Tippmann Boss - the bottom line...

[rickybobby]

Ray,

I have a alum. body Boss stitcher. It ran very rough when I first started with it but I started looking around and behind it and found that there was not much lubrication on ANY of the moving parts. (prob. for shipping) I lubed it up and started cranking out the stitches and it works like a dream!

I sew chap leather, I sew saddle skirting, I sew saddle skirting to chap leather. This thing does it all. I know that others have not had the same expierience I have had with mine but I really like mine . I work in a saddle shop and have several electric machines available to use and I do use them during the day but at home and for spending my own cash, I still like the Boss.

Hope this helps.

Rick Jorgenson

[UKRay]

Just want to thank you all for your kind advice. i'm still a tad confused but you all helped enormously. Thanks again, Ray

[Bob]

Ray, if I were you and living in the UK. I'd search out a pearson stitcher. The pearson sewing machine was developed in that part of the world. (England I think) I'm not sure where exactly, perhaps someone here can shed some light on this. I've used and love the Pearson sewing machine. I'm sure you can buy one there for as much as or less than you'll pay for a tippman stitcher here plus the shipping, and have a hell'ova lot better sewing machine too. They're easy to run and operate, a kid can operate them. I hope this don't add too much to your delema, but I think you should look into this more closely, than running out an buying a tippman to ship over there.

Edited July 3, 2008 by Bob

[Randy Cornelius]

Really? 'cause I can't find anything that will handle heavy leather for less than twice the price...

Look at the Artisen Toro 3000 for around 2000.00

[jwwright]

I purchased a new Artisan 3000, along with the flatbed attachement, about 3 weeks ago. Cost with shipping was about $2500. This is my first machine, and I really am getting along well with it. JW

[Rolf]

Having looked at all the previous Tippman Boss posts and bored 'cousin' Luke silly by asking daft questions, I am hoping the forum can help me make or break the decision to shell out a small fortune and ship a Tippmann Boss to the UK.

I work almost exclusively in 10/12 oz leather (approx 4mm thick). Mostly russet tooling leather and waxy bridle leather and occasionally 2-3mm soft leather. Whilst my hand sewing is more than adequate for purpose, I can't say I get a heap of pleasure from it and felt the Boss might offer some advantages.

Which brings me to the point of this topic: advantages and disadvantages are very personal. Some people seem to hate the Boss whilst others love it. Is this down to the way the machine is used/expectations of the machine/machine performance/longevity/ cost of ownership (repairs and the like). Why is there so much difference of opinion?

Personal experience of stitching two or three thicknesses of 4mm with a Tippman Boss would be appreciated along with any suggestions, thoughts or comments about use and ownership - the more long winded the better! Over to you... ..and I really appreciate your time. Ray Hatley

The Boss from Tippmann is the only real leather sewing machine for western saddlery work. Oll others are fine as well but not that powerfull!

Edited July 22, 2008 by Rolf

[bruce johnson]

Rolf,

I can appreciate your enthusiasm for the Boss. I had one of the early ones, and they will do the job. However they do have the drawback of not being powered, a narrow throat, and require one hand to run them. Tedious on production or even a single set of doubled and stitched reins. They are easy to operate and learn. Once I go the tensions right on mine, it seldom needed tweaking. However I am going to respectfully disagree with your statement that they are the only real sewing machine for western saddlery work. They will sew whatever you can cram under the foot. That said, I have had good results sewing any type of saddlery work I needed to do with an Adler 205. Likewise with my Pro 2000. I am pretty sure most people are very happy with what their Artisan 3000s and 4000s will do. The servo motors and speed reducers provide all the power and control I need. To back up, there are quite a few who like their Pearsons and needle/awl machines too. The Boss fit a niche when it was introduced, nothing else had its capacity within $2000 of it. Not the same story now, but it still is solid little machine.