Best Portable Walking Foot Machine?

[simran]

I once had a lady bring a 31-15 that someone built a box for with a home sewing machine motor on it. She wanted to sell it to me but I already had a nice on on a table.

I almost wonder if something like that wouldn't work for you. I know you would never find one all set up already but it would be a fairly simple conversion.

Looking at those bags you make reminded me of sculpted boot tops a friend of mine used to make with a 31-15. He raved about the ability of this machine to sew multiple layers

of light leather.

The is a 31-20 on ebay right now. Same as the 31-15 except it has a larger bobbin. They are not walking foot machines though!

Sim

Edited February 9, 2011 by simran

[Kate]

What Wiz said.

In my experience, any machine that can handle multiple layers of even light leather (and not mess it up) is going to weigh in the neighborhood of 65 pounds and up. Anything less will not handle the work. Lifting these "portables" up and onto a work table (which has to be heavy-duty enough for it!) is a real chore. Portability is always a trade-off on a working machine.

[320]

kate is right...portable is relative.

i've had a "long bed" mini-brute for years. it will sew 3 layers of 5-6 oz. leather. but it is heavy.

the lightest thread i have tried is # 69, the heaviest #135, usually use #92 .

if i had it to do over, i would pick the sailrite with a monster wheel and solid state foot control. though that is much more expensive.

the leather presser foot is just a regular foot with grooves ground off.

if you do choose one of these machines for public displays, search around for the portable setups that yachters use to sew their sails while afloat. some are pretty clever.

as a last thought, except for bagwork most leatherworker doing harness and holster work don't seem to like these machine. that said, i've been in a couple of car upholstery shops that used either the mini-brute or the sailrite and a canvasworker in wyoming with a thompson.