Is the Singer 29-4 an advisable choice for someone on a budget

[Jiggity]

I have been hand sewing everything and now that I have been trying to make bigger things like bags and backpacks, the time it takes is becoming a problem.  I have 2 kids so I only get a short amount of time.  I was looking at a singer heavy duty but it seems like its not advisable to use it for 4-5oz veg tan and that it basically will degrade the machine very quickly.  

I live in an apartment so I can't have a table but it seems like you can run the 29-4 without a table and you can also just handcrank it (please correct me if I'm wrong) I see them in the 200-400 dollar range which is about all I would want to spend at the moment.  

Any others have a similar experience?

[AlZilla]

Good call to stay away from the Heavy Duty. I'll let others chime in on the 29.

 Maybe you could mention what size thread you'd use and the max thickness you might want to sew. That'll have an impact.

[Constabulary]

Patcher machines are designed as repair machines and not for producing goods. Keep in mind hat the 29-4 is a century old machine (or older) and they have tiny bobbins that do not hold much thread and the older the 29 / 29K is (the lower the subclass number the older the machine - basically) the more wear they have and wear parts are hard to find for the early 29 / 29K.

This may help you to figure more about the 29-4:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=29-4+site%3Aleatherworker.net

[amuckart]

I wouldn’t go near a 29-4 unless I specifically wanted a difficult rebuild job. 

If I were on a budget I’d look for a used Pfaff 355 or similar walking foot small cylinder bed machine.