Should I Keep My Roller Foot Machine?

[carolb]

Hi! I purchased a few industrial machines. One is a Singer 44 3v68 (I think its 3v but its hard to read). It comes with a roller foot attached. I Also have a Singer 96K40 machine which runs really nice. I have a dilema. I purchased a walking foot Adler and now have to decide which of the Singers I will keep. I have made handmade moccasins and mukluks and now want to use the sewing machines. The Adler works great for the soles and regular stitching. What I need help with is deciding between the two Singers (due to space my hubby said I have way too many machines!). Can the roller be taken off the 44 and put on the 96K40? With leather sewing would I be stupid to get rid of the roller foot machine? WHich would you keep? I cannot find manuals for the two Singers to help out with this dilema. I have one week to decide because my brother-in-law is coming from out of town to buy one of those machines off me. If space was not a problem I would keep them all but between leather sewing and fabric sewing I have 7 machines! Any advice would be appreciated.

Carol

[Wizcrafts]

Carol;

I recommend that you keep the 44-whatever machine, with the roller foot. It is designed to sew leather. The 96K40 is a tailors' machine, meant to sew gabardine, cotton and polyester garments. All of the tension components are probably thinner on the 96K than on the 44.

To effectively sew soft leather you must have either a walking foot or a roller foot. Otherwise the leather will drag on the pressor foot. You will want to keep the machine that has the strongest parts and gives more pressure to the roller and the top thread.

FWIIW: I had a 96K40 that was converted into a roller foot machine. It was great for making leather vests and pants, using a #18 Schmetz leather point needle, with #69 bonded nylon thread. It was of no further use on any other leather projects, especially belts. It couldn't lit high enough to sew on or over the thick seams of jeans.

Edited June 7, 2010 by Wizcrafts

[carolb]

Carol;

I recommend that you keep the 44-whatever machine, with the roller foot. It is designed to sew leather. The 96K40 is a tailors' machine, meant to sew gabardine, cotton and polyester garments. All of the tension components are probably thinner on the 96K than on the 44.

To effectively sew soft leather you must have either a walking foot or a roller foot. Otherwise the leather will drag on the pressor foot. You will want to keep the machine that has the strongest parts and gives more pressure to the roller and the top thread.

FWIIW: I had a 96K40 that was converted into a roller foot machine. It was great for making leather vests and pants, using a #18 Schmetz leather point needle, with #69 bonded nylon thread. It was of no further use on any other leather projects, especially belts. It couldn't lit high enough to sew on or over the thick seams of jeans.

Thanks! That has really helped me out. I have tried to find a manual for the 44 3v 68 Singer and have only found it for other 44's which probably is similar. I am not into sewing clothes anymore and really love working with leather - I'll keep the 44 and let my brother-in-law play around with the 96K. I also picked up a walking foot singer for him a 31K47 which I believe is for leather and canvass. Do you know what kind of needle I would need for belts ? Also, With my Adler 67-372T I am wondering if there is a special needle for going through the rubber "waffle" ? It sews it easily enough but am wondering if there is a special needle for heavy stuff like that.

Thanks.

Carol

Caro

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks! That has really helped me out.

<snip>

I also picked up a walking foot singer for him a 31K47 which I believe is for leather and canvass. Do you know what kind of needle I would need for belts ? Also, With my Adler 67-372T I am wondering if there is a special needle for going through the rubber "waffle" ? It sews it easily enough but am wondering if there is a special needle for heavy stuff like that.

Thanks.

Carol

Caro

Carol in Caro;

I use a #18 or #19 needle with #69 thread; #20 or 21 with #92 thread and a #22 or #23 needle with #138 thread. I recommend Schmetz leather point needles. Use the smallest size that does the job and places the knots well into the leather. Read the sizing trick article in this forum's sticky topics to choose the best needle for a given size of thread.

You should ask Bob Kovar, in Toledo (866-362-7397), about needles for your Adler. Some of them are setup with shims inside the shuttle case, limiting the minimum and maximum needle sizes. He has shims in various sizes if you need to change over. You will want diamond or oval point leather sewing needles.