Need info on sewing machines

[flaminghranch]

Hi everyone,

I"m new to this craft, so please give me some helpful info on sewing machines. I'll be doing equine products mostly, after a lot of practice, but I would also like to do some small stiches like soft leather inlays on exotic hides. So will these 2 totally different thread sizes and weights, and different thread spacing, mean I need 2 different style machines. My hope is that 1 machine will do all types of sewing with the proper adjustments.

Which ones don't break, last for years, and parts are easy to get.

Thanks in advance.

[Bree]

Hi everyone,

I"m new to this craft, so please give me some helpful info on sewing machines. I'll be doing equine products mostly, after a lot of practice, but I would also like to do some small stiches like soft leather inlays on exotic hides. So will these 2 totally different thread sizes and weights, and different thread spacing, mean I need 2 different style machines. My hope is that 1 machine will do all types of sewing with the proper adjustments.

Which ones don't break, last for years, and parts are easy to get.

Thanks in advance.

The heavy stitchers like the Toros will go down to #69 thread with a little tension adjustment. If you need to go less than that you will certainly need to have 2 machines. I would say that if you go down below #138, you should be thinking about a medium size machine in addition to the heavy machine. The heavy stitchers are not as adept at sewing in the 2 digit thread size range.

[flaminghranch]

The heavy stitchers like the Toros will go down to #69 thread with a little tension adjustment. If you need to go less than that you will certainly need to have 2 machines. I would say that if you go down below #138, you should be thinking about a medium size machine in addition to the heavy machine. The heavy stitchers are not as adept at sewing in the 2 digit thread size range.

Thanks, which brand machines will stay with me the longest.

[hidepounder]

Adler gets my vote!

[Cobra Steve]

Hello, there are many machines that will do what you need like the COBRA Class 3 & Class 4, the Cowboy Machines, the Adlers, and others. There are some contributing factors that you should think about before you purchase a machine. In my opinion, after the sale is more important than the sale itself because after the sale, goes on forever. I am well known for my customer service and tech support, as many will attest to on this forum. I will go out of my way to make sure that you fully understand, and at the same time, feel comfortable with your machine. Make sure that you do your due diligence before you make the purchase. Get as much info as you can.Thanks, Steve

[Bree]

I bought my Toro 4000 LA-25 from Steve Tayrien and I can personally attest to what he says and vouch for his credibility.

All the machines out there come from a small number of sources... mostly Asian. They are almost all good machines that will long outlast you and probably your children. Don't get the absolute cheapest or the most expensive. Get a good one where you have assurance that the company provides service. Sometimes these machines can be finicky. That doesn't mean that they have any defects. It means that they can easily be asked to perform outside the range that they like or are optimally designed for.

Using #69 thread and simiularly sized needles on a big Toro stitcher is pushing the design limit of the machine. It LIKES sewing heavier thread with bigger needles on thicker material. Can it do it? Yes! That's what guys like Steve or Ryan are for... they know these machines and how to tweak them to get them to do what you need them to do. That is what you want to pay to get because that will have added value for as long as you own the machine and the company is around to service you.

I would have no problem buying a Cobra, Cowboy, Artisan, Highlead, Sewmo, Juki, or Techsew machine. But I want to know who am I going to call when I need some help? The machines all work very very well. But what about the peeps BEHIND the machines? That's equally valuable... indeed in many cases, more valuable.

[Cobra Steve]

Thanks Bree, and you know that I am there for you no matter what. You can call me anytime sweetheart. lol

[joppstack]

The Adler also gets my vote. I have a few machines but the Adler is my favorite. I have a 205-370 that I've had for 12 years or so. It's used several hours a day, six days a week. Not once have I ever had any problems with it. I can sew chap leather, 2 or 3 layers of skirting or layers of nylon or fleece with almost no adjustments. It's well worth the cost to have a machine that will work for you day after day without any problems. Hope this helps..... Neil

[flaminghranch]

Thanks everybody, I appreciate the information. I live on a ranch and have no mentor if you will. This is very comforting to know their are still people in this "CHANGED" America that will help you even if they don't get anything back but a big smile and a Thank You.