Cowboy Outlaw machine

[bsshog40]

I'm just curious if anyone has or have used one of these? I like the simplicity of it and supposedly can sew up to almost 3/4" of leather. Also, with a social security budget, seems reasonably priced around $1600. 

Thanks for any input!

Bobby

[kgg]

1 hour ago, bsshog40 said:

Also, with a social security budget, seems reasonably priced around $1600. 

There are three one armed bandits that have similar capabilities. 

i) Tippmann Boss costing about $1000 USD ( https://tippmannindustrial.com/tippmann-boss-leather-sewing-machine/ )

ii) Cowboy Outlaw costing about $1600 USD ( https://www.tolindsewmach.com/cowboy-outlaw.html )

iii) Weaver Master Tool Cub costing about $2100 USD ( https://www.weaverleathersupply.com/products/master-tool-cub-manual-leather-sewing-machine-aluminum )

Some people prefer one over another but either should do the job. The thing to remember is the that all three are made to sew thick leather with a thick thread up to V415 and use a needle that is about the same size as a 2 1/2" finishing nail.

The main question is what you want to sew and from there choose a machine.

kgg

Edited June 14 by kgg

[bsshog40]

@kgg I guess I need to look at specs on these. The thickest I have hand sewn soo far is 8mm. I don't see me sewing anything thicker in the future. I want something reliable and fairly easy to operate, but reasonably priced also. I'm not against a motorized model that can easily sew at least 8mm and lower but budget is an issue also. 

Thanks for your response! 

To add: looks like the Weaver is the only one that shows minimum sewing of 1/8"-3/4". 

Edited June 14 by bsshog40

[kgg]

1 hour ago, bsshog40 said:

The thickest I have hand sewn soo far is 8mm.

Industrial flatbed upholstery machines similar to the Juki dnu-1541 S and similar clones will typically sew 3/8" (9.5mm) while the cylinder arm machines similar to the Juki LS-341 or 1341 and clones will typically sew 7/16" (11mm). Once you go above that thickness and / or higher then V138 thread you need a a Class 441 machine, which the one armed bandits are, either manual or motorized.

When I wanted a class 441 machine I choose to go with a motorized machine as for me I figured the bloom would quickly fade having to move that lever up and down for each stitch. The class 441 machines excel at thick / tough leather but can be dumbed down to thin stuff with smaller thread.

I suggest you follow the 90 percent rule, doing mostly thinner flat items get a flatbed or a cylinder arm machine with a table top attachment. No one machine will do everything.

Buy Once, Cry Once

Here is a great article you should read to help figure out what machine would be needed for your stuff.

kgg

Edited June 14 by kgg

[bsshog40]

@kgg Thank you! Will read up more of what I will need it for. 

[Dwight]

In 2000 . . .  I made a deal with a retailer that after the Christmas season . . . he would sell me his used Tippmann Boss for a thousand bucks . . . and put out a new one for display.

Christmas came and went . . . I got my cash together and went to see him.  

Some kids had jammed up the machine . . . and it needed to go back to Tippmann for repair . . . 

SOOOOooooo . . . he went in the back . . . grabbed a brand new machine . . . and gave it to me for the thousand bucks price.  A Tippmann Boss.

I still have it . . . have sewn everything from about 3/32 of an inch (207 thread probably) to 3/4 inch . . . (no thread . . . just punched the holes . . . cowboy stitched that holster later) . . . and the number of belts and holsters I've done with 95% 346 thred . . . is well . . . beyond calculation . . . there were so many.

I've looked at the others and will give them a possibility of being worth while . . . but the Boss is definitely so.  

I've also needed work a couple times . . . took it to them . . . they sat it on the desk . . . an hour later . . . me and the Boss are headed home to do more work.  And of course there was no charge for their work . . . including once putting in new parts . . . even though we were not 100% convinced that it  was necessary.  Tippmann ponied up the cost as a Just In Case scenario to keep an old client happy.  And I still am.

I also have a Cowboy 4500 . . . which now does most of the work . . . but the Boss is there when needed.  And I have no doubt it will answer the call when needed to do so.

May God bless,

Dwight

PS:  Remember . . . the Boss is the one with the proven track record . . . the others are the new kids on the block.  Where do you want to put your money . . . proven track record . . . or possibly good performance.  That is the bet you make . . . either way.

Edited June 15 by Dwight

[BigBore]

I have an outlaw and it was my first machine. Used it exclusively for about 2 years. Loved it!  I now have a 4500 so it sees most of my work, but will always have the outlaw on hand to use if needed. It’s a great step up from hand stitching!

Edited June 15 by BigBore

[bsshog40]

@kgg 

Thank y'all for your responses. I have a bit to think about. 

[Thadrick]

I have an outlaw and boss.

The outlaw is worth the extra money hands down. It's cast iron and lifetime warranty,  just call Ryan he'll get you fixed up quickly.

[bsshog40]

4 minutes ago, Thadrick said:

I have an outlaw and boss.

The outlaw is worth the extra money hands down. It's cast iron and lifetime warranty,  just call Ryan he'll get you fixed up quickly.

Thank you!

[Dwight]

8 hours ago, Thadrick said:

I have an outlaw and boss.

The outlaw is worth the extra money hands down. It's cast iron and lifetime warranty,  just call Ryan he'll get you fixed up quickly.

The Boss is lifetime warranty as well.  The "cast iron" is just advertising gimmikery . . . the aluminum body on mine has lasted a full 25 years . . .  has never had a problem . . . and when I have to move it . . . I'm darn sure glad it is aluminum . . .

Probably best thought there . . . can you drive to either location for service.

I'm 2 hours from Tippmann . . . I call em . . . they tell me they're waiting for me to get there.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Thadrick]

5 hours ago, Dwight said:

The Boss is lifetime warranty as well.  The "cast iron" is just advertising gimmikery . . . the aluminum body on mine has lasted a full 25 years . . .  has never had a problem . . . and when I have to move it . . . I'm darn sure glad it is aluminum . . .

Probably best thought there . . . can you drive to either location for service.

I'm 2 hours from Tippmann . . . I call em . . . they tell me they're waiting for me to get there.

May God bless,

Dwight

Nope your wrong, I just looked, the boss has a 1 year warranty on parts and service.

I'm not two hours from anything, who cares, I wouldnt want to live in your world. new parts for the cowboy were on my doorstep in three days from my call to Ryan. Would think same time for the boss.

 Aluminum  galls, cast iron doesn't. I'm man enough to pick them Both up.

 Neither of my machines use 415 thread. Both use 345 but the boss doest look as good.

 The cowboy has a longer arm for more work area. 

 Both machines sew the same thickness leather, I know because I did it. Leather that didn't fit the cowboy also didn't fit the boss.

 Are you affiliated with tipmann? I have both, no dog in this fight.  I like the cowboy better and it seems better designed and a lot more sturdy. 

Your the reason that I purchased this boss, you claimed it was superior to the cowboy. YOU ARE WRONG, and now I have spent my money on a machine that I feel is sub par to my original plan to pick up another cowboy. 

May God bless you too.

[Northmount]

10 hours ago, Thadrick said:

 Are you affiliated with tipmann? I have both, no dog in this fight.  I like the cowboy better and it seems better designed and a lot more sturdy. 

Your the reason that I purchased this boss, you claimed it was superior to the cowboy. YOU ARE WRONG, and now I have spent my money on a machine that I feel is sub par to my original plan to pick up another cowboy. 

May God bless you too.

 

10 hours ago, Thadrick said:

I'm not two hours from anything, who cares, I wouldnt want to live in your world.

You need to tone down a notch or two.  Keep it civil.

[Thadrick]

I wasn't going to respond but he directly poked at me with false statements.  Even so much as quoted me. This is the second thread where he directly rebuked my statements about the topic.  Maybe tell the preacher to stop stalking me and get his facts strait?

[bruce johnson]

No dog in the fight either but here's my experience. Tippmann originally made the Boss with a cast iron frame. I am not sure exactly when Dwight bought his but I bought mine in early to mid 2000 and it was cast iron. Cost was around $1600 then. Everybody and their uncle was a Tippmann dealer and I'm sure that the profit margin dealer pricing agreements made them $1600 list. Anything else that sewed leather then was $5000 or more. No Artisans, Cobras, or clones then so it was the first somewhat affordable option.  I think the aluminum frame Boss came a few years later but not sure on that. I don't recall a lifetime warranty, only one year.  I know that a few parts were upgraded and sent out at no charge. I got a few replacement parts that broke later on - rack and cable over time. I don't think they were free but can't say 100%. The lifetime deal on mine was that you send the machine in to them, they'd go through it for something like $100 0r $150 and they would rewarranty it again then. Obviously living close and driving it over, they might do repairs or adjustments as a favor in that business relationship. When I sold mine, I sent it to them, they went through it for the fee and sent it on to the buyer with the warranty.  In use, I sewed some 415 but mostly 277 or 346 on top, one size smaller in bobbin. The short throat was really limiting for some of my work. Still for belt and edge sewing it was good. My late wife and a 14 year old son could sew on it. My current wife sewed a bunch of production belts on it when we were dating. The Boss likely ran $200,000 or more through it.  

If I was buying today - Outlaw if I was to buy a hand crank. You may not think you need more throat space but its enough of a plus that the cost would have been worth it for me. If you want to add another $1000 then the Cobra 26 is a solid choice unless you are sewing saddle skirts. Reach for Rundi Johnson's #26 and you will pull back a bloody stump.