Holster Sewing Machines - Lets Talk

[colttrainer]

Easier re-sale.

[Luke Hatley]

Go with the Cobra 4 ...."its better to have it and not need it

than need it and not have it"

the word will get out on you that you can do heavy duty sewing and this is where

the longer arm will come in handy.

[RMB Custom Leather]

Howdy Lance

I own and run a holster making shop, I will kind of lay out why there is only one real choice when it comes to a machine for holsters.

First of all I own a Cobra and it's a real beauty but before I go there lets talk thickness, if you can only sew 7/16 then you have issues first being that it will be hard on your machine and you will if taking this for real you will do holsters with plugs that will exceed your ability to sew and that will burn big time.

Second you cant just take price there are so many other things to think of, I have never ever dealt with any one close to the level of service steve provides he is their night or day to help you out, and if I read right this is your first machine big deal, you want get that help from any other company guaranteed.

Third you will receive all the attachment need in that price!

I have had a couple bad experiences with artisan and have heard many others just my two cents there.

and lastly you will never have to worry about your machine its covered.

do your self a favor call Steve then call the others.

hope this helps.

Josh

I will second your comments. I bought Steve's first machine shipped and I have not regretted it yet. I just bought a used boss for a steal for a show machine but I am very glad I went with an automatic machine and especially the Cobra.

[dbusarow]

I'm in the same spot as the original poster and even picked mostly the same machines, GA5, Artisan 3000 or Cobra 3. I was leaning toward the Cobra.

Now with everyone saying go Cobra 4 I'm wondering if maybe the Artisan 4000 might be better. ??

A 4000 is close to the price of the Cobra 3 but gives the extra throat depth.

When I first got into leather a little over 18 months ago an Artisan 3000 or 4000 was the holy grail for a small shop. Has Artisan support fallen so badly (since Steve left to start Cobra) that they aren't in the game anymore?

Just curious, and ready to save a few hundred dollars if I can

Thanks,

Dan

[dbusarow]

When I first got into leather a little over 18 months ago an Artisan 3000 or 4000 was the holy grail for a small shop. Has Artisan support fallen so badly (since Steve left to start Cobra) that they aren't in the game anymore?

As I re-read this post in the morning it looks like I'm trolling for a sewing machine war here. I'm not. Really.

I'm trying to figure out if there is a good reason that I should NOT go with a TORO 4000 over a Cobra 3. I would guess that Artisan is better able to sustain a price war against Cobra, and while I feel some sympathy for Steve I need to get the best deal for myself that I can.

Thanks,

Dan

[Art]

I think what you might take more consideration of is that Artisan may be less able to sustain the price war than Cobra. They are both burning cash to sustain this war and one is going to run out before the other. Who is burning cash faster? The one with the lower prices. Why not take advantage of the super low price? If your guy loses, you can't expect the other guy to treat you as a valued customer, he's going to sell you the replacement part, but it won't be on lifetime warranty, in fact, I would expect to get soaked for it and not get a bit of help making the repair. Remember, he has his LOYAL customers to take care of.

Don't chase price, look for something that will be serviceable for years with friendly, affordable, and available service for the life of the product.

The desired thing is for both of these companies to survive. However, I think there is just too much bad blood for that to happen.

Anyone notice the Artisan ads at the top of the Leatherworker.net pages?

Art

As I re-read this post in the morning it looks like I'm trolling for a sewing machine war here. I'm not. Really.

I'm trying to figure out if there is a good reason that I should NOT go with a TORO 4000 over a Cobra 3. I would guess that Artisan is better able to sustain a price war against Cobra, and while I feel some sympathy for Steve I need to get the best deal for myself that I can.

Thanks,

Dan

[longtooth]

I sew a lot working equipment for horse trainers and cowboy action shooters. I purchased a Juki 2000 pro with all the attachments from Fredco. I have owned the machine for about 7 years now and it has given me all I could expect and then some. The price was up in outer space but when I look at the service it has given me and it's reliability. I feel it was worth the investment.

[troop]

i would go with the Cobra. i love mine, and Steve's customer service really is the best. i have heard some horror stories about Artisan, even though i have never delt with them myself.

[dbusarow]

The desired thing is for both of these companies to survive. However, I think there is just too much bad blood for that to happen.

Anyone notice the Artisan ads at the top of the Leatherworker.net pages?

Thanks Art. That's what I was looking for. Cobra it is.

Now I just need to decide between the 3 and the 4

Dan

[NMCOWBOY]

Thought I would weight in on this discussion about Sewing Machines. I have been looking to by a sewing machine for about the last 9 months. Doing research and saving my money I have looked at and talked to people about the "Boss, the Cobra, and the Toro as well as a few others. I attended the leather show in Wickenburg AZ last month, (had a great time by the way). While I was there I was able to talk to Steve at the Cobra booth about the Cobra class 4 and Larry about Artisan Toro 4000. For me the longer arm is the way to go. It allows me to go in different directions with my leather making without having to upgrade my machine at a later date. Given all the information I obtained I bought a Cobra Class 4 with the EPS motor. EPS stands for Electronic Positioning System this allows you to stop the needle in the UP position or in the DOWN position. None of the other sewing machines have this feature. Olliesrevenge you say in your post that you make holsters, as soon as folks find out you do leather work you are going to be asked to do all kinds of projects. And you may as well have a machine that will allow you to do the work you ask of it. Do yourself a favor and buy the machine that will allow you to do most with it from the start.