Proper Lockstitch Using A Cobra 4

[LeatherWerks]

I have a cobra I bought last February at a trade show in Arizona. Quite an upgrade from my old Tippmann Boss. I know there are several members using cobra 4's on this forum. Can anyone explain the correct procedure to lock a stitch? Here is what I have been doing. Let's say it's a belt I'm sewing. I start someplace near the buckle, a place not too noticeable and start sewing. I continue until I get back to whereo I started. I sew back through the first and then one more hole forward. I then reverse and sew back at least one hole. Is this method correct or should I have ask Cobra Steve this question before I left town with the machine

Thanks,

Steve

[KAYAK45]

Hi Steve, congrats on a good machine there. I have a CB4500, myself, but the sewing is the same. This is what I was taught and hopefully will help. Others will chime in shortly.

I was/am a little confused with your statement that you sew back to were you started. I'm guessing the only way to do that is to sew across the buckle end, from the finish side, back to the other side. If so, don't.

I start about three stitches from were I want the stitch to actually begin and set the first stitches in reverse. then start forward. This LOCKS the beginning. I then sew around the belt, to end on the other side, and reverse again three stitches to LOCK the end. I DO NOT cross over a belt, as that will tend to weaken the leather, at a stress point.

SOOO.. my stitching is a..U shape, beginning and ending with a DOUBLE THREE STITCH.

Hope that makes sense, if knot, somebody will correct me.

Kevin

tight stitches

[LeatherWerks]

Kevin, I guess I wasn't good at explaining my sewing method but your explanation helps a lot. I was not locking the stitch at the start, just at the end and probably not correctly. When you get completely around the belt, I guess you end your stitching in the last hole you made while the machine was in reverse and the do two more reverse stitches to lock the end.

Steve

Hi Steve, congrats on a good machine there. I have a CB4500, myself, but the sewing is the same. This is what I was taught and hopefully will help. Others will chime in shortly.

I was/am a little confused with your statement that you sew back to were you started. I'm guessing the only way to do that is to sew across the buckle end, from the finish side, back to the other side. If so, don't.

I start about three stitches from were I want the stitch to actually begin and set the first stitches in reverse. then start forward. This LOCKS the beginning. I then sew around the belt, to end on the other side, and reverse again three stitches to LOCK the end. I DO NOT cross over a belt, as that will tend to weaken the leather, at a stress point.

SOOO.. my stitching is a..U shape, beginning and ending with a DOUBLE THREE STITCH.

Hope that makes sense, if knot, somebody will correct me.

Kevin

tight stitches

[dirtclod]

If i sew all the way round a belt when i get to where i started i sew 3 or 4 stitches over where i started and call it good. I generally start at the buckle end and go round.