Choosing A Sewing Machine For Saddle Leather

[samthedog]

Hello folks. I am quite new here but not a complete stranger to leather work. In the past I have either used an awl or glued, then drilled holes in the leather in order to use waxed thread for stitching. This is quite a lot of work and I am looking to make life easier.

I rebuild machines as a hobby and stumbled across a German 5 in 1 a week ago that will make cutting much easier so now I am looking at making stitching more time efficient.

Having done some reserach I am guessing a walking foot machine would be the ideal. Living in Norway has an advantage that I have access to many machines at a reasonable price. Not all are walking foot but all are industrial. I have attached some examples below:

http://www.blocket.se/stockholm/Beg_industrisymaskin_WALKING_FOOT_5760__ex_49915443.htm?ca=23_14&w=3

http://www.blocket.se/klippan/Pfaff_industrisymaskin_49527568.htm?ca=23_14&w=3

http://www.finn.no/finn/torget/annonse?finnkode=45301559&searchQuery=pfaff

http://www.finn.no/finn/torget/annonse?finnkode=44838820&searchQuery=pfaff#resultat?keyword

The machine in the last link seems to be a walking foot type and looks to be in good condition as well. I know of Adler machines so it seems like a decent price and would fulfil my needs. Any opinions on the line up? Sorry about the laguage being Swedish or Norwegian. Thanks for any help.

Paul.

[Constabulary]

The 2nd + 3rd machine do not have a walking foot. The last one is an Adler 204 assuming subclass 64 it has no walking foot but has a needle feed as far as I can tell from the pictures.

They ask 5000 Kronas for it? Thats just about 600€ if I´m right.

GO BUY IT - don´t wait until its gone! Thats is unbelievable cheap!

[Constabulary]

looking closer at the picture I´d say i´d may have walking (or alternating) foot but not compound / triple feed. So not sure about the subclass. Anyway, it seems to be a really good price.

[samthedog]

Thanks Constabulary. The machine is indeed an Adler 204-64 and the gent selling it said he has sewn extremely thick materials with no issues. I also believe that I can get the machine cheaper than the asking price since it has been for sale since the 29th of last month. It has a 3 phase motor which is ok as I have 3 phase in my workshop.

So the Adler 204-64 would sew saddle leather then? I will be sewing pistol holsters, axe faces, knife sheaths etc.. so I want a machine that can handle this type of work.

Thanks for the help so far.

Paul.

[tnawrot2]

I found some information on an Adler 204-64 that might help. It sews leather up to 5/8" thick, it has triple feed, sews in reverse, uses needle sizes from 160 to 230, can use thread up to size 386 and has a maximum stitch length of 12mm

[samthedog]

Thanks tnawrot2. Does the machine I linked to look like it has triple feet or is the same as the 204-64 you are referring to?

Paul

[tnawrot2]

It seems the information I found is incorrect. Blowing up the picture, it shows that the Adler 204-64 is not a walking foot.

Here is the blown up picture

[samthedog]

Thanks for the reply. I received some more pictures which I have attached. The machine also looks like a cobbled together franken-machine. I don't believe I will offer the asking price - providing the general opinion from you guys who know machines better than I do think this will still do the job of sewing heavy leather.

[samthedog]

On a side note, I did find this one:

http://www.finn.no/finn/torget/annonse?finnkode=44226266&searchQuery=industrisymaskin

The lady says the motor is struggling but this is not a big deal given the condition and the price. It seems to be an Adler 67 - 73 walking foot. I will wait to hear back if it is still for sale.

[tnawrot2]

First of all, lets look at the first picture of the three your recently posted. Looking from the side you can see only two rods/shafts. One for the needle and one for the foot. If it was a walking foot machine you would have three rods/shafts one for the needle, one for the outer foot and one for the inner foot.

The last machine that you posted looks like a double needle sewing machine, and it is not walking foot. Also it might not sew with heavy thread, and the height of the pressure foot might not be high enough for heavy work.