any difference in the hole size of the material. The needle makes the hole, so maybe using larger thread to fill the hole. *Sorry i do not remember the original message board thread so something like this may have already been mentioned.

Edited May 25 by eblanche

[Piko]

3 hours ago, eblanche said:

I dl'd them despite the risk. They seem very similar size hole. New one has a slot...not really sure what the difference in use is?? I think I posted that Juki still sells the $200+ thin material feed dogs with smaller feed dog hole but I'm not sure that is what you need.

I also have a 246 so I am taking notice.

 

IMO, changing to that feed dog will not have any difference in the hole size of the material. The needle makes the hole, so maybe using larger thread to fill the hole. *Sorry i do not remember the original message board thread so something like this may have already been mentioned.

I already changed it and, as you said, it made no difference with the size of the hole in the leather. Could you show me a photo of the hole in the feed dog of your 246?

It is strange because I leather purses out there sewn with very thin thread, must be v92, and the hole left by the needle is unnoticeable. Mine is always very visible.  

[kgg]

7 hours ago, Piko said:

It is strange because I leather purses out there sewn with very thin thread, must be v92, and the hole left by the needle is unnoticeable. Mine is always very visible.

A couple of questions:

1) What size of thread are you using?

2) What size of needle are you using?

3) What needle system are you using, 135 X 16 X needle size or 135 X 17 X needle size?

kgg

[AlZilla]

@Piko

I resized your image and reattached it. If you resize your images to 800 pixels in the longest dimension, they should work fine. I don't know how you were even able to upload a 15 meg image anyway. The forum should reject anything over 1.5 megs.

[Piko]

21 minutes ago, AlZilla said:

@Piko

I resized your image and reattached it. If you resize your images to 800 pixels in the longest dimension, they should work fine. I don't know how you were even able to upload a 15 meg image anyway. The forum should reject anything over 1.5 megs.

Thank you! No idea how that happened.

[Piko]

3 hours ago, kgg said:

A couple of questions:

1) What size of thread are you using?

2) What size of needle are you using?

3) What needle system are you using, 135 X 16 X needle size or 135 X 17 X needle size?

kgg

The outer line is done with the #16 and a thread a bit larger than the v92. The inner line is the same thread with a #19 needle

[kgg]

17 hours ago, Piko said:

Looking at it, it does not look much different.

When you click on the manual listed for Artisan 246 it gives you the manual for the Juki DSC-246, The manual states that the part number for the 246 feed dog is #21135009 and the other one numbered 21134101 is for the 246-7. Buying another one or installing another one will not buy you anything as they will be the same.

14 hours ago, eblanche said:

changing to that feed dog will not have any difference in the hole size of the material. 

I agree. What determines the size of the hole is the needle size and shape of the needle tip.

29 minutes ago, Piko said:

The outer line is done with the #16 and a thread a bit larger than the v92. The inner line is the same thread with a #19 needle

The leather looks like a thin leather. Have you tried 2 or 3 layers of leather and comparing the stitch quality. What I think maybe contributing to the problem is:

i) the leather isn't stiff enough or thick enough so it is not forced down into the feed dog hole or to hide the bottom thread knot properly

ii) stitch length maybe a factor so I would increase the number of stitches per inch

iii) change the needle from a LR needle point to a S needle point as the LR gives a off centre opening while the S is inline. ( https://www.coats.com/en/info-hub/all-about-needles/ )  

 

kgg

[Piko]

7 minutes ago, kgg said:

When you click on the manual listed for Artisan 246 it gives you the manual for the Juki DSC-246, The manual states that the part number for the 246 feed dog is #21135009 and the other one numbered 21134101 is for the 246-7. Buying another one or installing another one will not buy you anything as they will be the same.

I agree. What determines the size of the hole is the needle size and shape of the needle tip.

The leather looks like a thin leather. Have you tried 2 or 3 layers of leather and comparing the stitch quality. What I think maybe contributing to the problem is:

i) the leather isn't stiff enough or thick enough so it is not forced down into the feed dog hole or to hide the bottom thread knot properly

ii) stitch length maybe a factor so I would increase the number of stitches per inch

iii) change the needle from a LR needle point to a S needle point as the LR gives a off centre opening while the S is inline. ( https://www.coats.com/en/info-hub/all-about-needles/ )  

 

kgg

I am pretty sure it is all of the above. Do you know where i can buy needles? The only place i know is Amazon or Sailrite and they only have those points.

[kgg]

1 hour ago, Piko said:

Do you know where i can buy needles?

I would try Wawak.com, Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines or Superior's Industrial threads to name a few.

kgg

[eblanche]

Hi Piko,

I buy all my needles from https://www.thethreadexchange.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=ndl-135X16 the thread exchange. I buy my thread from wawak...

 

I have attached an image of the supplied feed dogs which came with my 246 from a previous photo. I can get you a closeup with dimensions tomorrow or the following day, but the P/N is visible in the second picture (please excuse the mess, converting from 'standard' to horizontal feed, for binding). 21135009 appears to be the model the CKPSMS version you purchased is based off of from the description.

[RockyAussie]

I doubt the feed dog is your problem here. When you say your thread size is a little larger than V92 (metric 30) it looks more like the thread is a V69 (metric 40). A picture showing the label on the thread cone might help. If I am wrong here then I can only say that on soft leathers the holes will close up nicely and stiffer firmer leather the holes will stay open more. You could also be running to tight a tension top and bottom which makes the holes more noticeable. Try loosening your bobbin tension about 1/4 turn and your top 1 to 2 turns until they look balanced and see how that looks. Note that that is a nasty looking leather your using I think.