Are Pfaff Machines Any Good?

[fishguy]

Been toying with the idea of picking up a sewing machine to speed up my leatherwork a bit. I started looking on craig's list and have seen quite a few Pfaff machines. It would probably be used on 5-7 oz or lighter leather. Don't really mind hand sewing holsters and sheaths but long stitching on bags, belts etc. takes forever by hand.

[TwinOaks]

If it's a home machine, it's still going to have the problems that all home machines have: Not enough machine, inadequate bobbin capacities, wrong type of feeding mechanism, wrong size needles for leather work, etc.

That said, if it's a Pfaff industrial machine, then yes, they are good machines.....but parts are expensive for them.

I have a Viking (Husqvarnaa) home machine with a built in 'low gear', and even on a low setting with a roller type presser foot, the best it can do is about 4oz of veg-tan with me helping the itty bitty flywheel on seams. It'll do decently on chap leather, but since it won't handle the thread size I want, it looks rather awkward.

If you haven't read it, go to the sewing machine forum and read the article by Wizcrafts on what type of sewing machine you'll need.....and why.

[Skald]

I have a Pfaff System 133. It chews through anything, as much goods you can manage to fit into it at least. Problems occur when the thread starts to snap when things are all too thick, but I've never experienced that with normal use. Only real problem is that it sews too damn fast, like many industrial machines do. I need to change some parts to slow it down a little, it's a real problem to maintain any civilized speed with it. There are not many settings available, and therefore not much that can fail either. it's quite old, and you ca find them really cheap.

[amuckart]

I second the advice to go read Wiz' posts on the type of machine you need to sew leather. It'll save you a whole lot of pain in the long run.