Singer 103W-102

[Chris B]

Hello all, I was searching the local classifieds and found a Singer Commercial 153W-102 for sale. And from the pictures it looks pretty heavy duty. But in the future I would like to build saddles and horse gear, would this sewing machine be heavy enough to do that? It looks pretty stout but then again, I know nothing about sewing machines lol. Would it work for saddles and tack? And would i still be able to find parts for it, if I ever needed them?

Thanks,

Chris

Sorry I had the wrong info in the title lol..

Edited March 24, 2010 by welder5724

[Wizcrafts]

Hello all, I was searching the local classifieds and found a Singer Commercial 153W-102 for sale. And from the pictures it looks pretty heavy duty. But in the future I would like to build saddles and horse gear, would this sewing machine be heavy enough to do that? It looks pretty stout but then again, I know nothing about sewing machines lol. Would it work for saddles and tack? And would i still be able to find parts for it, if I ever needed them?

Thanks,

Chris

Sorry I had the wrong info in the title lol..

Chris;

The Singer 153W102 is a cylinder arm, straight stitch (no reverse) standard flat foot machine, good for sewing leather and vinyl up to a bit over 1/4" thick, with up to a #22, series 135x16/17 needle and up to #138 nylon thread. They use a standard industrial bobbin, which doesn't hold much #138 thread. These machines do better sewing #69 thread, with a #18 needle. I would classify the 153 as a heavy garment sewing machine (jeans, vests, jackets, chaps), with leather capabilities. It is excellent for sewing garment and chap leather or saddlebags made from Latigo. It is definitely NOT a saddle or horse gear machine.

I think that the cylinder arm is about 3" in diameter by around 9" long, and is cut off right after the bobbin case and cover, just to the left of the outside pressor foot. You can sew real close to the edge of the machine. They shipped with clutch motors, typically between 1/3 and 1/2 horsepower, at 1725 rpm. You must learn to feather the clutch to sew at slow speed.

If you can try it out take some material and run it through the machine, using whatever needle and thread they have on hand. It is a handy little cylinder arm machine for small projects that need to be sewn close to the edge, or upside down (e.g: cases, pouches, bags).

If you are looking for a machine to sew saddles and horse gear, keep looking elsewhere. The machines that do saddles are about twice the size of a 153W, have 15+ inch arm length, use a long system 794 needle, available up to size 27, and can sew up 3/4" veg-tan or bridle/harness leather with #346 bonded nylon or polyester thread. These machines are usually equipped with a lube pot on top, to keep the thread from melting. They are usually geared down with speed reducers and have very high torque slow speed servo motors.

[Chris B]

Chris;

The Singer 153W102 is a cylinder arm, straight stitch (no reverse) standard flat foot machine, good for sewing leather and vinyl up to a bit over 1/4" thick, with up to a #22, series 135x16/17 needle and up to #138 nylon thread. They use a standard industrial bobbin, which doesn't hold much #138 thread. These machines do better sewing #69 thread, with a #18 needle. I would classify the 153 as a heavy garment sewing machine (jeans, vests, jackets, chaps), with leather capabilities. It is excellent for sewing garment and chap leather or saddlebags made from Latigo. It is definitely NOT a saddle or horse gear machine.

I think that the cylinder arm is about 3" in diameter by around 9" long, and is cut off right after the bobbin case and cover, just to the left of the outside pressor foot. You can sew real close to the edge of the machine. They shipped with clutch motors, typically between 1/3 and 1/2 horsepower, at 1725 rpm. You must learn to feather the clutch to sew at slow speed.

If you can try it out take some material and run it through the machine, using whatever needle and thread they have on hand. It is a handy little cylinder arm machine for small projects that need to be sewn close to the edge, or upside down (e.g: cases, pouches, bags).

If you are looking for a machine to sew saddles and horse gear, keep looking elsewhere. The machines that do saddles are about twice the size of a 153W, have 15+ inch arm length, use a long system 794 needle, available up to size 27, and can sew up 3/4" veg-tan or bridle/harness leather with #346 bonded nylon or polyester thread. These machines are usually equipped with a lube pot on top, to keep the thread from melting. They are usually geared down with speed reducers and have very high torque slow speed servo motors.

Thank you wiz. I seen it advertised for 300 bucks and I thought I would at least ask! I will keep looking,

Thanks,

Chris

[Art]

Chris,

If in good shape, it is still not a bad machine for leatherwork, just forget saddles and holsters. $300 is a reasonable good price with stand and motor although a servo motor will do a better job than a clutch. If it is head only, forget about it. Great bag machine, and you can back tack different ways without reverse.

Art

Thank you wiz. I seen it advertised for 300 bucks and I thought I would at least ask! I will keep looking,

Thanks,

Chris

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

Chris,

If in good shape, it is still not a bad machine for leatherwork, just forget saddles and holsters. $300 is a reasonable good price with stand and motor although a servo motor will do a better job than a clutch. If it is head only, forget about it. Great bag machine, and you can back tack different ways without reverse.

Art

All info. is on point that I've read about this machine, here is a sale Singer catalog page for this machine; http://keysew.com/Demo_images/Singer_153W102.pdf

Hope the page helps a bit.

[Chris B]

Ok thanks again. So this machine would it work for belts and wallets and such? Because if it will work for that I mite just go ahead and buy it for that. And if nobody is going to jump the gun on me here I will post a link to the ad lol. And I dont know the difference between a clutch motor or a servo motor, but the one thats on it looks like a motor they put on the new ones. But then again I dont know. Ok heres the link Sewing Machine

[Art]

It has a clutch motor and might sew a little fast for you. You can always handwheel it for the close stuff. It has a tad of surface rust, make sure it is tight, but for $300, you won't go too wrong. One of Bob Kovar's SewPro gear reduction servo motors would slow it down to a crawl if necessary. Try it the way it is first.

Art

Ok thanks again. So this machine would it work for belts and wallets and such? Because if it will work for that I mite just go ahead and buy it for that. And if nobody is going to jump the gun on me here I will post a link to the ad lol. And I dont know the difference between a clutch motor or a servo motor, but the one thats on it looks like a motor they put on the new ones. But then again I dont know. Ok heres the link Sewing Machine