Looking for the ideal sewing machine to stitch thin/soft leather

[SteveBrambley]

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

[Art]

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

[tonyc1]

Here is another strange puppy that fills that niche somewhere.

Art

What is that one called?

Tony.

[kevind]

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.

[Art]

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.

[TwinOaks]

Ray, might I suggest that an ideal machine to use would be....

one of Badger's?

[SteveBrambley]

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

[tonyc1]

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.

[CampbellRandall]

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

[SteveBrambley]

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