Sewing Terms And Considerations

[TrustCommunicationConsent]

what is a walking foot and when is it needed?

What is a good sewing speed for a for thickness up to 1/4"

Suggestions on machines that will do well up to 1/4"

what is a drop thread as opposed to a needle thread

[Cobra Steve]

what is a walking foot and when is it needed?

What is a good sewing speed for a for thickness up to 1/4"

Suggestions on machines that will do well up to 1/4"

what is a drop thread as opposed to a needle thread

Hello TTC, I noticed that you are from Rialto. I am in Highland. There are 2 styles of Walking Foot Machines, the first is a compound needle feed where the center foot, needle and feed dog all feed the material together. This will eliminate any slippage that might normally occur when trying to sew 2 pieces of 8 oz. leather, or heavier, together. The second style is only a walking foot(not compound feed), this machine has the outside foot and the feed dog feeding the material together. Both will work fine, but the compound feed will sew a little bit thicker. The walking foot machine could sew up to 20 oz. when set up correctly, the compound feed could sew 24 oz. and maybe a little thicker, depending on what you are sewing. You will want to sew slow when sewing leather. If you need more advice please call me at 909-425-2080. Thanks, Steve

[jbird]

dont forget that the those feeders are great at feeding fingers through.

LOL

Josh

[Wizcrafts]

what is a walking foot and when is it needed?

What is a good sewing speed for a for thickness up to 1/4"

Suggestions on machines that will do well up to 1/4"

what is a drop thread as opposed to a needle thread

Question #1 was answered by Cobra Steve.

Q2: Since leather is dense material, a top speed of no more than 5 or 6 stitches per second is about right for 1/4" of belt or bridle leather. Chap or garment leather can be sewn faster. Belts and straps, or holsters, over 5/16" should be sewn even slower; around 4 stitches per second, to avoid burning the thread on a hot needle (and your fingers if you touch the hot needle).

Q3: Almost any industrial sewing machine with a compound feed or walking foot system will sew 1/4"+. You should get one with a half horsepower clutch motor, with a speed reducer pulley set, or a servo motor, with built-in gear reduction, or a 2" motor pulley and a speed limiter control knob.

Q4: I believe you meant to ask about the difference between drop feed and needle feed machines.

A sewing machine with feed dogs (with the jagged teeth) under a cover plate, below the needle area, which can be raised or lowered in height where they protrude above the top of their slots, are called drop feed. Some sewing machines actually have a mechanical control know to drop these feed dogs below the surface completely. These dropped feed machines can then be used for freehand or hoop embroidery.

A needle feed machine is a horse of another color! These are commercial machines that may or may not have feed dogs under the cover plate. The needle is mechanically driven away from the operator (in normal sewing) as it penetrates the layers and sews. Because the needle moves the material after penetrating the layers, it reduces slippage. But, if there is too much pressure on the pressor foot, the material may drag on it and the stitch length may be reduced.

There is a type of needle feed machine, made for harness makers, which has a pressor foot that lifts up as the needle feeds the work, then lowers to secure it as the needle is withdrawn. This is sometimes called a jump foot harness stitcher.

IHTH!