geckostraps Report post Posted May 29, 2014 I've been making guitar straps for 2 1/2 years. Been getting serious the past 6 months. I have a local tailor thats been sewing my straps for me. Seems I've been paying him ALOT of money lately. $20 a strap to be exact I'm thinking its time to get a machine and learn how to do this on my own. I can spend $800-1000 on a machine. This would be a good time to mention, I don't know the first thing about sewing or sewing machines. Here is one I am intrigued by. http://www.ebay.com/itm/310343894852?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Its in Chicago which is drive able for me What exactly do I need to sew.....7-9 oz. Leather? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted May 30, 2014 (edited) I have sewn hundreds of guitar straps and rifle slings, both with padded suede linings and plain. A typical tooled strap is about 8-9 ounces thick. There is no sense using thread under #138 bonded nylon, especially if there is any lining on the back. A 4 ounce lining makes the package about 12 ounces thick (3/16"). The best needle size for this job is a #23 (160) leather point. There is only one type of machine I can honestly recommend for these jobs: a compound feed, walking foot machine, with a large M style bobbin (Consew, Chandler, Adler, Pfaff, Seiko), or a Juki DNU-1541 or LU-1508N, which have a double capacity Juki LU bobbin. Any of these machines can sew up to 3/8 inches of real leather strapping, using #138 thread on top and in the bobbin, with spacing over 4 to the inch possible. They are manually oiled, with large bearings, and can be sewn very slowly, at one stitch per inch if you are so-inclined. If you speed up to about 10 stitches per second, smoke will come off the needle. The machine you mentioned is a very high speed tailoring and garment factory machine, meant to be run at about 50 to 60 stitches per second. Also, those stitches will be close together. The maximum regular thread handling capacity is #69 bonded. It will be a stretch to get it to sew with a #23 needle and #138 thread, if at all. Finally, it is a bottom feed machine and has lighter tensioning parts that are suited to garment sewing. Edited May 30, 2014 by Wizcrafts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geckostraps Report post Posted May 30, 2014 Thanks Wiz. My straps consist of 5-6 oz. Veg with a 2-3 oz. upholstery lining. I also know of a used Artisan 618-1sc in town. Just out of my range. $$ I may have to take another look at it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J Hayes Report post Posted June 1, 2014 (edited) http://www.sewone.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SSTH%2D8BLD%2DPS I've bought supplies from him and a buddy has him do all his maintenance. I'm pretty sure he would let you sew on one. Only an hour or 2 from Milwaukee. Also contact the sponsor dealers, they all ship and its more reasonable than you'd think. Edited June 1, 2014 by J Hayes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
