Members Kustom Posted June 4, 2009 Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 You feedback please. I've seen some machine on craigslist that say "perfect for upholstery". What does that really mean? Does it mean they should work for leather as well without any parts being replaced? Does it mean they should go slow with a lot of torque? Thanks in advance, Steve Quote
Members whinewine Posted June 4, 2009 Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 You feedback please. I've seen some machine on craigslist that say "perfect for upholstery". What does that really mean? Does it mean they should work for leather as well without any parts being replaced? Does it mean they should go slow with a lot of torque? Thanks in advance, Steve Steve: You're right- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??? (Could be whatever they want it to mean, or mean nothing at all). You need to ask very specific questions of the seller: how thick will it sew, will it do leather, does it have a speed control, what thread sizes does it handle, etc, etc, and {VERY IMPORTANTLY}, what have YOU sewn with it (& I want to see it in operation if I come to see it- AND I'LL BRING MY OWN LEATHER ALONG, TOO). If they can't answer any one of these questions, I'd say walk away, 'cause they ain't got a clue. russ Quote
Hilly Posted June 4, 2009 Report Posted June 4, 2009 You feedback please. I've seen some machine on craigslist that say "perfect for upholstery". What does that really mean? Does it mean they should work for leather as well without any parts being replaced? Does it mean they should go slow with a lot of torque? Thanks in advance, Steve I have a Consew machine that is perfect for upholstery - I've done quite a few car interiors with it. When I started doing leatherwork, I found that it is perfect for upholstery, but not stitching heavy leather, even though I did put a servo motor on it. A speed reducer would have helped some, I'm sure, but after all the mods, I could've just bought a heavy stitcher instead. My suggestion is to call the person selling the machine, get the make and model from them, then ask someone here such as Art, or Cobra Steve whether it would be suitable for your needs. Hope this helps. Hilly Quote
Members Kustom Posted June 4, 2009 Author Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks for the replies. Here's a couple more questions. What's the optimum motor speed rating for a leather sewing machine? How are walking feet for leather different than other materials? BTW this is what the add says that I'm looking at: We have a few sewing machines available complete with table and motor: *Pfaff 145 walking foot w reverse for upholstery...$695 obo *Brother 797 walking foot w reverse for upholstery...$700 *Consew 226R walking foot w reverse for upholstery(2 available)...$695 All machines above will handle heavy sewing like leathers and are perfect for upholstery. *Willcox & Gibbs 5 thread overlock really clean...$625 *Kansai Special cover stitch...$550 *Pfaff bar tack...$550 *Taiko single needle...$300 *Consew 210 single needlew reverse..$250 *Chandler single needle...$295 Quote
Moderator Art Posted June 4, 2009 Moderator Report Posted June 4, 2009 We have a few sewing machines available complete with table and motor: *Pfaff 145 walking foot w reverse for upholstery...$695 obo This is the first machine of the 45 series, and would work good for up to 3/8 leather. Not necessarily the greatest for upholstery as feet may not be readily available. These things tend to be set up to run like a bunny figure $200 and some elbow grease to slow it down. Pfaff parts, especially this vintage are made of unobtanium and are priced accordingly. I would offer $250 for that machine if it passed my inspection. *Brother 797 walking foot w reverse for upholstery...$700 This is not a needle feed machine although ok for upholstery as you can get welt feet and zipper feet for it. Here again, you might have to slow it down. I consider $700 high for this machine. *Consew 226R walking foot w reverse for upholstery(2 available)...$695. If you are not sewing over 3/8, this machine will do it, great needle feed upholstery machine and takes the whole line of 111 feet. This is a good machine, made in China, their price is a little high, so offer less, there are plenty of these around. All machines above will handle heavy sewing like leathers and are perfect for upholstery. They'll run too fast for serious leather sewing, but if you slow them down they sew 2 pieces of 9oz quite nicely. *Willcox & Gibbs 5 thread overlock really clean...$625 *Kansai Special cover stitch...$550 *Pfaff bar tack...$550 *Taiko single needle...$300 *Consew 210 single needlew reverse..$250 *Chandler single needle...$295 These guys have nothing to do with leatherwork. For serious leatherwork you want to be sewing 160-200 spm max. For a clutch motor, you surely don't want to be over 1725rpm which is the slowest I've seen. Feet and dogs for veg tanned leather are usually smooth. Art Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Contributing Member TwinOaks Posted June 4, 2009 Contributing Member Report Posted June 4, 2009 In this context, I'd think "perfect for upholstery" means that the machine will handle several layers of fabric, and sew at production speeds. Go over to "sewing leather" and do a search for "singer 111". Or google the model name/number. Most of these machines are similar to it- flatbed, walking foot, and I think the brother is a needle feed. AFAIK, the only real difference between a leather and regular walking foot is the one for leather is "dulled" so it doesn't leave tracks in the leather. Maybe some of them have rubber feet? All a walking foot does is help feed the material. Instead of trying to lift and move it (feed dogs) it more or less pinches it to move it. Can't help you on the speed rating, other than suggesting you get a motor that can chug along and provide torque at slow rpm instead of one that'll sew 5000 spm. Quote Mike DeLoach Esse Quam Videri (Be rather than Seem) "Don't learn the tricks of the trade.....Learn the trade." "Teach what you know......Learn what you don't." LEATHER ARTISAN'S DIGITAL GUILD on Facebook.
Members SteveBrambley Posted June 4, 2009 Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) We have a few sewing machines available complete with table and motor:*Pfaff 145 walking foot w reverse for upholstery...$695 obo This is the first machine of the 45 series, and would work good for up to 3/8 leather. Not necessarily the greatest for upholstery as feet may not be readily available. These things tend to be set up to run like a bunny figure $200 and some elbow grease to slow it down. Pfaff parts, especially this vintage are made of unobtanium and are priced accordingly. I would offer $250 for that machine if it passed my inspection. *Brother 797 walking foot w reverse for upholstery...$700 This is not a needle feed machine although ok for upholstery as you can get welt feet and zipper feet for it. Here again, you might have to slow it down. I consider $700 high for this machine. *Consew 226R walking foot w reverse for upholstery(2 available)...$695. If you are not sewing over 3/8, this machine will do it, great needle feed upholstery machine and takes the whole line of 111 feet. This is a good machine, made in China, their price is a little high, so offer less, there are plenty of these around. All machines above will handle heavy sewing like leathers and are perfect for upholstery. They'll run too fast for serious leather sewing, but if you slow them down they sew 2 pieces of 9oz quite nicely. *Willcox & Gibbs 5 thread overlock really clean...$625 *Kansai Special cover stitch...$550 *Pfaff bar tack...$550 *Taiko single needle...$300 *Consew 210 single needlew reverse..$250 *Chandler single needle...$295 These guys have nothing to do with leatherwork. For serious leatherwork you want to be sewing 160-200 spm max. For a clutch motor, you surely don't want to be over 1725rpm which is the slowest I've seen. Feet and dogs for veg tanned leather are usually smooth. Art Most of the clutch motors I use here run at 1425rpm and are 1/2 HP. They are all 240V AC single phase, I don't know if that makes any difference? Steve Edited June 4, 2009 by SteveBrambley Quote
Members torrbuidhe Posted June 4, 2009 Members Report Posted June 4, 2009 Most of the clutch motors I use here run at 1425rpm and are 1/2 HP. They are all 240V AC single phase, I don't know if that makes any difference? Steve I think the difference is because UK AC mains is at 50 hz while it's 60 hz in the US. Quite handy for us really. Quote
Moderator Art Posted June 4, 2009 Moderator Report Posted June 4, 2009 Use guys run at 50Hz which slows the motor down we run at 60Hz over here, 5/6 of 1725 is around 1437 or "around" 1425 giving for a little less efficiency. Art Most of the clutch motors I use here run at 1425rpm and are 1/2 HP. They are all 240V AC single phase, I don't know if that makes any difference?Steve Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Members kevinhopkins Posted June 5, 2009 Members Report Posted June 5, 2009 Hi... everyone here has given you some good thoughts... For my 2 cents worth, pretty much everything on that list is either over priced, or a potential problem. Before buying a machine, talk to someone that you have a good feeling for on the phone, and let them get a feel for what machine will do what you really want to do. They'll most likely give you some good direction. But if you're not a "sewing machine person", buy a new one, and save yourself some grief. "perfect for upholstery" is all in the eyes of the user... Best wishes, Kevin Hopkins Quote
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