Frustrating ...

[JLSleather]

Really irritated that I can't seem to find some plain english information on sewing leather. SO, I'll throw this out once, see what happens.

I used to enjoy hand-sewing leather (no, really). Awl got busted up, so I ordered a new one. Came with dull blades. Too much to do at the moment to sharpen them, so I ordered more blades from a different supplier. Guess -- yeah, dull as... Ordered from yet another supplier -- the blades don't fit the haft. Ordered one of those little stitching pony things from the Tandy store down the road. This thing is ridiculous ... whole thing is so twisted that it only clamps on one corner. English doesn't have words for this situation ... NO way this should be this big a pain.

Got this Singer 16-188 machine, used and [apparently] reasonable. I don't sew with a machine, so I'm assuming I'll destroy some leather, ... fine. A few new parts, under $100, and maybe $100 worth of lightweight leather.

But I'm about frustrated with the whole thing. Recognizing that it's possibly operator problem, I kept trying to adjust this n that. When the thread tension is "buggered" on the bottom, is it the top tension, bobbin tension, needle, thread, ... manual is pathetic, what I could even find.

Wife called a place about an hour from here, says they "service" these machines. I drove 10 miles PAST this place to pick it up. My fault, I suppose ... had I known that at the time I would have let them service it BEFORE I brought it home.

In the end, I just want to sew small items -- wallets about heavy as it would get. 3/4 oz carving leather, and 3 layers of 2 oz chrome tanned lining. And my wife has purchased some garment hides her and the girls from work want purses made from. Should be simple, right??? By now I've messed with the thing enough that I'm behind on the other stuff. Knowing I could have hand-sewn some stuff with a decent awl blade has got me picturing that hammer in the cabinet.

So I click, click, click through the leather machines site, and get a page that says to call us. Wow.

SO --

1.) anybody can tell me where to get a decent awl haft that comes with sharp blades?

2.) how many machines should it take to sew - say - up to 10 oz leather?

[jimsaddler]

Really irritated that I can't seem to find some plain english information on sewing leather. SO, I'll throw this out once, see what happens.

I used to enjoy hand-sewing leather (no, really). Awl got busted up, so I ordered a new one. Came with dull blades. Too much to do at the moment to sharpen them, so I ordered more blades from a different supplier. Guess -- yeah, dull as... Ordered from yet another supplier -- the blades don't fit the haft. Ordered one of those little stitching pony things from the Tandy store down the road. This thing is ridiculous ... whole thing is so twisted that it only clamps on one corner. English doesn't have words for this situation ... NO way this should be this big a pain.

Got this Singer 16-188 machine, used and [apparently] reasonable. I don't sew with a machine, so I'm assuming I'll destroy some leather, ... fine. A few new parts, under $100, and maybe $100 worth of lightweight leather.

But I'm about frustrated with the whole thing. Recognizing that it's possibly operator problem, I kept trying to adjust this n that. When the thread tension is "buggered" on the bottom, is it the top tension, bobbin tension, needle, thread, ... manual is pathetic, what I could even find.

Wife called a place about an hour from here, says they "service" these machines. I drove 10 miles PAST this place to pick it up. My fault, I suppose ... had I known that at the time I would have let them service it BEFORE I brought it home.

In the end, I just want to sew small items -- wallets about heavy as it would get. 3/4 oz carving leather, and 3 layers of 2 oz chrome tanned lining. And my wife has purchased some garment hides her and the girls from work want purses made from. Should be simple, right??? By now I've messed with the thing enough that I'm behind on the other stuff. Knowing I could have hand-sewn some stuff with a decent awl blade has got me picturing that hammer in the cabinet.

So I click, click, click through the leather machines site, and get a page that says to call us. Wow.

SO --

1.) anybody can tell me where to get a decent awl haft that comes with sharp blades?

2.) how many machines should it take to sew - say - up to 10 oz leather?

Hi JL

Lets start with the Awls, get a bit of 180 grit Wet and Dry Emery cloth and glue it onto a flat piece of wood say 10inches by 2 inches. I assume you bought Diamond Harness Awl Blades. sharpen each side of the Diamond equally. The get some Baby Powder on a piece of soft scrap Leather and polish the sharpened Blade by rubbing it in the Powder inside the folded scrap (watch the Fingers though). Then go for the Sewing again. The only difference between a good Awl and a bad one is one is Sharp the other Blunt. Clamps are easily made from a couple of flat Boards say 3" x 3/4" x 14 or so inches long to suit your height. Sharpen them on one side and duplicate the Tandy in general but it will be stronger.

The Machines I will not go into, but suffice it to say Cheap is usually a Head Ache. Learn to Hand Stitch first and watch this Forum to learn more about Sewing Machines.

Kindest Regards.

Jim Saddler.

[ktoddmc]

Call

Really irritated that I can't seem to find some plain english information on sewing leather. SO, I'll throw this out once, see what happens.

I used to enjoy hand-sewing leather (no, really). Awl got busted up, so I ordered a new one. Came with dull blades. Too much to do at the moment to sharpen them, so I ordered more blades from a different supplier. Guess -- yeah, dull as... Ordered from yet another supplier -- the blades don't fit the haft. Ordered one of those little stitching pony things from the Tandy store down the road. This thing is ridiculous ... whole thing is so twisted that it only clamps on one corner. English doesn't have words for this situation ... NO way this should be this big a pain.

Got this Singer 16-188 machine, used and [apparently] reasonable. I don't sew with a machine, so I'm assuming I'll destroy some leather, ... fine. A few new parts, under $100, and maybe $100 worth of lightweight leather.

But I'm about frustrated with the whole thing. Recognizing that it's possibly operator problem, I kept trying to adjust this n that. When the thread tension is "buggered" on the bottom, is it the top tension, bobbin tension, needle, thread, ... manual is pathetic, what I could even find.

Wife called a place about an hour from here, says they "service" these machines. I drove 10 miles PAST this place to pick it up. My fault, I suppose ... had I known that at the time I would have let them service it BEFORE I brought it home.

In the end, I just want to sew small items -- wallets about heavy as it would get. 3/4 oz carving leather, and 3 layers of 2 oz chrome tanned lining. And my wife has purchased some garment hides her and the girls from work want purses made from. Should be simple, right??? By now I've messed with the thing enough that I'm behind on the other stuff. Knowing I could have hand-sewn some stuff with a decent awl blade has got me picturing that hammer in the cabinet.

So I click, click, click through the leather machines site, and get a page that says to call us. Wow.

SO --

1.) anybody can tell me where to get a decent awl haft that comes with sharp blades?

2.) how many machines should it take to sew - say - up to 10 oz leather?

[ktoddmc]

Call Bob Kovar at Toledo Sewing Machine. I understand your frustration, it is almost identical to mine. If I could have lifted that machine it would have literally went out the window. Bob is very patient and can walk through problems in his sleep. He also deals with some really nice machines. Tell him Todd from Illinois told you to call. Good Luck

[Randy Cornelius]

As far as hand sewing goes. I started using slim bladed awls from Bob Douglas tools several years ago and have never used anything else. Yes, they are expensive but you don't have to sharpen them before you use them like the osborns or others. Made life so much easer. When properly used they will last a long time. The awl hafe is personal choise, but get a good one with a good chuck to hold the awl. Grind a flat spot on one side so it don't roll off the table, hit the floor and break or damage the needle. That way when you lay it down it dont go far. Also when pushing the awl through a piece of leather, hold another small piece of leather against the other side instead of your finger, when the awl goes through it will poke the leather instead of your finger, don't hurt as bad and you don't get blood on your project.

Sewing machines are a whole nother world. They are geat when they work, but when they don't it is very frustrating. You need to find someone in your area that works on them and then ask some questions. I find that most problems with my machines start with the needle. When a needle gets dull replace it. They don't cost that much. Then look at your thread. I simply changed spools of thread and solved a problem before. If your thread is raveling or tearing look for burrs on the shuttle hook, needle or elsewhere. The smallest of burr will cause all kinds of problems. Timing is a very big thing, sometimes the timming gets off for no apparent reason. You just have to be able to diagnose the problem and find a way to fix it. If your machine did not come with a clear and easy to understand manual I suggest you buy one. Thread tention adjustment will cause many to drink. Thread size virsus needle size is a problem some times. The right needle for your machine, you would hope the needles that came with your used machine are right, but do you know for sure. You just have to practice with your machine just like you would with a new camera or any other new thing. Just get some scraps of leather and sew, thread is cheep, use some up and find out those problems before you try to sew a project.

Hope this helped in some way.

Randy