Motor For A 31-15

[Newman]

Hi all!

I've search and really didn't come up with a good answer. I found a couple of 31-15's and thinking about picking one up. The problem is there isn't a motor for either and I'm not sure what is the best or will work and what would be a good set up. I'm gong to use it for holsters, belts, hand bags, etc. Some lighter leather and liner material and for holsters. I've read a bout servos not sure if that is what I want. Really I just need to know what motor and where do I find one.

Thanks,

[Art]

The 31-15 is pretty lightweight for holster work. Bob and/or Steve (click on Cobra ad at top of page) both have the servos with reduction and/or speed reducers to fit it. The little 300w servos with the reduction gear are a little wimpy for thick work but will work occasionally. Like I said, the whole setup is too light for serious holster work.

Art

Hi all!

I've search and really didn't come up with a good answer. I found a couple of 31-15's and thinking about picking one up. The problem is there isn't a motor for either and I'm not sure what is the best or will work and what would be a good set up. I'm gong to use it for holsters, belts, hand bags, etc. Some lighter leather and liner material and for holsters. I've read a bout servos not sure if that is what I want. Really I just need to know what motor and where do I find one.

Thanks,

[CowboyBob]

I'll agree w/Art that for holsters you might be pushing it some but I have alot of customers that use the heck out of the 31-15 making chaps & sewing boot tops.I have a roller & a nylon foot that will help the leather feed through & almost every part is still being made for it too.

Put a DC Servo w/a gear reducer on it & you might be suprised how nice a stitch it'll make.

Bob

[Wizcrafts]

The little 300w servos with the reduction gear are a little wimpy for thick work but will work occasionally.

Art

Art;

I have one of those SewPro 500GR 300 Watt motors driving my National Walking Foot machine (a Consew 206RB clone). I thought it was under-powered too, until I realized that the belt was slipping on the hand wheel pulley when starting to sew thick leather. After tightening the belt more than I first thought it needed, the slippage disappeared and there is no problem penetrating thick leather with heavy thread.

The gear reduction servo motor has 3000 RPM max, with the speed pot on full clockwise. It is fitted with a 2" output pulley, so it slows down the top speed even more. This is a bit less than the clutch motors it replaces. It definitely has more torque than the 1/3 horsepower clutch motor, with a 2.25" pulley, that it replaced. And, it can sew so slowly I could almost fall asleep waiting for the machine to complete a cycle.

Q: Are these 31-15 machines spring foot machines, or walking foot machines?

Edited March 5, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[Newman]

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I'm fully aware that a 31-15 "might" not be up for the task of thick leather. I have other projects in mind that will use thinner leather and I have read all over the internet that a 31-15 could be a good place to start, will handle more than expected and add something like a harness machine later. This wouldn't be ideal but I don't live in that world so I'm just looking for a good place to start. I do appreciate the advice and any advice there will be in the future. That is exactly why I'm here. The knowledge base here is much greater than my own but you can bet i I ask a question its because I have read a lot and still don't know.

Q: Are these 31-15 machines spring foot machines, or walking foot machines?

I haven't seen the machines yet but I believe they are walking foot.

Thanks!

[Wizcrafts]

Q: Are these 31-15 machines spring foot machines, or walking foot machines?

I haven't seen the machines yet but I believe they are walking foot.

If it is a driven walking foot you are good to go, up to the thickness you can fit under the feet. But, if it is a spring loaded outside foot you will find that it slips on smooth leather. I had one of those spring/jumping foot machines when I started in the leather sewing business, and the stitch length varied all over the place on anything remotely slippery.

[Art]

No the 31 is a spring loaded presser foot, adjustable by the thumb screw on the top. This is why folks use a roller or Teflon foot.

Art

Art;

I have one of those SewPro 500GR 300 Watt motors driving my National Walking Foot machine (a Consew 206RB clone). I thought it was under-powered too, until I realized that the belt was slipping on the hand wheel pulley when starting to sew thick leather. After tightening the belt more than I first thought it needed, the slippage disappeared and there is no problem penetrating thick leather with heavy thread.

The gear reduction servo motor has 3000 RPM max, with the speed pot on full clockwise. It is fitted with a 2" output pulley, so it slows down the top speed even more. This is a bit less than the clutch motors it replaces. It definitely has more torque than the 1/3 horsepower clutch motor, with a 2.25" pulley, that it replaced. And, it can sew so slowly I could almost fall asleep waiting for the machine to complete a cycle.

Q: Are these 31-15 machines spring foot machines, or walking foot machines?

[Newman]

A roller or Teflon foot would hold the thicker material down tight and still allow the material to feed through the machine?

Edited March 5, 2010 by Newman

[Art]

Pretty much, takes a little adjusting of the PF pressure. It helps the foot ride over seams also, which the walking foot does famously. The 31 is a great little machine for boot tops and chaps, and I've seen them go for around $100 to $300 depending on condition and accouterments, even the $100 ones were pretty darned good.

Art

A roller or Teflon foot would hold the thicker material down tight and still allow the material to feed through the machine?

[Wizcrafts]

No the 31 is a spring loaded presser foot, adjustable by the thumb screw on the top. This is why folks use a roller or Teflon foot.

Art

That is different from the machine I had, in 1985. It resembled a walking foot machine, was sold as one, but was not. The outer foot moved backwards in concert with the material being pulled by the feed dogs. When it reached a certain point, with the needle now up, it began to raise off the material. At that moment a heavy leaf spring behind the outer foot shot it forward, to its starting position, ready to come down and repeat the process as the needle came down. The needle moved up and down, as did the inside pressor foot.

Because the outside foot was pulled by the top layer of material, layers in between could shift and go out of alignment. When I stitched belt edges, for appearance, the polished surface of my hand stamped and waxed belts acted like wax paper under the outer foot. The poor machine couldn't maintain a constant stitch length as the moving foot slipped and snapped all over the work.

A roller foot is nice, but will leave a heck of a track in vertan leather. If you back off the top spring pressure to alleviate the marking, the leather might lift when the needle comes up. Or, it might not. It should be perfect for chap leather.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[Newman]

Thanks for the input. I found a 31-15 for around $250 no motor no stand. I figure that a servo motor and pulley will set me back another $200+ and maybe $150+ for a stand? That is too close to a used Boss or something else that WILL stitch thicker leather and be controllable. More to think about... What would some one with more experience suggest? Also what is the capacity (thickness) a 31-15 will sew?

Edited March 6, 2010 by Newman

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks for the input. I found a 31-15 for around $250 no motor no stand. I figure that a servo motor and pulley will set me back another $200+ and maybe $150+ for a stand? That is too close to a used Boss or something else that WILL stitch thicker leather and be controllable. More to think about... What would some one with more experience suggest? Also what is the capacity (thickness) a 31-15 will sew?

If you want to get serious about sewing leather you'll need a motorized walking foot or jumping foot industrial sewing machine. Ask Bob Tovar about the Cowboy stitchers, which are available in flatbed and cylinder arm versions, with needle feed, some with walking feet, others with jumping feet, some capable of sewing up to 3/4" and able to use very heavy thread. You really need to define your goals, communicate them to Bob and see what you can afford and buy the best you can for the money. This usually means buying new or rebuilt, rather than plain second hand.

A Boss is a manually operated stitcher, with a pull lever. If you expect to use a manual machine to crank out chaps you better have a tough arm! Do yourself a favor and invest in a decent motorized machine that is setup to handle real leather, all day long.

Edited March 6, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[Art]

Call Steve, he will give you good advice. Eventually you end up with 2 or even 3 machines.

http://leathermachineco.com/

Art

[Kate]

Thanks for the input. I found a 31-15 for around $250 no motor no stand. I figure that a servo motor and pulley will set me back another $200+ and maybe $150+ for a stand? That is too close to a used Boss or something else that WILL stitch thicker leather and be controllable. More to think about... What would some one with more experience suggest? Also what is the capacity (thickness) a 31-15 will sew?

That had better be a PRETTY 31-15 for $250. Mostly they are fairly cheap with no table setup - a decent table with motor and clutch (or servo if you are lucky) will run you at least twice that much!

The 31 class was mainly a higher speed machine for apparel work, not really a leather stitcher per se, though as others are telling you, with a roller presser you would be good for lighter leathers. 31-15 has a larger sister the 31-20, which I have in an industrial table with motor and clutch setup. It's great for upholstery, and even horse blankets within reason, but you are limited in height under the foot. You can squeeze to layers of 8 ounce under the foot, but feedign will become an issue, and then your stitch quality will definitely suffer.

FWIW, I now have a beautiful new Cobra class 3 and I will never go back to a lesser stitcher. Still have the old 31-20, and a Singer 42-5 in a treadle for chap work, along with the inimitable Landis #1 heavy stitcher, but this new one, wow..... just wow. Never knew it could be this easy! (thanks Steve!)

Kate