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[Charlie Cat]

I am a laid off band director and former law enforcement officer. I make simple holsters and Saxophone neck straps. I have a chance to get a machine from a local seller. I am trading a trumpet and prob. adding some bucks to make the difference. If you were in my shoes what would work best for my work. I do everything by hand right now and it is killing me!. Thanks Charlie Cat Catalano New Orleans LA.

P.S. What is the thickest that either one will sew?

Thanks for any help in advance.

[Wizcrafts]

P.S. What is the thickest that either one will sew?

Thanks for any help in advance.

The Singer 29 machines will only sew 1/4 inch maximum. The 31-15 can probably sew 5/16".

Note: there is a difference between how much material can be stuffed under the raised presser foot and how thick it can actually feed and stitch.

The 29 types have a foot that both pulls the work back and lifts off it to move forward for the next stitch. So, you can technically shove 5/16" of leather under the foot, but it won't feed it properly.

The 31-15 is a bottom feed machine. It feeds all the material under the foot. However, it uses garment series needles, which are a little on the short side of the industrial systems. The machines using those needles are made to sew garments that don't normally exceed 1/4 inch thickness. The needlebars have a shorter stroke than walking foot machines. I have read about people who raise the pressor foot on a 31-15, to get them to sew 3/8 inch. I don't know if they also changed the needle system and/or needlebar.

The 31-15, although made as a tailoring machine, is also used by many shoe repair shops for sewing flat upper leather. One guy I knew had a Fortuna Skiver, which he bought from me, a Singer 31-15 and a Singer 29k something, for making custom shoes and boots and repairs to same. This was in addition to the sole stitcher and other shoe repair machines. Of course, he only used #69 thread in the Singer machines.

[Charlie Cat]

Thanks so much for your quick reply and expertise. I don't think either one will work for what I am trying to do. The gentleman has some other machines but I just can't make it financially right now. All of these machines are here in N.O. and I would hate to spend any money and not get close to what I need. I thank you for your help and if you need any musical inst. info I can do that, just not sewing machines. I will see what else he has that I might be able to afford. Thanks again, Charlie Cat

The Singer 29 machines will only sew 1/4 inch maximum. The 31-15 can probably sew 5/16".

Note: there is a difference between how much material can be stuffed under the raised presser foot and how thick it can actually feed and stitch.

The 29 types have a foot that both pulls the work back and lifts off it to move forward for the next stitch. So, you can technically shove 5/16" of leather under the foot, but it won't feed it properly.

The 31-15 is a bottom feed machine. It feeds all the material under the foot. However, it uses garment series needles, which are a little on the short side of the industrial systems. The machines using those needles are made to sew garments that don't normally exceed 1/4 inch thickness. The needlebars have a shorter stroke than walking foot machines. I have read about people who raise the pressor foot on a 31-15, to get them to sew 3/8 inch. I don't know if they also changed the needle system and/or needlebar.

The 31-15, although made as a tailoring machine, is also used by many shoe repair shops for sewing flat upper leather. One guy I knew had a Fortuna Skiver, which he bought from me, a Singer 31-15 and a Singer 29k something, for making custom shoes and boots and repairs to same. This was in addition to the sole stitcher and other shoe repair machines. Of course, he only used #69 thread in the Singer machines.

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks so much for your quick reply and expertise. I don't think either one will work for what I am trying to do. Snip...

I will see what else he has that I might be able to afford. Thanks again, Charlie Cat

We have dealers who are members of this forum (Their ads appear on top of every page, and rotate with every page refresh). Why don't you contact each of them, reveal your budget, state your sewing requirements, and see if anybody can fit a used machine to your wallet?

Edited August 3, 2011 by Wizcrafts

[Charlie Cat]

Thanks Mr. Wiz, but there is really not a budget. Every penny I earn goes toward the household. I taught music for 29 yrs and I am in my 2nd yr of looking for a teaching job and only get some part time work here and there. I don't make my leather goods fast enough to make any money on the goods that I make. That is the reason I am looking for a machine. The gentleman in N.O. is willing to trade some of my insts. for the machines that he is selling for a friend. Even with that I can't afford to put any cash in that direction. Anything insts. that I do end up selling the money will go to bills. I appreciate your advice but I wouldn't want to bother anyone with my little plan. I do thank you for giving me advice and the time that you took with me. I will just keep sewing by hand for now until things improve. Thanks again. Charlie Cat.

We have dealers who are members of this forum (Their ads appear on top of every page, and rotate with every page refresh). Why don't you contact each of them, reveal your budget, state your sewing requirements, and see if anybody can fit a used machine to your wallet?

[Wizcrafts]

Okay Charlie Cat. Did you know that everyday is Caturday? Especially in N'orleans

Since you are going to have to trade for a machine and you only have two to chose from, let's whittle it down, shall we?

Your projects don't seem like they will require a lot of thickness, but could exceed 1/4 inch. That leaves out the patcher. So, by the process of deduction, you just bought a Singer 31-15. Finding it too fast to control, you'll buy a smaller motor pulley and shorter v-belt. You can purchase some different presser feet, in time. You may even convert it into a roller foot machine, someday. Being an experimenter and new note finder, you shall manage to make the machine sew consistently good stitches with #138 thread, top and bottom. Being inquisitive, you will find an alternate needle type that is a little longer, but still fits into the needlebar. You will learn to retime your machine for the longer needle. Then, you will realize that you can raise the presser foot a bit higher, until it just clears the descended needlebar. That will allow you to sew about 3/8 of an inch; maybe more.

Someday you will remember where you dreamed all this up and thank me. to the tune of Limehouse Blues

[amuckart]

I am a laid off band director and former law enforcement officer. I make simple holsters and Saxophone neck straps. I have a chance to get a machine from a local seller. I am trading a trumpet and prob. adding some bucks to make the difference. If you were in my shoes what would work best for my work. I do everything by hand right now and it is killing me!. Thanks Charlie Cat Catalano New Orleans LA.

The first thing that popped into my mind was 'what's the trumpet worth if you sold it'? If you're willing to part with it to get a sewing machine then that pretty much sets your budget. It's easy to underestimate how much machine consumables can cost too, so keep that in mind.

[KAYAK45]

I have to agree with Amuckart. I paid $75 for my truly great 31-15 (head only) added a servo from Sewmun, a used table and and... and now I have a complete perfect set-up machine with about $320 + -.

[Wizcrafts]

The bottom line is that if you have to choose between two machines, which you will be trading for, the 31-15 is more customizable-alterable than any 29 type. Neither machine is built for heavy duty usage. Neither was made with heavy thread in mind. But, the patcher machines are not nearly as strong as they look. These machines are easily damaged and wear out quickly, if used to sew hard leather, with heavy thread.

Finally, the bobbins on the patchers are either tiny, or minute. What is sold as a large bobbin for the big bobbin models is about 2/3 the capacity of a "standard" industrial bobbin. That bobbin is the same as the one used in the ancient Singer 15- class home machines. So, you can sew farther with any size thread with a 31 type machine, than a 29 type.

The only reason for having a 29 patcher machine is to do patching of torn shoes and garments, to install zippers in bags, to fix cylindrical pouches, or to sew patches onto vest and jackets. They are perfect for sewing inside of round goods, up the arm and back.

[Charlie Cat]

Hello to all, I appreciate all of your comments and thank all of you. I contacted the seller about the machines. He told me that one that was supposed to be sold by tues. is still there and has not heard from the buyer. I will put the model and pic. here. He also has another singer model 50 or something but I will check. I can sell my trumpet for 3 hundred and 350 bucks. I can make an even trade for the 31 15 but that would be for one that I would have to reinstall the motor and get a belt and figure how to mount it on the table. He has another one but I would have to come up with another hundred bucks. It is all intact and running etc. What do you all think about the one that might be avail later today? I would be happy to send all of you a couple of my bands recordings on you send it, for all of you that have givem me help. Thanks Charlie Cat,

The last one Silver is already sold and gone. Sorry

The bottom line is that if you have to choose between two machines, which you will be trading for, the 31-15 is more customizable-alterable than any 29 type. Neither machine is built for heavy duty usage. Neither was made with heavy thread in mind. But, the patcher machines are not nearly as strong as they look. These machines are easily damaged and wear out quickly, if used to sew hard leather, with heavy thread.

Finally, the bobbins on the patchers are either tiny, or minute. What is sold as a large bobbin for the big bobbin models is about 2/3 the capacity of a "standard" industrial bobbin. That bobbin is the same as the one used in the ancient Singer 15- class home machines. So, you can sew farther with any size thread with a 31 type machine, than a 29 type.

The only reason for having a 29 patcher machine is to do patching of torn shoes and garments, to install zippers in bags, to fix cylindrical pouches, or to sew patches onto vest and jackets. They are perfect for sewing inside of round goods, up the arm and back.