eandy Report post Posted May 8, 2012 Hi, I'm new here and new to leather work in general, I'm looking to buy a machine that will work well for leather (bags, belts, wallets etc.) but in Australia the prices are much higher that in the US - I saw this sewing machine on eBay PFAFF 461-34/BS Walking foot and was hoping that someone could tell me if it's suitable or if you have a suggestion on what I should look out for. Thanks, Carl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trox Report post Posted May 8, 2012 Hi, I'm new here and new to leather work in general, I'm looking to buy a machine that will work well for leather (bags, belts, wallets etc.) but in Australia the prices are much higher that in the US - I saw this sewing machine on eBay PFAFF 461-34/BS Walking foot and was hoping that someone could tell me if it's suitable or if you have a suggestion on what I should look out for. Thanks, Carl Hi Carl, This is not a walking foot machine. The term walking foot machine is for us leatherworkers a machine with triple feed (under, over and needle feed; working together and adjusted on one stitch regulator) the triple feed machine has two feet’s that alternates. I do not know this Pfaff model, but I can see it is no triple feed machine. Sometimes when machines have one foot that vibrates, (go up and down) they call it a walking foot machine. And sometimes it have one foot that walks, they call it the same. EBay is a very bad place to buy a sewing machine, you must know sewing machines to do so, and it still is a gamble. I see this is a self-oiling machine, it is a system used on high-speed machines not on leather machines. Other things too, I will not use time to explain them, tells me it is not a leather machine. This is a high-speed machine for fabric and thin thread, not for you. And if you need a high-speed textile machine, this is priced way too high. You will be able to sew belts and wallets on a flat bed machine, but for bags, you need a triple feed cylinder arm machine. Read up on the pinned topics on the subject. We have several Australian members and machine dealers here on the forum; one of them will for sure be able to help you. Adding a few hundred $ and you will be able to buy a new Chinese triple feed leather machine of one of our member dealers. (Click on the banners on the top of the site). Stay away from EBay, look in our for sale section and talk to other members. Personally, I have four leather machines for sale, but I am located in Norway. I am sure somebody here is able to help you. Good luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eandy Report post Posted May 8, 2012 Hi Trox, Thanks a lot for the very detailed reply - I can see I have a lot of research still to do The list of things you mention I should look for is a great place to start. I think you're probably right about being very careful about things like this on ebay - I was temped because the seller is fairly close to where I live but I'm really grateful for your advice and i think I'll give ebay a miss. I'll definitely look at the sale section on the forum and the member dealers and I'll try not to rush and to make sure I know what I need before I buy. Thanks again for all your help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leatheroo Report post Posted May 8, 2012 You could try contacting Jim beaton... he is the rep for cowboy sewing machines in australia.. Jim Beaton, Phone 07 4126 2241 gsaddler@bigpond.com Great guy and gives good advice, give him a call. He often has some machines on special. cheers caroline (geelong vic) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
