Opinions About The Singer 29-4

[SooperJake]

There is an old Singer 29-4 for sale fairly local to me for $500.

If it is in good working order, and has all the parts ( I don't see the wood table so far, but I could make one) , would it be a good machine for sewing holsters and belts?

Thanks for any comments.

Jake

[Kevin]

They are a fantastic machine, but not for holsters or heavy belts.

Kevin

[busted]

It can sew the belts but not the holsters. It has only 1/4" clearance under the pressure foot. In my opinion the machine is not worth 500. These things sell for around 150 to 350 at auction but you do what you want to.

There is an old Singer 29-4 for sale fairly local to me for $500.

If it is in good working order, and has all the parts ( I don't see the wood table so far, but I could make one) , would it be a good machine for sewing holsters and belts?

Thanks for any comments.

Jake

[Luke Hatley]

No it is not....take the $500. and buy a Consew with a walking foot.Now this machine will not sew Holsters.It will top stich belts and you can make a lot of Bilfolds with it...

or put about $2000.00 with the $500.00 and buy a Heavy Duty Machine from one of the Advtisers on here.....I N H O.

[Wizcrafts]

I have owned two Singer 29-4 patchers and have tried using them for projects they cannot handle. Holsters is one of those things.

First of all, the machine is not designed to sew above 1/4 inch of leather. The stitch length at 1/4 inch drops to about 7 or 8 to the inch. The bobbin is about the size of a thick dime and only holds a very small amount of #69 thread. It can probably sew two or three average belts. The drive is by means of teeth on the bottom of the presser foot.

The 29-4 might be up to 100 years old. Unless it has rarely been used, and never abused, the foot driving mechanism my have so much slack that you won't even get 6 stitches per inch, into 8 ounces of leather.

These machines are best reserved for sewing embroidered cloth patches onto jackets and vests.

[SooperJake]

Thanks to all for the comments. At first glance it looked like it might work, but I yield to your expertise.

Hijacking my own' thread', (ironic on a sewing question), I keep reading on the forums about a 441 clone...WTH is a 441 clone?

Jake

[Wizcrafts]

Thanks to all for the comments. At first glance it looked like it might work, but I yield to your expertise.

Hijacking my own' thread', (ironic on a sewing question), I keep reading on the forums about a 441 clone...WTH is a 441 clone?

Jake

A 441 clone is a Chinese built leather stitcher based upon the design of the Juki TSC 441. These machines were first built around 1990 or so and were meant to be used for all types of heavy sewing. They were primarily used to sew very thick canvas, cloth, vinyl and things like car wash drying cloths. They were not really targeted at leather workers at all back then and needed modifications to be used for leather work.

Today's 441 clones are already altered for use by leather workers. Here is a typical 441 clone in use by many of our members (including me!). Similar machines are sold under the Cowboy, Cobra and Techsew names, and others. What you get depends on the dealer you buy the machine from. Because these machines are shipped from China, I would not buy one from anybody other than a knowledgeable dealer who can correct errors, adjust it and time it before shipping it to the buyer.

You will find paid ad banners on the top of every page on LWN. Many of those ads feature a link to that brand of 441 clone. Contact our dealers, who support this forum, and get all your ducks in a row. Then go get you a machine!

Edited June 25, 2012 by Wizcrafts

[cjg]

I have a Tippman Boss that works great for holsters and good for belts, (it's a little slow, but does a good job). It's nice to be able to put every stitch exactly where you want it and it will sew 3/4" with the right needles. I originally bought a 29-4 because my old uncle had one in his shoe shop when I was a kid and it seemed like he could do anything with it. I found that I couldn't do what I wanted with it so I saved up and bought the Tippman. I kept the 29-4 and use it occasionally on small projects, I bought it right and it was in good condition with the cast iron base. It takes awhile getting used to the pedal pumping but it does go pretty fast once you get the hang of it.

Edited July 16, 2012 by cjg