Artisan Toro 3000 vs Aerostitch vs Adler 205

[bruce johnson]

It depends on which Adler. I had a 205-64 that was a tank. It did not have a center presser foot though, and the material was moved with the needle and a feeddog underneath. It was great for most applications, although I was limited for different throat plates. The place where I had trouble with it was sewing through two layers of skirting and tunnel loops for back cinches. There would be a little needle deflection on that thickness, never in the same direction from stitch to stitch and the bottom line was never straight. If the needle missed the hole in the feeddog it made an impressive noise as the needle snapped. That was my only complaint with that machine. The other versions with a center foot should do fine, or even the 64 if you aren't sewing really heavy stuff.

I haven't had an Aerostitch, but had a Boss that would do the three layers fine. That was mainly why I kept it around. I got a 2000 that will do the three layers without a cough and both lines are straight. Just depends on what you need to sew.

[tonyc1]

Neil, I have an Adler 205-370 for the past 12 years and it sews everything I put in it like you do and I've broken very few needles and switch between different size needles and thread nearly every day for diff jobs. I can repair dirty knee boots and harness that I just brush the mud off, with no trouble. It is used every day and has given very little trouble in it's life. Like yours, mine was made in Germany. If I could change anything about it I'd like the longer arm but it wasn't available when I got mine.

Tony.

[SteveBrambley]

The Adler 205-64, like the earlier 105-64 is a compound feed machine (drop feed and needle feed) and they is popular with leather bag makers because the toothed feed dog can be changed for a smooth, toothless type which does not mark the leather. The 205-370 is also compound feed, however, it is fitted with 'alternating' presser feet (walking feet if you like) which is better for uneven work, as the machine is able to 'climb' over any lumps; this arangement is now common to most modern machines, these days, such as the Toro 3000/4000.

I use an Adler 105-64 and an Adler 204-64 (flat-bed version), they are both German made machines and are exceptionally reliable!

Steve

[Kevin]

I'm mainly sewing halters and girths, using 230 needles and 277 thread on top. Every piece has different stitch lengths and thickness. I know the machine can't do anything I don't make it do. I've never had any problems with the machine, I just break a lot of needles due to their length and deflection. I would never actually compare a needle and awl machine to a threaded needle machine.

When I'm sewing, I'm generally doing twenty to thirty halters at a time and since there is no positive reference for stitch length on the machine it is all guess work and sometimes I miss. After 4 or 5 halters, I'll get a feeling for the stitch length and then I'll have to wait on some customers and it's all out the door and I'm starting over again.

Kevin

[Red744T]

Thanks to everyone for your input, from what I gathered, aerostitch can be more easily controlled in low speed sewing because it's pneumatically, ie one stroke of the pneumatic cylinder is one stitch. Where as the motorized sewing machine require finessing of the motor to achieve low speed controllability. I had quite a bit of problem controlling the momentum of a clutch motor when sewing leather with my brother sewing machine. It takes quite a bid of force to pierce the leather and often the momentum of the motor will carry over a few more sticheds because the machine stops. Though a servo motor has mostly sovled that problem. To be fair, I bought the servo motor from Artisan a few month ago and they were very helpful and friendly. Aerostitch prices are also generally lower, so for a newbie like myself there are two advantages for going with aerostitch. Also, Aerostitch seems to be able to sew through thicker material as well.

My choice is pretty much down to either a Adler 205 or an Aerostitch. Are there anything that a Adler 205 can do but aerostitch can't and vise versa? Aerostitch seems like a fairly good machine but I wonder why Tippmann discontinued it while keeping the manual machine in production. Given the price of imported machines, why wasn't Aerostitch competitive enough to remain in production?

John

[gnarls]

John: I cannot coment on areostitch, have not used one. But in our shop we have 2 Adler 205-64. And 2 Adler 205-370. All but one has been in prodution use since late 80,s. One of the 205-370 is new. No problems, very happy with how the sew.

[joppstack]

Just to clarify my previous post, my Adler is the 205-370..... Neil

[Art]

Hi John,

For one thing, the need for a reasonably healthy compressor limited the market for the machine. When companies tool for a run, they make a couple to a few hundred machines at a time, warehouse them and sell them from inventory; so they have a track record of the saleability of these machines. They just make a ton more money making paintball markers and fencepost tampers.

Art

Given the price of imported machines, why wasn't Aerostitch competitive enough to remain in production?

John

[Ian]

John, I have an Aero, not because it's my first choice, but because it's the machine I got. I've used an Adler, and if I could afford to, I'd get one to replace the Aero. Can't say there's anything wrong with the Aerostitch at all, and have used it for tons of different things. I just don't like the compressor noise, even though I have it in the attic with the hose running into the shop. I like the adjustment that allows you to sew a a snails pace if you want - makes it easy to place your stitches very easily.

On the breaking needle issue. I used to have that problem until I learned not to try and feed the work and let the needle do it. I still break the occasional needle, but it's always when I'm sewing something really heavy that requires both hands to support the work - then an accidental twist will snap the needle with a horrendous noise. It's a practice issue.

[Joy]

I have an Artisan 3000. I use it for sewing corsets and got it primarily so I could sew the trim. The reason I bought the 3000 was so I could sew heavy saddle bags if I wanted to. I also have the speed-reducing motor, but in hindsight should maybe not have bought it because I have a ton of machine sewing experience and I find it's too slow, even on the "fastest" speed. It has never skipped a stitch since I've had it. The shop sets it up to your specs so when you get it you can start sewing. I have adjusted everything on it since then ('cause I got them to set it up for sewing really thick leather), and it was easy to do. Joy