Singer 201

[Wizcrafts]

I had two concerns about the usefulness of the Boss to the OP. One is the limited throat depth which can probably be worked around by folding material up inside the machine (if it will fold up!). The other has to do with arthritis in his hands. Squeezing the pressor foot lift lever and pulling on the action lever could be stressful under these conditions. But, I assumed too much as they are not my hands.

[Denster]

I had two concerns about the usefulness of the Boss to the OP. One is the limited throat depth which can probably be worked around by folding material up inside the machine (if it will fold up!). The other has to do with arthritis in his hands. Squeezing the pressor foot lift lever and pulling on the action lever could be stressful under these conditions. But, I assumed too much as they are not my hands.

Those are thoughtful considerations. I've found that on really large pancake holsters I do have to lift a corner in the throat when doing the weapon outline stitch. That's mostly laziness on my part as I like to make perimeter stitch and weapon outline in a continuous run. If I did them separate I wouldn't have a clearance problem. I have arthritis in both shoulders and both hands. I know I'm really old. Pulling the lever is so effortless that it isn't a problem. The pressor foot lift lever I have to grip high and that gives me a lot more leverage.

[idaholeather]

Well thanks for all the good advice I think ill be calling Bob and checking into the cowboy 4500 see how much the shipping is going to kill me to get it here seems like it should work quite well for what I want to do and be able to handle any future projects as well. And it seems if I go looking to set a used one and have to buy all the parts to get it right Id probally spend close to the same as buying a new machine

Edited December 22, 2009 by idaholeather

[Art]

Check with Steve at Cobra too, they are closer to you and have excellent machines and the best customer service.

1-866-962-9880

Art

Well thanks for all the good advice I think ill be calling Bob and checking into the cowboy 4500 see how much the shipping is going to kill me to get it here seems like it should work quite well for what I want to do and be able to handle any future projects as well. And it seems if I go looking to set a used one and have to buy all the parts to get it right Id probally spend close to the same as buying a new machine

[idaholeather]

Are they about the same quality Art?

[Art]

Oh yeah! They are made by different manufacturers. Steve can tell you more, so can I, but I am not very available till after Christmas, maybe New Years.

Art

Are they about the same quality Art?

[AussieNikkie]

So I’m not new to sewing leather, though I do it all by hand, I don’t have a choice in that. 
some of the comments I’ve read here are

a) very complicated to understand if you don’t know the first thing about sewing machines, and

b) to a point, very rude.

very few offered genuine answers that were kind and helpful. I think it’s great that in the USA you have such a MASSIVE area to source machines from at very reasonable prices. However, if, like me, live in Australia and on an island at that, we don’t have that sort of access. If I could source a leather sewing machine for under $1000 I would be laughing all the way till next year with my work. However, as I don’t, I’m stuck with hand sewing.