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Posted

I have a Adler 205-370 and I love it. I bought it new and have never looked back. I have sewn with as light as 69 thread and as high as 415 thread. It has never given me a moments trouble. Based on my personal experience and that of friends with Adlers, I consider them the Mercedes of sewing machines. I am not as familiar with the lighter machines which is what you are looking for, but I have an acquaintance who is an equipment manager for a major league hockey team. He uses a lighter weight Adler to maintain all the players gear and I know he is crazy about his machine. However, based on Jim's experience it sounds like there may be a chink in Adlers armor so I guess the bottom line is you need to try before you buy. Customer service is certainly a huge consideration when buying any machine, especially if you are sewing machine "challenged" as I am, LOL!

Bobby

Leqatherworkerthumbnail2La.jpg LongLiveCowboys-1.jpgWFDPhoto2a.jpg

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Posted (edited)

UKRay,

Like all sewing machinses, it depends on the machine and what you are wanting to sew with it. Adler machines are great but it also depends on how and who set them up. I would like to know the model of the used Adler you are currently considering. I have a 69-373 Adler I am just gettting ready to set up. It is a used machine and I will know maor eabout ti as I ger it set up and sewn off. Give us more on what you want to sew and the size thread you want to use. Servo motors are great if set up properly.

shoepatcher

In my search for the perfect sewing machine... yeah, I know, it is never ending LOL... I have finally got to the point where I'm about to buy another one.

I need a machine to stitch fine work (like wallets and soft leather pouches) that my other machines won't do. The big Highlead harness machine is great for big fat thick leather jobs and the smaller Highlead works fine for mid-range work. I mostly use it for stitching together two thicknesses of 2mm veg tan. My ancient but very lovely Singer 29k patcher is rarely used these days and is heading for eBay sometime soon if I can't find a good use for it.

After a good look around, I have been considering Adler machines and wondered what the general feeling was? Are they as good as folk say? Which one would be best for my purpose? I have tried a post machine without much success. I believe I need a small cylinder arm machine - has anyone got a recommendation or suggestion for me?

Has anyone fitted a servo motor to one and did it work out okay? What sort did you fit?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,

Ray

Edited by shoepatcher
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Posted

[

After a good look around, I have been considering Adler machines and wondered what the general feeling was? Are they as good as folk say? Which one would be best for my purpose? I have tried a post machine without much success. I believe I need a small cylinder arm machine - has anyone got a recommendation or suggestion for me?

Has anyone fitted a servo motor to one and did it work out okay? What sort did you fit?

Hello Ray, in 2009 I came in on one of your threads about this and asked for recommendations for a machine for doing outdoor gear repairs. Steve Brambley suggested any of the Adler 69 class machines would be useful for what I was looking for. I bought a Durkopp Adler 069 373 cylinder arm machine from ebay and have never looked back really. The machine has done everything from hundreds of turn ups, rips and zips on nylon waterproof trousers and tops to webbing. It has always put out a really nice stitch and fed all kinds of materials through without complaint. In some rucksacks there is a sheet plastic insert which gives the back shape and which is not designed to be removed. It has sewn through this plastic and still given a neat repair on the cordura which needed fixing. On the thin stuff it has been good at putting out a nice stich without puckering or distorting the material.

Last year I ordered a servo motor. Although it had a good motor on it the speed was problematic. It worked fine but if I was away from my work for a couple of days the speed could still be a shock when you went back to it after a short lay off. I had been replaceing some large clear plastic panels in a tent. A thief had cut them open with a razor to rummage the pockets while the family inside slept....nice... Anyhow I'd nearly finished the last one and had to leave it for a week. When I went back I started up the machine gently put my toe to it and zap. It just went off far too fast for what I wanted and put around a dozen perforations in the window where they should not have been:head_hurts_kr: . So I unpicked it all which took an age and put another piece in but knew really that I did not want that hassle again and the way to go was to get a servo.

I did not find it any problem to fit the servo myself but you can see from the pictures that it has had to be fitted back to front, ie with the switches on the opposite side from where you are sitting. This is because on most tables the way the machine sits you can't fit the motor the other side of the pulley because the table is too short to accomodate the cylinder arm. You overcome this by turning the motor around by changing the connections on the machine so that the motor is running the opposite way but which is now the right way for the sewer. I guess it took around two hours to take the old motor out and to fit the servo. I checked with the manufcturer before I did the wiring alteration and it's been a joy to use. I did take a short video clip when I put the motor in of me stitching 6 pieces of seat belt with the servo motor. The link is

I bought mine off ebay and the same guy is still selling, what appears to be, the same motor, the link is here

I don't do a whole of lot of leather but I've been very happy with the machine that was recommended to me to use. I went for the servo because the original motor, although very good, was designed for people who sit at these machines 8 hours a day and have really well practiced control. Fine if you have that skill but for putting work through in a slow controlled way where you are always on top of whats happening then the servo has been one of the best investments in my sewing equipment.

PS had problems uploading this so the link for the photographs of the machine and servo is here

  • 2 months later...
  • Contributing Member
Posted

Just so you guys know I listen to you, I have now purchased a used/reconditioned Adler 69-373 complete with an Efka servo motor and hope to have it delivered in a week or so. Thanks for all the help and advice, it really made a difference.

Ray

"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps"

Ray Hatley

www.barefootleather.co.uk

  • 4 weeks later...
  • Members
Posted

I think Adler is the best in terms of parts and how the machine is constructed. Especially the older style with the needle feed system. 1000 better than any walking for AND barely marks the leather,I mainly use a 205-64 and would not be without it, Parts are costly but I think it is worth it given the work we do. Glad you bought an Adler!

Just so you guys know I listen to you, I have now purchased a used/reconditioned Adler 69-373 complete with an Efka servo motor and hope to have it delivered in a week or so. Thanks for all the help and advice, it really made a difference.

Ray

"You are responsible for the energy which you bring into THIS space."

Stephen O'Ceallaigh

001-647-637-5229

http://greenmanleather.ca

sales@greenmanleather.ca

  • 11 years later...
  • Members
Posted

Have an opportunity to purchase an Alder R123. Are they durable for sewing leather?

  • Moderator
Posted
3 hours ago, Sherryg said:

Have an opportunity to purchase an Alder R123. Are they durable for sewing leather?

No. That model is a domestic sewing machine with drop feed only. Not for any leather over about 4 ounces, with a slick top grain..

Posted IMHO, by Wiz

My current crop of sewing machines:

Cowboy CB4500, Singer 107w3, Singer 139w109, Singer 168G101, Singer 29k71, Singer 31-15, Singer 111w103, Singer 211G156, Adler 30-7 on power stand, Techsew 2700, Fortuna power skiver and a Pfaff 4 thread 2 needle serger.

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Posted

Thank you for the advice, Wizcrafs! Appreciated!

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