Help With Leather Sewing Machine Decision - Please!

[jcuk]

Help with leather sewing machine decision - Please!

Hello everyone!

I need some help deciding what to do about a machine. As I already own a Singer 45K which tends to sew too quickly for me. I have read on this forum about SERVO motors - So I looked on Youtube and watched some video and quite like the look ot them.

But even though I own the singer machine, I am still very much a novice with regards to threading and setting the tension.

Would a Servo Motor work on this old machine? And I am also considering purchasing a Tippmann Boss - which of course I can control the speed it sews and it seems a good machine to learn on - threading and tension. ( although I have read on this forum some people have had issues with this...)

I am based in the UK and my leather work consists of:

• Re-rubbering reins ( horse racing) which takes two hours by hand....But need to speed this up...
• Stitching and making bridles/ head collars (halters) - currently hand stitiching
• repair of race exercise saddles etc....

I have also seen various powered machines mentioned on this forum, ie TECHSEW, COBRA, COWBOY, etc... Being in the UK I am not sure about customer service and backup.

If anyone has advice for me I would be very greatful - or any other sugestions about machines I have not mentioned....

Many thanks

JC in the UK

[Wizcrafts]

I am sure that a servo motor will help you control your 45k. Most will bold right into the old holes from the clutch motor. However, you may need to change to a shorter v-belt, depending on the difference in the sizes of the motor pulley and the height from the centerline of the output shaft to the underside of the table. Some clutch motors sit further down than newer servos. Once you find a servo you are interested in, contact the dealer and ask them to measure from the top of the motor mounts to the center of the shaft. Measure the same distance on your existing motor. If they are almost the same, only the difference in motor pulleys will come into play. For every inch or centimeter that the pulley is smaller on the servo than on the clutch motor, subtract the same amount when ordering a new v-belt.

Example:

The old motor shaft axis sits 5" below the table and new servo sits just 4" down. Old motor has a 3" pulley, while new one has a 2" pulley.

Subtract 1 inch for the new motor being closer to the body and another inch for the new smaller diameter pulley. Order a 3 inch shorter belt than what is on the machine now.

Of course, being across the pond you will need a 220 volt, single phase motor. I do believe that most of our dealers on the forum have 220v motors. You will want at least a half horsepower servo. 3/4 HP is even better for heavy sewing. Most servos have push button speed limiters, but there are still some with a pot on them. I prefer to turn a knob to change top speed, rather than playing wack-a-mole with up-down button sequences.

[jcuk]

Wizcrafts,

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly....

My Singer machine is currently in storage, although hoping to get it out soon, have it serviced and I will get the guy to maybe implement the changes you have suggested. Or do you think I would be better trading this old machine in and purchasing something newer?

[Wizcrafts]

Wizcrafts,

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly....

My Singer machine is currently in storage, although hoping to get it out soon, have it serviced and I will get the guy to maybe implement the changes you have suggested. Or do you think I would be better trading this old machine in and purchasing something newer?

If the machine is already in storage, try to sell it locally. A new 441 clone will out-perform the 45k many times over.

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Hey Wiz, without doubt the 441 clone will make the 45k look ordinary but remember that these machines were the main harness machine for the best part of 70 years! Sure, the Pearson no6 was the saddlery machine for the heavy stuff but the 45k was and still is a fine machine.

In an ideal world a 441 or a 205 clone would sit in the center of everyone's workshop but there is still room for the 45k/GA5. Every saddler I know has at least half a tonne of cast iron in his/her workshop and for the person doing lighter work I suspect we are being a bit heavy handed telling them to get rid of the older machines.

I intend no disrespect here to your experience and knowledge - which are way beyond my meager abilities - but I think we often need to consider where people are actually starting from with their own experience and needs.

[Wizcrafts]

Hey Wiz, without doubt the 441 clone will make the 45k look ordinary but remember that these machines were the main harness machine for the best part of 70 years! Sure, the Pearson no6 was the saddlery machine for the heavy stuff but the 45k was and still is a fine machine.

snip

I had a 45k(25?) for a couple of years and found it not up to snuff for the projects I was making. It had a roller foot. The OP is not using his machine right now, so it seemed reasonable to suggest selling it to help buy something with compound feed.

[jcuk]

Thanks Wizcraft, for your advice...

I did suspect that it would be possibly better to try and sell this machine. I think I had already come to this conclusion myself but needed some good advice...

Anne thanks for your imput, I think you are right about it being a good machine, which is why I purchased it several years ago. But have never really got on with the machine, and I also know

that it is a highly regarded machine here in the UK as well as around the world with saddlers. The reason I am looking for a newer machine is the fact I am hoping they will be easier to use and control.

Could I trouble the pair of you or anyone, to look at the link below and offer their opinion of this machine. The price with shipping is around £150 pounds ( $239) more than the Tippmann Boss with all the attachments and accessories Which I would order with the machine.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item35baab6034

Thanks again, looking forward to your response

JC UK

[Cobra Steve]

Thanks Wizcraft, for your advice...

I did suspect that it would be possibly better to try and sell this machine. I think I had already come to this conclusion myself but needed some good advice...

Anne thanks for your imput, I think you are right about it being a good machine, which is why I purchased it several years ago. But have never really got on with the machine, and I also know

that it is a highly regarded machine here in the UK as well as around the world with saddlers. The reason I am looking for a newer machine is the fact I am hoping they will be easier to use and control.

Could I trouble the pair of you or anyone, to look at the link below and offer their opinion of this machine. The price with shipping is around £150 pounds ( $239) more than the Tippmann Boss with all the attachments and accessories Which I would order with the machine.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item35baab6034

Thanks again, looking forward to your response

Edited April 17, 2012 by Cobra Steve

[Cobra Steve]

Hi jcuk. We have been shipping Internationally for 3 years now. We ship worldwide and have very reasonable rates. Please contact me regarding shipping a 220V COBRA Class 4 to you. Thanks, Steve

P.S. Sorry for the error on the above post.Steve

Edited April 17, 2012 by Cobra Steve

[CowboyBob]

While it does look like a real nice machine,I've sold them & different needle plates for sewing things like stirrups,holsters & etc along with the feet are not available.They will just barely sew the 15mm & it would have to be a soft leather only.I'm not saying this beacuse I sell them but the feet,plates & any other spares are much easier to buy & lower price than for this machine.

Also the 441 style of machine will sew much heavy & feed better.There should be some used Juki or clone 441's over there for sale.If I were I would wait for one.

Bob