UKRay Report post Posted June 8, 2009 (edited) Okay folks, I've finally sorted myself out with the monster Highlead harness leather stitcher, I've got the Singer 29K patching machine situation well under control and now I'm looking for a machine to stitch thin/soft leather. Ideally, I'd like to be able to make some wallets, pouches, basic leather waistcoat/vests and lightweight leather linings for my bags. I'm not looking for the cheapest sewing machine on the market but I do want the best all-round solution so please, take a minute and tell me what make and model you would buy if you could? More importantly why would you buy it? Would I want a cylinder arm or flatbed machine for this work? I suspect a flatbed would be most useful but I'm really not sure. What do you use and what do you think would be best? Thanks for the input, guys. As always, I'm most grateful. Ray Edited June 8, 2009 by UKRay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted June 8, 2009 Hi Ray, On the previously owned market a Singer 31-15 would be a winner. For me however a Highlead GC24618 would be my choice. Post bed and driven roller feet top and bottom, 15 to 138 thread. The post is just too darned handy to pass that up, however, you already have a patcher which can fill in for the post, but can't do the really nice stitching of the 4618. If you are just looking for a flatbed that does a nice stitch (like for boot top decoration) the Highlead 5550 is a great machine and not too expensive. Art Okay folks, I've finally sorted myself out with the monster Highlead harness leather stitcher, I've got the Singer 29K patching machine situation well under control and now I'm looking for a machine to stitch thin/soft leather. Ideally, I'd like to be able to make some wallets, pouches, basic leather waistcoat/vests and lightweight leather linings for my bags. I'm not looking for the cheapest sewing machine on the market but I do want the best all-round solution so please, take a minute and tell me what make and model you would buy if you could? More importantly why would you buy it?Would I want a cylinder arm or flatbed machine for this work? I suspect a flatbed would be most useful but I'm really not sure. What do you use and what do you think would be best? Thanks for the input, guys. As always, I'm most grateful. Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted June 8, 2009 (edited) I ws looking at that machine myself, Art. There is a rather fine looking one on eBay right now. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...alenotsupported I'm confident it would do the job perfectly. At £1800 (inc tax), new, it is a high dollar purchase but I must say I'm delighted with my Highlead and woud be happy to go with them again. I'm keen to hear what the others have to say about this as finding the perfect machine is such a problem. Just one thing, how easy is it to stitch long straight lines on a post machine? Would I need to built a 'table' to fit around the post? Do other people on here use post machines? Ray Edited June 8, 2009 by UKRay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted June 9, 2009 I have spoken to the owner of the Highlead GC24618 and negotiated a deal that involves me going over to Ireland to collect it. Sadly, this means stopping over for a couple of days in Dublin on the way back, staying with some old friends who enjoy eating out in Dublin's very fine restaurants and spending time in pubs and bars listening to music, sampling Guinness and Irish Whisky... This could be a very, very expensive sewing machine! Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted June 9, 2009 I have spoken to the owner of the Highlead GC24618 and negotiated a deal that involves me going over to Ireland to collect it. Sadly, this means stopping over for a couple of days in Dublin on the way back, staying with some old friends who enjoy eating out in Dublin's very fine restaurants and spending time in pubs and bars listening to music, sampling Guinness and Irish Whisky... This could be a very, very expensive sewing machine! Ray Yeah....And it could cost a lot of money too!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra Steve Report post Posted June 9, 2009 Hey UKRay, c'mon buddy, take me with you!! Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted June 9, 2009 Yeah yeah yeah, and I'd come home with fifteen sewing machines not just one! Your reputation preceedes you, Steve. LOL Anyway, cousin Luke says he's coming too; tho I'm not sure Ireland is quite ready for that... Hey UKRay, c'mon buddy, take me with you!! Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevind Report post Posted June 17, 2009 Hello all, this is my first post and on a slightly different topic. I've added it onto the end of Rays enquiries because it's a similar enquiry. I have also tucked it away because it's not directly about leather.... sorry, but let me explain. I work at an outdoor center in the north of England doing stores and maintenance. At the moment we send all our damaged waterproof gear away to be repaired in Scotland. I would like to set up a part time business of my own repairing these and also repairing rucksacks, tents, tarpaulins, webbing etc. I've spent quite a while online looking for information on purchasing a machine. I imagine from what I learnt that a cylinder industrial machine would be the best for what I am looking at. I was looking at, amongst others, the Highlead machines and surfing the web for user reviews and information led me to your site. As a matter of fact this is the only site which google finds which has discussions from users about these machines. Looking at the leather work on here and reading about it has made me want to include the possibilty of doing leatherwork in the future, so now I'm trying to choose something to buy which covers a wide area. Would this machine here be able to do nylon waterproofs and tents? Would I just be able to put in a smaller needle for this or am I asking for too wide a range of materials from a machine? Basically I don't know if I'm looking for too much from a machine or whether it is possible to work from nylon to leather on a single machine. Your guidance would be welcome. Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted June 17, 2009 (edited) Hi Kevin, I haven't used this machine myself, however, I would have thought it was a bit too heavy for the type of light weight fabrics used in waterproofs and tents. For a lighter weight cylinder bed machine, something like the old Singer 153K class would work better for light to medium textiles, as well as light leathers. However, for waterproofs and tents, a flat bed machine would be more suitable, such as the Highlead GC0318-1. It is quite possible to move from Nylon to leather with the same machine, by simply changing from a 'cloth' point to a 'leather' point needle; although most sewing machines are happy to do this, some may be less so. Personally, whenever possible, I prefer to keep leather machines for leather and textile machine for textiles. Steve Edited June 17, 2009 by SteveBrambley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevind Report post Posted June 18, 2009 Hi Steve, with a flatbed though you can't get up in to do legs and arms if they have a tear in them. I was going to make a table to sit around the cylinder so that it would be easier to use as a flatbed. I don't have the space for different machines but I would spend whatever I needed to on one machine that fitted the bill... or as near to the that as I can find. Thanks for your reply though, I will think about it. BTW, if any of the UK people on this forum know of anyone doing this type of work who would be happy to share their knowledge I would really appreciate it. Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted June 18, 2009 Hi Kevin, Of course, you are quite right, just goes to show how many coats and trousers I have anything to do with! There is another type of machine that would do the job, as far as arms and legs any way, that is the Pfaff 646-656 (see photo). But this is a bit of a specialist machine and I doubt if it would be much good for leather. Any of the Adler 069 class might be a better bet, or maybe the Pfaff 335. All the other Highlead cylinder machines look a bit too heavy as well, but I could be wrong. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted June 18, 2009 Here is another strange puppy that fills that niche somewhere. Art Hi Kevin,Of course, you are quite right, just goes to show how many coats and trousers I have anything to do with! There is another type of machine that would do the job, as far as arms and legs any way, that is the Pfaff 646-656 (see photo). But this is a bit of a specialist machine and I doubt if it would be much good for leather. Any of the Adler 069 class might be a better bet, or maybe the Pfaff 335. All the other Highlead cylinder machines look a bit too heavy as well, but I could be wrong. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted June 19, 2009 Here is another strange puppy that fills that niche somewhere. Art What is that one called? Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevind Report post Posted June 19, 2009 In looking around for something lighter I've come across a Typical GC 2605. The machine is for sale for £250 which is about 400 dollars, the lady selling it bought it second hand in 2007 but does not know how old it is, she says it is in very good condition. It's a compound feed binding machine. I can remove the binding attachment, then I "think" I'll be left with a presser foot which I will have to change but I'm vague about this. Here is a link to the machine, I'm tempted and as ever would welcome any comments from other people's experience. Art, that almost looks like two cylinders to work on, I don't know what it would be used for, maybe with sewing smocks or tops without zips. Once you start looking the amount of different choices can get a lilltle dizzying! Thanks. Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted June 19, 2009 Hi Kevin, You have to look at that one closely, that arm pivots in an arc around the bottom attachment point. It is kind of an update on the patcher, it comes from a little company in Hunan that produces a lot of shoe equipment. And speaking of shoe equipment, there are really some strange machines being produced for that industry. Most of that equipment sews with 33, 46, or 69 thread, although the sole stitchers can use bigger thread. As far as the GC 2605 goes, grab some leather and try it out Art In looking around for something lighter I've come across a Typical GC 2605. The machine is for sale for £250 which is about 400 dollars, the lady selling it bought it second hand in 2007 but does not know how old it is, she says it is in very good condition. It's a compound feed binding machine. I can remove the binding attachment, then I "think" I'll be left with a presser foot which I will have to change but I'm vague about this. Here is a link to the machine, I'm tempted and as ever would welcome any comments from other people's experience. Art, that almost looks like two cylinders to work on, I don't know what it would be used for, maybe with sewing smocks or tops without zips. Once you start looking the amount of different choices can get a lilltle dizzying! Thanks. Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted June 19, 2009 Ray, might I suggest that an ideal machine to use would be.... one of Badger's? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted June 19, 2009 Here is another strange puppy that fills that niche somewhere. Art Hi Art, That looks remarkably like the Seiko LLHPW-3B (see photo), only a bit smaller. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Hi Art,That looks remarkably like the Seiko LLHPW-3B (see photo), only a bit smaller. Steve Is it something like a glorified patcher, Steve? Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampbellRandall Report post Posted June 20, 2009 (edited) Is it something like a glorified patcher, Steve?Tony. This guy is much better than a patch machine. Its special made for shoes and bags, basically a walking foot machine with a 360 degree rotating arm. A patch machine only has the presser foot feeding the material. This bad boy can climb up over leathers with cleaner stitches than a patcher... but the Seiko is priced only for somebody with a factory budget. The Seiko is not the same machine as the Chinese clone. Edited June 20, 2009 by CampbellRandall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Is it something like a glorified patcher, Steve?Tony. Hi Tony, No, it's a lot heavier than a patcher. Seiko describe it as a "High speed, Extra long 360 degree Rotating swinging Arm, Single needle, Vertical axis hook, Needle feed and Alternating foot, Lock stitch machine." They give the applications as: "Suitable for the sewing of medium to heavy materials of bags, traveling bags, cases, briefcases, boots and shoes in general." Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted June 20, 2009 Hi Tony,No, it's a lot heavier than a patcher. Seiko describe it as a "High speed, Extra long 360 degree Rotating swinging Arm, Single needle, Vertical axis hook, Needle feed and Alternating foot, Lock stitch machine." They give the applications as: "Suitable for the sewing of medium to heavy materials of bags, traveling bags, cases, briefcases, boots and shoes in general." Steve It sounds as if it would be a handy item to have in your stable! What would they be worth? Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted June 20, 2009 It sounds as if it would be a handy item to have in your stable! What would they be worth?Tony. Yes, very handy! I can't actually find any prices on these, however, I would guess that you won't get much change from £4000 UK for a new one, and probabley around £2000-£3000 UK for a used one! Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampbellRandall Report post Posted June 20, 2009 It sounds as if it would be a handy item to have in your stable! What would they be worth?Tony. I don't have this model on my price list (special order). I'd guess would be about $7,000 for the Seiko in the US. The standard high post model sells for about $6,000 new. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveBrambley Report post Posted June 20, 2009 I don't have this model on my price list (special order). I'd guess would be about $7,000 for the Seiko in the US. The standard high post model sells for about $6,000 new. Sounds like my guess wasn't that far out! Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted June 21, 2009 I swear by this machine... Juki DNU 1541-S It is a GREAT sewing machine for light to midweight leather. Best machine that I own and the workhorse for my business. http://www.juki.co.jp/industrial_e/downloa...g_e/dnu1541.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
