Sewing machine help

[WARHORSE]

I am needing advice on what sewing machine i can purchase to make dog collars. I have looked all over the place and just keep getting more confused. I notice that old singer machines might be able to do the job, but don't want to make the wrong purchase. I have limited space and plan on upgrading to a bigger. better machine down the road. Any information will help, thanks in advance.

[Wizcrafts]

Pretty much any compound feed, walking foot machine, that can sew up to 3/8" with a #22 needle, will sew dog collars, using #138 bonded nylon thread. You can take your pick from these brands: Consew, Juki, SewPro, Cowboy, Cobra, Neels, Artisan, Singer, National, Adler, Pfaff, Mitsubishi, Seiko, Sailrite, Morse, Rex.

You should get a machine with a swing-away edge guide and a reverse mechanism. If you plan on making a lot of collars try to get a large M bobbin machine. A variable speed servo motor is going to be necessary to sew the box stitches at the ends, because they are more controllable at slow speeds than clutch motors.

Check with our dealers before you buy elsewhere. Most of them have excellent used machines in stock and unbeatable followup service.

[Cobra Steve]

Pretty much any compound feed, walking foot machine, that can sew up to 3/8" with a #22 needle, will sew dog collars, using #138 bonded nylon thread. You can take your pick from these brands: Consew, Juki, SewPro, Cowboy, Cobra, Neels, Artisan, Singer, National, Adler, Pfaff, Mitsubishi, Seiko, Sailrite, Morse, Rex.

You should get a machine with a swing-away edge guide and a reverse mechanism. If you plan on making a lot of collars try to get a large M bobbin machine. A variable speed servo motor is going to be necessary to sew the box stitches at the ends, because they are more controllable at slow speeds than clutch motors.

Check with our dealers before you buy elsewhere. Most of them have excellent used machines in stock and unbeatable followup service.

Hi WARHORSE, I agree with Wizcrafts. Get as much info as possible, then you can make your decision. Thanks, Steve. Thanks for the consideration, Wizcrafts.

[WARHORSE]

outstanding, thank yall so much for the swift and accurate info!

[Wizcrafts]

outstanding, thank yall so much for the swift and accurate info!

You're welcome! Here's a link to just one of the new walking foot machines offered by one of our dealers, Cobra Steve.

Bob Kovar, in Toledo, has all kinds of new and used industrial sewing machines, including Cowboy leather stitchers, at very reasonable prices. He has no website, but his phone number is 866-362-7397. He can mail you brochures for Cowboy machines.

Other brands represented by members of the leatherworker.net forum include representatives of Artisan, Campbell-Bosworth, Boss and Techsew (and probably more).

You won't find a better place to get help online for your leather sewing problems and questions than right here.

BTW: here is a picture of my National walking foot machine. It sews just over 3/8" of leather, Naugahyde, or nylon strapping, flawlessly, with up to #207 nylon thread. It uses Consew parts, which are available everywhere industrial sewing parts are sold.

[dirtclod]

Warhorse if i was you i'd get the deepest throat cylinder arm machine i could afford and one that would sew quite a bit heavier than you think you want. I belive you will be alot happier in the long run. Most of the bigger machines will sew down to a 2 piece chap leather thickness and up to a inch or close to it.

I have been down the road of narrow throat and lighter machines. Finally wised up and borrowed the money and got a big machine with a deep throat 15 years ago. That was the best money i ever spent. If where you live is like around here you need to be able to sew all kinds of things to stay in business, not just what you want to make.

Edited January 18, 2010 by dirtclod