#8 Thread ?

[Wizcrafts]

The thread size designations will confuse ya. There are a bunch of different standards associated with different manufacturers or places in the World.

If you follow my path you'll end up with a bunch of different sewing machines. I had narrow and wide cylinder arms, post machines, flatbeds, a Union Lockstitch machine, blind stitcher, sergers, patchers and even an industrial zig zag machine. At one time I had 13 industrial sewing machines. Now, I'm down to just 5:

1. Cowboy CB4500
   
2. Union Lockstitch
   
3. National walking foot
   
4. Singer 31-15
   
5. Singer 29K172
   

I also have these non-industrial sewing machines, all in full working condition:

1. Pfaff 2 needle-4 thread serger
   
2. Janome New Home electronic machine
   
3. Kenmore 158 type, with many attachments and cams
   
4. Singer 15-91 portable
   
5. Singer 66, motorized, in a cabinet
   
6. Kenmore Imperial Rotary, motorized, in a cabinet, from 1942
   

All in all, these machines allow me to sew anything from very light cloth to 7/8 inch of hard leather, with thread sizes ranging from #33 nylon (or #50 or thinner cotton), up to #554 nylon (or 8 cord linen). No one machine can handle the entire range. But, my Cowboy comes awful close! If I tweak it, I can use #92 thread in it and sew jeans cuffs and vests, jackets, zippers, etc. Then, I can change needles, tensions and pressures and sew a 3/4 inch holster with #346 thread.

[CustomDoug]

...All in all, these machines allow me to sew anything from very light cloth to 7/8 inch of hard leather, with thread sizes ranging from #33 nylon (or #50 or thinner cotton), up to #554 nylon (or 8 cord linen). No one machine can handle the entire range. But, my Cowboy comes awful close! If I tweak it, I can use #92 thread in it and sew jeans cuffs and vests, jackets, zippers, etc. Then, I can change needles, tensions and pressures and sew a 3/4 inch holster with #346 thread.

We're pretty much on the same page I think... I have a "high speed" (slowed down with a servo) high shank industrial straight stitch machine (essentially a Juki DDL-5550) for sewing very thin fabric liners such as acetate and satin as well as linens and cottons. Then I have the Pfaff 34 for doing thin leather work or where thinner thread is needed (leather wallet linings, coin purses, etc) plus decorative scroll work with the roller wheel. Then I have this Consew 287R for everything else (upholstery, leather handbags, caps etc.). I will eventually be getting a 441 clone for doing the thicker items that the 287R can not handle. No rush for that though as I have enough on my plate before tackling holsters and harnesses. Oh, and I actually plan to get one of those real cheap Chinese patchers soon too, for double topstitched cylinder shaped items. So, yeah a variety of machines but kept to a minimum is my goal. The 441 clone up front would have been nice (I do get that they'll do a larger variety of things), but the reality is that I could never afford the big price hit all at one time, besides I like having the small thread in a separate machine and having fewer adjustments when switching between tasks.