Anyone Using One Of These Leather Patchers?

[RavenAus]

First thing to try is swap out the needle. The 290 does not like blunt needles at all! I can tell straight away now when mine needs swapping, it'll do just that - cut the top thread.

[henkdejong]

Thank you!, I did that without success. The thread ravels when caught by the hook (looks like the sharp point cuts into the thread) I changed the needle, adjusted the needle depth, checked the shuttle bearer position (hi side facing the needle hole when the plate handle is vertical) etc etc.

Although I cannot get a finger behind my problem, it should not be not too difficult, the charm of the machine is it's simplicity but at this stage it is confusing me.

[Constabulary]

I have to say that this is by far the ugliest and most unprofessional looking and unfinished machine I ever have seen.

This is something I´d expect to see in a Chinese province, somewhere in the darkest Russia or in a development country but not in the western hemisphere. I hope it does not come from the same factory the other Chinese machines come from.

This thing seems to work but who honestly wants to have this thing in a professional looking shop?

Just my 2 cents - others may have a different opinion. Men, is this thing ugly!

[howie696]

I have one and it's got character :-)

not ugly just interesting

[RavenAus]

This thing seems to work but who honestly wants to have this thing in a professional looking shop?

You give me $4k for a decent walking foot cylinder arm or post bed and I'll bin the 290! Until then I just have to use what I can afford. There's not much in the way of good machines here in oz, you use what you can afford and since I'm unemployed following redundancy a 290 is doable, a 'real' machine isn't.

[henkdejong]

True, but ugly cannot be the argument. It works and you find it all over Asia, check the YouTube links at a post above. It is more of less a third world basic copy of a Singer 29 and a Claes.

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

OK, I have one of these, bought it because my wife wanted me to buy her a purse from Kansas Saddlery, and to me, I just couldn't see spending $300 for a purse I could make, if I had a patcher. So even though I have both a Boss and a CB4500, I decided it made sense to spend the $300 on the machine, make the purse and have the patcher left over. Would I rather have a Singer 29K172, you bet, but; since I only use it once and a while, and it can be taken to a horse show and used out of the back of my truck easily, it just made sense. Now then, the quality of finish is not something I would brag about, but; it does work, and while I got a bag full of extra parts with it, I haven't had to use any of them yet. I have had it for a year and a half or so. Again, I don't use it much, but; when I get a pair of boots that need zippers put in, or something needs patching I am glad I have it. Some day I may upgrade to a nice singer, but; for now, that would be a luxury.

Bob

[henkdejong]

Hi Bob, do you have a non Chinese manual or instruction how to make the adjustments for smooth operation?

[Darren Brosowski]

Hi,

The instruction manual does not include anything about adjustments but I think I know what your problem is.

Before starting any adjustments make sure the needle is correct and in the right way. The needle is a standard domestic 705, HAX1, 15X1 etc with a flat on the shank. The flat goes against the needle bar so the long groove is facing left and the scarf faces the body of the machine.

You need to be threading from the left to the right.

There are a few things to check

1/ make sure the needle is centered on the hole in the needle plate. If not there are three bolts under the bed to loosen off for adjustment.

2/ Sometimes there is a bur in the takeup leaver that can damage the thread.

3/ Check the position of the shuttle carrier. Open the needle plate, turn the handle clockwise until the needle hits bottom and the comes up a couple of mm. The 1/3rd moon shaped shuttle carrier should by up against the needle - two thirds to the front (handwheel side) and one third behind the needle. If not then remove the shuttle carrier and drop it into the correct position. The shuttle carrier lifts out and has a pinion on the bottom.

If all of the above is ok then it can only be the needle bar height.

4 Remove the shuttle but leave the shuttle carrier in place. Turn the handle clockwise as in step 3 but keep turning slowly until the needle is exposed. The top of the eye of the needle should be just level with or slightly below the flat surface of the shuttle carrier. If not then undo the screw facing you at the top of the needle bar adjust.

All of that should take 10-20 minutes.

Hi Bob, do you have a non Chinese manual or instruction how to make the adjustments for smooth operation?

[Darren Brosowski]

Yes it is ugly! But it is also inexpensive and reliable.

It makes a great starter machine for newbies as it is also light and compact.

Many of my customers purchase these for repairing horse rugs and have moved up to more professional machines for leather.

Some upholsterers and auto trimmers buy them for those odd jobs that people turn up with every now and then. A 29k takes up a lot of space on a treadle and moving the head around when you need it is a pain (at 30kg - literally). A couple of guys leave it on the front counter as a talking point.

I think "factory" is too grandiose a term. More likely a cave somewhere

I have to say that this is by far the ugliest and most unprofessional looking and unfinished machine I ever have seen.

This is something I´d expect to see in a Chinese province, somewhere in the darkest Russia or in a development country but not in the western hemisphere. I hope it does not come from the same factory the other Chinese machines come from.

This thing seems to work but who honestly wants to have this thing in a professional looking shop?

Just my 2 cents - others may have a different opinion. Men, is this thing ugly!