Looking for a used machine

[Soybean84]

Hello I am new to sewing. I’m not technically using leather yet but I sew dog collars that are very thick made of webbing, fabric, and minky and eventually I would like to use leather. But I’m looking for an affordable used machine but have no clue what to look for on Facebook marketplace does anyone have recommendations for ones most often found used online?

[friquant]

The Pfaff 545 is a common one that comes up on marketplace for me. It's a flatbed triple feed. (You will want to research "triple feed" and learn to identify it.)

The Singer 111 series is one I hear a lot about, but they don't come up on marketplace for me.

You can take some of your thickest dog collar material, and some of the thread you intend to use, when you go to evaluate the machine. Make sure the machine you buy can sew your materials with ease.

[kgg]

15 hours ago, Soybean84 said:

But I’m looking for an affordable used machine

Quick thoughts:

i) what is your budget?

ii) Flat items like dog collars are probably best done on a flatbed machine.

iii) How thick of a collar will you want to sew? 

iv) What size of thread do you want to use?

v) For your first machine I would suggest going to a industrial sewing machine dealer. That way you know the machine is in working order. Be wary of machines being sold on places like Facebook unless you have someone to go over the machine for you. Sometimes you get a great machine other times you get a boat anchor.

kgg

[Wizcrafts]

20 hours ago, Soybean84 said:

Hello I am new to sewing. I’m not technically using leather yet but I sew dog collars that are very thick made of webbing, fabric, and minky and eventually I would like to use leather. But I’m looking for an affordable used machine but have no clue what to look for on Facebook marketplace does anyone have recommendations for ones most often found used online?

What machine make and model are you currently using? What size needle and thread?

[Soybean84]

5 hours ago, kgg said:

Quick thoughts:

i) what is your budget?

ii) Flat items like dog collars are probably best done on a flatbed machine.

iii) How thick of a collar will you want to sew? 

iv) What size of thread do you want to use?

v) For your first machine I would suggest going to a industrial sewing machine dealer. That way you know the machine is in working order. Be wary of machines being sold on places like Facebook unless you have someone to go over the machine for you. Sometimes you get a great machine other times you get a boat anchor.

kgg

My budget is under 800

so the collar is using webbing (about .6inches thick, fabric and minky not sure if of the exact thickness. 
I would like to use a thicker thread but my machine now can’t take a thicker thread

also the photo is not my work but a picture of what I’m going for.

39 minutes ago, Wizcrafts said:

What machine make and model are you currently using? What size needle and thread?

I’m using a BERNINA activa 230. Not sure what needle but I went to a local quilting store and she gave me a better needle to try to go through everything.

Edited yesterday at 06:51 PM by Soybean84

[friquant]

27 minutes ago, Soybean84 said:

so the collar is using webbing (about .6inches thick, fabric and minky not sure if of the exact thickness. 
I would like to use a thicker thread but my machine now can’t take a thicker thread

What is the total thickness (including folds) of all the material you need to stitch for the collar?

28 minutes ago, Soybean84 said:

Not sure what needle but I went to a local quilting store and she gave me a better needle to try to go through everything.

You can measure the width of the needle right above the scarf to see what size it is. I use calipers to measure.

If you want to improve your sewing game with your Activa 230, I suggest getting some size 100 and size 110 needles, and buy some TEX 70 thread.

Here are the needles I bought, which includes both 100 and 110 sizes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V136BDJ
And here is the thread I commonly buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y5V3W25
The TEX 70 we use in both industrial and domestic sewing machines. Larger thread we use only with the industrials.

[dikman]

Be wary of people advertising machines as "semi-industrial" or "heavy duty", in most cases they will simply be older domestic machines.

[Dwight]

I'd suggest a Tippmann Boss . . . used you should be able to get one for that price.  They are 1000 or so brand new.

You can sew down on them to two layers of canvas (I've done it) . . . or you can to up to almost 3/4 inch of veg tanned leather.

I've made leather dog collars on my old Boss . . .  and it worked fine.  It is a non motorized . . .  hand operated machine . . . and they are hard to screw up.

The company used to have a full lifetime warranty on the machine . . . no matter who owned it.  You'ld have to check if they still do . . . and my guess is yes.

You can also go into a Tandy Leather store . . . they sell a similar machine . . .  take your sample in there . . .  let the manager show you how their machines do . . .  then go home and look on Marketplace for a used one.

May God bless,

Dwight