Tippmann Boss

[Iron Pounder]

Bought a Boss to add the ability to do heavier weight leather stitching without doing it by hand. Won't take up much space and like the idea of it being portable. Haven't had a chance to even take it out of the box yet but maybe late tonight. Do most guys make a material guide or buy the one they sell for it? Maybe most just sew in a groove and don't feel it is needed to do what they do. I will be using it to sew solo chopper seats, sheaths, holsters, a few gun belts ( not many) and a few smaller bags for the motorcycle crowd.

I have kicked around buying one for a while but got a decent order for tool bags that I just didn't want to even try to do by hand. This is our first "real made to sew leather" machine and another step towards where we want to land. Has anyone powered one of these little machines? One of the engineers at work and also my uncle who was an engineer for Ford thought it would be fairly easy to do. Being small and portable are two of the things i really like about it so not in my plans to turn it over to them... It would be cool to see a picture or video of one converted though. I like going to old steam engine shows and farm shows to see things other guys have thought up and built.

Any tips right out of the gate or tweaks that are helpful to sewing with the Boss?

[husker]

The love hate relationship begins. I love to hate my Boss. Hate to love. Something like that. It will need very frequent tension adjustments. I ALWAYS sew a sample piece that is the same leather size and type before sewing my project, it always seems like something will need to be adjusted. Don't get me wrong though, once you get it dialed in it lays down a nice stitch.

[Wizcrafts]

The Boss is entirely designed to be hand operated. If you intend to motorize that hand operated machine, be sure to replace the zinc gears with gears milled from good steel. Also, you may need to replace the bearings with better quality ones with grease fittings. The parts in the machine are not designed for continuous rotational use, or motor drive operation.

[Iron Pounder]

Husker, Ha that seems to be a common thing with them I think. Hope I get along with it. It seems they hold so much value that if I end up going a different direction I won't get hurt. One of the forum member here sold his for around 1200 a few weeks back I think. Do you have a guide they sell or what do you use?

Wizcrafts, Ya I just tossed that out there but not interested in letting them do it. If I did let them convert it they would upgrade a few things along the way but I would bet anything when they got done it would be very reliable. My truck that was designed to go 55 down the road turned 10.76 at 126.31 MPH which is a tick faster than when it came out in 1971 . I know your just joking and just poking ya back. I do want to thank you for freely giving up your experience and knowledge on the machines you are no doubt very knowledgeable.

[oldtimer]

Husker, Ha that seems to be a common thing with them I think. Hope I get along with it. It seems they hold so much value that if I end up going a different direction I won't get hurt. One of the forum member here sold his for around 1200 a few weeks back I think. Do you have a guide they sell or what do you use?

Wizcrafts, Ya I just tossed that out there but not interested in letting them do it. If I did let them convert it they would upgrade a few things along the way but I would bet anything when they got done it would be very reliable. My truck that was designed to go 55 down the road turned 10.76 at 126.31 MPH which is a tick faster than when it came out in 1971 . I know your just joking and just poking ya back. I do want to thank you for freely giving up your experience and knowledge on the machines you are no doubt very knowledgeable.

One thing I have discovered about the Boss, is that you must be polite and say "Good morning, how are you today" and talk to it with a calm, low voice, to keep it working flawless!

/ Knut

Edited July 25, 2012 by oldtimer

[JRodz]

Ironpounder,X2 to what Husker and OldTimer said. My Boss always requires a stretch and warm up on a sample piece and does not like to be rushed. If I oil, sew a sample, make adjustments, sew a sample, then take it nice and easy things usually work out really good. If I try to rush it and get going to quick or push/pull the piece, then things go south really quick. All in all it is a great machine and does it's job.

That being said, I don't use it all that often and it is set up with 277 and a 25 needle and I don't do thread changes very often. Not to mention that most of what I do sew on it is of relatively the same thickness and temper. Usually heavy duty belts, motorcycle luggage straps, and other strap items. My guess is the more variety you sew and different thread/needle combinations you use, the more time you"ll spend on adjustments and samples.

Just my $.02, BTW, if I was any more of a rookie I'd be in the stands. But Ive learned a lot by reading this forum and trial and error.

[Iron Pounder]

Ha the Boss sounds like me a bit, I need a some warm up to get going as well. Compared to hand stitching the Boss should seem like a rocket. What is issue with the thread tension? I have heard it mentioned a few times but don't know what the fix is as others don't seem to have that problem so I didn't know if they did something to prevent that issue or just for whatever reason just get lucky. Didn't know if a certain brand of thread may have a tighter wind or possibly just a more consistant wind that allows for less adjustment.

I'm sure like any machine it has a learning curve to it. It took me a while to produce any hand stitching that looked like I could send it out the door. It wasn't until I polished the awl that I started to get somewhere. Having it sharp wasn't enough for me it worked fine for thin leathers but didn't work well for me on thicker (9/10) stuff until I got it to glide on the sides and not drag. The drag always made me push too hard and not come straight out the other side.

Husker, I forgot to mention I really like your logo (avatar)

[Aulus]

It has a learning curve! I´m in this curve! But I like these machine. This hand operatet iron monster is exatly what I wantet!

[Iron Pounder]

Aulus, how long have you had yours? What has been the hardest thing to get worked out?

[JRodz]

In my limited experience, the tension issue is not specific to the Boss, I have a Singer 111W156 and a Singer 29K62 too and they all require some adjusting depending on the leather thickness, type of leather, and needle and thread combination. They all have their quirks, just a matter of getting to know what combinations work. The more you use it, the easier it will get. Again, for me the issue with the Boss is that I haven't spent much time on it until recently even though I've had it for about 3 years.As far as thread goes, I've been using prelubed bonded nylon or bonded polyester which haved frayed, broken, or unraveled so I don't think that is it. I also use leather point needles and change them often, so I don't think that is it either. I really just attribute it to the type, thickness, and temper of the leather. BTW, I am usually only making adjustments to the top tension unless I change the bottom thread. From what I've read on this forum that seems to be normal and expected. Unfortunately, it gives us rookies a good amount of frustration.My advise, just use your Boss and sew all the scraps you can in various types, thicknesses, and tempers and with experience in making those adjustments you'll be good to go. There was a post on here a while back where one gentlemen made himself a cheet sheet counting the threads on the tension adjustment screws for different setups so he could easily and quickly change set ups. I think he had even made reference marks with a sharpie to help himself out.Happy stitching and enjoy your new toy,