oclack Report post Posted June 19, 2013 Friends, Like many others I'm working toward picking up my first leather sewing machine. I was fortunate to learn about Bogle-Greenwell Machine Company in Grand Prairie, Texas. All they sell is machinery for the leather industry. Each machine (including used ones) come with a warrantee. He (Mr Bogle) claims they're equivalent in every way to the COBRA machines. They've been in business for 60+ years and are close by (about 20 minutes away) which should make getting help and/or service convenient. There are three machines types of machines: - industrial flatbed - industial cylinder arm - harness machine w/ cylinder arm I'll see if I can ascertain the exact model numbers. Each is on a nice table. All have reverse and they'll install a slow-speed servo motor on either on them for a few bucks more. My concerns/question: - Has anyone used Bogle-Greenwell (BGMC) before? - Can I get too much machine? For example, can a stitch a small wallet on a heavy leather harness machine? - For the most flexibility, should I go with a cylinder arm machine over a flatbed? - what's the difference, between a harness machine versus a walking-foot machine? Why choose one over the other? My projects require a range of leather weights from 2-10oz and include its like: - small goods: iphone covers, journal covers, wallets, ipad cases, pouches, etc - wearables: belts, guitar straps, etc. - bags: portfolios, totes, satchels and briefcases So, what do you think? What if I decided to just go with a Cobra machine? Which model works best for me? I'm sure this has all be covered somewhere before, but some times it can be difficult to find an answer by piecing together all the various comments and advise from all the posts. Your help is appreciated? You can see my work here if youj'd like to see what I'm talking about - http://instagram.com/odinleather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted June 19, 2013 (edited) Don't bother trying to sew 2 ounces on a 441 (Juki TSC 441) or clone (Cobra, Cowboy, Bogel, Techsew, etc). Get a separate machine for your wallets and zippers. Any flat bed walking foot machine will do. They will also sew up to 3/8 inch of leather, with #138 thread and sometimes #207. The 441 type harness stitchers have a practical lower limit of about 6 ounces, with #92 or 138 bonded thread. Most are made for very heavy thread and will have trouble sewing with #92 and under. You might get it to sew forward, but it may skip in reverse. Sometimes thin top thread gets jammed inside the shuttle race. These machines are best suited for use with size 207 and larger thread and leather thicknesses of 1/8 to 3/4 inches, However, if you are careful and make the required adjustments, they will sew from 6 ounces to 7/8 inches. If you sew a lot of items that have vertical shapes or curves, a cylinder arm is the best machine. Edited June 19, 2013 by Wizcrafts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
