Clone Machines - 205 Or 441?

[amuckart]

Good morning,

I bought a techsew 5100 some years ago and it's supposed to be a copy of a 441. The 205 is similar in function as the 441 . You know triple entrainment . But the main difference is the lenght of the arm. You could drive a truck through the opening. Anyway all those machines are made in china these days. I changed the type of needle on mine (put in a shorter one cause the shorter the needle the less flexible and better regularity in the stitch lenght when using finer needles)

Do you have more photos of the roller guide on your machine? I like the style that swings down a whole lot more than the ones that bolt on next to the needle plate, but I've never seen one on a 441 before.

Cheers.

[evandailey]

Do you have more photos of the roller guide on your machine? I like the style that swings down a whole lot more than the ones that bolt on next to the needle plate, but I've never seen one on a 441 before.

Cheers.

That's the style that Weaver Leather is selling for their new 441 Clone Machine. I was at their showroom a couple of weeks ago and Vernon Weaver spent a good 45 mins showing the machine to me.

[amuckart]

Neat, I hope they become available for other 441 clones too.

[Leather Guru]

Do you have more photos of the roller guide on your machine? I like the style that swings down a whole lot more than the ones that bolt on next to the needle plate, but I've never seen one on a 441 before.

Cheers.

Hello Man,

Sorry for the delay in sending the pics but my PC was funky after I tried to install software for a printer and I'm just now back up . When I ordered the machine I asked the guy to make sure it had a swing up guide and alas it was so delivered . I'll be doing a blog soon with Luke Hattley about what I think are some definet musts for a sewing guide.

Good luck in finding one .

By the way I also ordered 3 extra sets of what you guys call blanket feet and made my own left and right and double. I also ground off the teeth on the big one . Now two years later I see them feet can be ordered but I don't like a small foot with a hole in it , can't see where the needle is going to hit

Edited September 3, 2011 by Leather Guru

[amuckart]

Thanks for the extra pictures. Now to find out who else has those or if they're a weaver exclusive.

[leatherkind]

I just received and installed a drop down roller fabric guide for Cowboy 4500 from Bob Kovar. Thank you Bob for great advise and speedy shipment.

I am not sure i did it perfectly but it works great and it is surprisingly rigid.

I have attached it with 6mm bolts for which holes were drilled and tapped.

It is installed as low as possible so that I did not have to change the angle of the manual presser foot lift handle.

There are two modifications to existing parts however.

1. The ball handle of the manual presser foot lift is grinded by about 1/4" so it would not hit the roller guide mechanism.

2. Roller guide altitude limiting bolt is shortened and the nut that secures it is put on the other side of that back fixture. That too was done to avoid it being an obstacle.

[Leather Guru]

I just received and installed a drop down roller fabric guide for Cowboy 4500 from Bob Kovar. Thank you Bob for great advise and speedy shipment.

I am not sure i did it perfectly but it works great and it is surprisingly rigid.

I have attached it with 6mm bolts for which holes were drilled and tapped.

It is installed as low as possible so that I did not have to change the angle of the manual presser foot lift handle.

There are two modifications to existing parts however.

1. The ball handle of the manual presser foot lift is grinded by about 1/4" so it would not hit the roller guide mechanism.

2. Roller guide altitude limiting bolt is shortened and the nut that secures it is put on the other side of that back fixture. That too was done to avoid it being an obstacle.

Nice job man ,

I think Bob is gonna be selling a lot of guides . In my opinion these guides should be standard equipment on those machines !

You should now make yourself a straight guide ( without roller ) which will ride better on top of the leather as in your picture .

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Thanks for the extra pictures. Now to find out who else has those or if they're a weaver exclusive.

There is a similar style available for the 205. Hopefully I can get them from my contacts in Taiwan and try them on a 441.

[KAYAK45]

OK. Now you guys have me confused and I don't like that.

Why won't the ""weaver 441 clone", "swing down guide", work on the "Other 441 clones"?

Or does it?

Looks like a better guide than the lower plate guides.

Kevin

EDIT. Sorry i hadn't gone to second page. Now I grock. Will order Bob's today!!!

Edited September 27, 2011 by KAYAK45

[hidepounder]

Do you change shims when changing needle size? Ken

Ken I didn't mean to be un-responsive....I just missed your question. The answer is no, I don't change the shims. Vernon says that's pretty unusual, that I shouldn't be able to use 69 thread...especially without having skipping problems. When I bought this machine I was told it was the very last model which was imported from where ever the hell they were manufacturing them (Czechoslovakia? ), before they began making them wherever the hell they're making them now Anyway according to Vernon I should change the shims because his are metal and much more accurate than what I have. I'm a little concerned about messing with them. My philosophy is usually "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I will confess, however, that I am limited to certain stitch lengths. In other words I can't use 69 thread and sew at 6 spi. I have to sew at 9 -12spi, which is fine fore me because I prefer a harness looking stitch to the more common "western" stitch anyway. Conversely I cannot sew with 207 at 12spi....I must increase the length to about 6-8spi. So however my machine was made, it allows to do things I shouldn't be able to and yet I am not able to do some things which others can. Heck I didn't even know my machine had shims until I spoke with Vernon at Sheridan this summer, LOL!

The first photo is of a belt sewn with 92 thread @ 12spi. The second is of a purse sewn with 69 thread @ 10-12 spi (I don't remember which). Both were sewn on 205/370 Adler.

Edited September 27, 2011 by hidepounder