Does Compound Feed Mean It Is A Triple Feed?

[Flattracker]

Hi, I'm based in the UK and looking at getting a sewing machine that doesn't mark the veg tan leather. I've tried a Singer 133K8 but the underside of the leather ended up with teeth indents. Numerous adds I've seen for leather sewing machines state they are compound feed, does this mean it is a triple feed which I understand won't mark the leather. Many thanks

[cdthayer]

A compound feed machine will mark your leather if it has teeth on its feet. Here’s a broken work belt that I repaired with a Consew 225. Marking wasn’t a concern on this one. Just sewing an old belt back together to get a few more miles out of it.

CD in Oklahoma

[Andrew Chee]

Compound feed and triple feed basically mean the same thing. There are compound feed machines designed more for fabric and ones more for leather. The basic difference is that the ones for fabric will have teeth in the feed dogs and feet and the ones for leather will have smooth ones. Teeth help the feet grab fabric better where leaving marks is not a concern. A compound feed with smooth feed and feed dog is what you're looking for. Bear in kind though that these machines may still mark some because they are putting pressure on the leather (pressing against it) but the marking would be much much less and it may be possible to adjust the presser feet pressure to minimize marking.

Andrew

[Flattracker]

Thanks for the replies. Hi Cdthayer, that's exactly the type of marks the Singer 133K8 made on my leather samples I took along. Amongst the samples was some Horween CXL, the tooth marks could be pushed out of it, but not an ideal situation. Hi Andrew, here comes a silly question! are the feed & feed dog easily changeable between toothed and smooth versions? This would make the machine more adaptable or am I barking up the wrong tree. Do you know if the Singer 133K8 I tried was a Compound triple feed or a Double feed type. Thanks all, Rich

[cdthayer]

The marks that you can see in my second photo are from the feeddog. That side was down.

CD in Oklahoma

Edited February 16, 2014 by cdthayer

[Tejas]

The following link describes the 133K8 as a drop-feed, walking-foot machine -- lacks needle-feed.

http://www.ismacs.ne...es-100-199.html

[Flattracker]

Whoah! I didn't realise Singer made so many different models. I think I need to do some more reading to fully understand about Drop feeds, dogs. pressers etc etc

[Tejas]

A compound walking-foot machine (aka, compound-feed, unison-feed, triple-feed) has both drop-feed (bottom-feed) and needle-feed (top-feed) with an alternating presser-foot (walking-foot).

Drop-feed is accomplished by a set serrated feed-dogs that grip the material between the feed-dog and the presser-foot. When the needle is lifted out of the fabric, the feed-dog raises out of slots in the base of the machine and moves the material. At the end of the movement, the feed-dogs drop and relinquish the grip.

Needle-feed is accomplished by moving the material with the needle when the needle is in the material as the needle follows essentially an elliptical path. Needle-feed also mitigates the tendency of lower layers of material to feed faster than upper layers with drop-feed machines.

The following links might be helpful. The YouTube video also shows the control possible with a servo motor and do click on "show more."

http://en.wikipedia....Feed_mechanisms

The following thread is excellent for understanding more about industrial sewing machines.

http://leatherworker...showtopic=25239

Edited February 16, 2014 by Tejas

[Andrew Chee]

Depending on the machine and what parts are available for them, smooth feed dogs and presser feet may be available. It just depends on what people sell. If not, you can always take an existing feed dog or foot and grind down the teeth to smooth or almost smooth. That's what a lot of the dealers around here would do if a smooth version of a part is not made.

Depending on the machine, these parts can be very cheap (like for singer 111) class type machines so it won't cost you too much to do this.

Andrew

[Flattracker]

Big thanks for the info folks, lots to digest tonight & tomorrow. That youtube of the needle feed is so cool, love the control and movement. I've been hand-stitching for the last 2 years so maybe the way I construct things by hand-stitching is different when using machines. Maybe it might be good if I post a photo of a small bag I made for my old BSA last year and you can advise if it could be done the same by machine. I'll dig it out tomorrow. Thanks