What Machine Do I Need?

[mrdabeetle]

I plan on making hats, shoes, and other items and I have seen several types of machines to stitch these items together, but I have no idea which one I should throw my money at. I would like to hear which ones members here use and what they use them for. This is a big investment, so I don't want to waste my money on something that may not be the right thing.

[Cobra Steve]

I plan on making hats, shoes, and other items and I have seen several types of machines to stitch these items together, but I have no idea which one I should throw my money at. I would like to hear which ones members here use and what they use them for. This is a big investment, so I don't want to waste my money on something that may not be the right thing.

Hello mrdabeetle, please check out the post about the 107-2. Maybe it's what you need. You will probably need a 29 Class also. Thanks, Steve

[Wizcrafts]

Like Steve said, a post machine. I used to have a Singer post machine and used it to make biker caps, cowboy hats and moccasins. The old ones were only good for #69 thread. Some newer post machines can now sew with #138 thread.

[Art]

I agree with Steve and Wiz to some extent, Wiz likes 29s and I hate the darned things.

If you had to buy only one machine (given that you want to do shoes and hats), you should be looking for a post machine. Any of the Singer 51 series machines will work fine as will the Pfaff 491. These machines will have been used in industry, so normal precautions as to wear should be heeded. If you want to go the new route, the machines made by Ankai in China are very very good, the AK-5110 is a lot like the 51 class and the AK-8110 is so darned near like a Pfaff 491 it is hard to tell. Both are good machines but need to be set up for leatherwork with a servo and speed reducer. Most dealers on leatherworker.net have access to these machines through their export brokers, you might have to wait a month if they don't have one in stock. I got my 8110 from Steve, it is a great machine.

While the post machines are handy for hats, they are not really necessary for making shoes or boots. The only operation that the post is helpful with is sewing on the pulls (the tabs you hold onto when putting on the boot), and you can really do that by hand. You do need a special machine for sewing on the outsoles, or you can do it by hand also, the machine for outsoles is the Landis Model 12. The rest of the boot or shoe can be sewn on the Singer 31-15 or 20 with a roller presser foot. The new alternative is the 5550 with a large "M" bobbin, again carried by most of the dealers on here, again, I got mine from Steve. It is a Highlead machine that is built like a tank and a sports car combined, you can do all of the decoration and closing on a shoe or boot with this machine. When decorating boot tops, and toes, you need to be able to go very slow, these machines have to be set up to do that, from the factory they sew 2000 to 3000 stitches per minute and more.

The "normal" threads for boot and shoe work (uppers) are usually 33, 46, and 69, and I can't think of using much larger for hats either. The 5550 will do 138, and I've sewn with 138/69 in the 8110 a couple of times without problems; I haven't tried anything bigger.

Art

I plan on making hats, shoes, and other items and I have seen several types of machines to stitch these items together, but I have no idea which one I should throw my money at. I would like to hear which ones members here use and what they use them for. This is a big investment, so I don't want to waste my money on something that may not be the right thing.

[mrdabeetle]

Thanks for the info guys! I just found out that my mother has a Singer 29K70? sitting in her garage. I'm going to check it out and see if I can do anything with it. She also has a Consew ? somethingorother that she has never used. I might be able to get away without spending any money.