Members Anne Bonnys Locker Posted June 19, 2012 Members Report Posted June 19, 2012 I deal with a lot of people who have no experience and not enough money for the right machine so I send them away to look for an old Singer 15, Pfaff 30 or 1950's Japanese straight stitch machine to start the process off. Most of the central bobbin machines will happily run #92 all day long and the customer can learn to sew on lightweight leather while saving money for a bigger machine - best of both worlds. Quote Darren Brosowski
Moderator Art Posted June 20, 2012 Moderator Report Posted June 20, 2012 The home (or homestead) Singers, 15, 31, 201, 66, 301, and a few others will work fine for lite duty up to 10oz of chrome or soft handed veg sewing with up to 45 and sometimes 69 thread. These will last long enough (with occasional sewing, not continuous use) for you to save up for an industrial machine. These machines can last a few years for part time work. The motor is usually the first thing to go as Singer and Pfaff made really tough machines, just depending on the strain you put on them. If you occasionally put heavy loads on one of these machines, keep the gears greased and other moving parts oiled more often than you would do for standard service. For machines with internal drive motors, keep them well maintained as replacing a motor will cost as much as the machine. For sewing with 92 and above thread, the industrial is clearly a better choice. You can't beat a good tight little Singer for stitch quality, that is why quilters covet them. Art Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Moderator Wizcrafts Posted June 20, 2012 Moderator Report Posted June 20, 2012 I too have a Singer 15-91. I tried to use it to sew leather and Naugahyde, before I got a real walking foot machine. Yes, it can sew leather, even a dress belt. But, the feed system is a limiting factor as is the top needle and thread sizes. Adding a so-called walking foot attachment only accomplished a lessening of the separating of layers, but at the cost of almost half the previous clearance under the foot. That is why honest dealers sell them as "even-feed" attachments (for quilting). If somebody wants to sew leather vests using the piecing method, a 15-91 will do the job. It gets a bit strained sewing larger pieces together. If you only sew thin leather projects (under 3/16"), using #69 bonded nylon thread, or cotton or polycore home sewing thread, a Singer 15-91 is a viable alternative to an industrial sewing machine. I was able to find #20 needles for mine, allowing it to handle buttonhole thread, or even #92 bonded nylon. I no longer use my 15-91, and will gladly sell it to somebody who has a use for it. Quote Posted IMHO, by Wiz My current crop of sewing machines: Cowboy CB4500, Singer 107w3, Singer 139w109, Singer 168G101, Singer 29k71, Singer 31-15, Singer 111w103, Singer 211G156, Adler 30-7 on power stand, Techsew 2700, Fortuna power skiver and a Pfaff 4 thread 2 needle serger.
Members DoubleC Posted June 20, 2012 Members Report Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) Very true Art. These are not industrial leather machines, and I get mad when I see them advertised as such. But I'm a production line of one and I sew on mine with leather maybe 15 minutes a day. You can't use these 8 hours a day everyday to sew leather or they will eventually die and it ain't easy to kill a Singer :-) Edited June 20, 2012 by DoubleC Quote http://www.etsy.com/shop/DoubleCCowgirl
Members Happy Hooligan Posted June 20, 2012 Members Report Posted June 20, 2012 Total agreement on the 15-91. I have 2 of them and use my 201 more as it's easier to load the bobbin. Basically the exact same machine except for the take up of the bobbin. I don't do a lot of leather on mine but do a lot of denim. 8 folds of it at times and might have to help it through the super thick stuff if I go slow... but it goes right through it. If you look a lot, you'll find a walking foot leather machine for cheap... (under 100) if you really look a lot. I also have 2 15-91's for sale and 306K.... Quote
Members Tim Garry Posted August 15, 2012 Members Report Posted August 15, 2012 Total agreement on the 15-91. I have 2 of them and use my 201 more as it's easier to load the bobbin. Basically the exact same machine except for the take up of the bobbin. I don't do a lot of leather on mine but do a lot of denim. 8 folds of it at times and might have to help it through the super thick stuff if I go slow... but it goes right through it. If you look a lot, you'll find a walking foot leather machine for cheap... (under 100) if you really look a lot. I also have 2 15-91's for sale and 306K.... What is a 306K? Quote
Members Happy Hooligan Posted August 15, 2012 Members Report Posted August 15, 2012 What is a 306K? Heavy duty home domestic machine with a zig zag feature. I used it also for denim. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/hsh/3138273747.html Quote
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