Presser Foot Marks On Leather Topsides Question(S) Please.

[Tallbald]

Hi everyone. I take spells being here and asking questions because sometimes I am flat not able to work with my machine as I want to. Anyhow, I was sewing on an In The Waistband holster last night and in attaching mouth reinforcement to the holster bucket was getting significant presser foot impressions at the stitch line. First, should I routinely reduce presser foot pressure from dealer settings to accommodate softer hides or does that negatively affect stitch quality? Secondly, can the impressions be removed or reduced by boning over the stitch and is that how I should be planning my work?

Thanks. Don

[Wizcrafts]

Yes, reduce the pressure spring as much as possible, without allowing the material to lift with the needle. If there are still foot marks, order a pair of paddle shaped feet from Bob Kovar, at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines (866-362-7397). I bought a right and left toe set from him. The right toe paddle foot is especially useful for sewing narrow flanges on holsters and cases, where the standard right foot would fall off the edge.

If you back off the top pressure spring until it almost pops out of the head, it may be too strong. Bob also has lighter and heavier pressure springs. I have standard and heavy and plan to order a lighter spring.

[Tallbald]

Wizcrafts thank you. Up to now, all my experience sewing was either hand stitching leather OR sewing fabric on vintage sewing machines (my favorite is my loving wife's and my 1934 Singer hand crank 201). I guess I should have gone a little more in-depth about the presser foot question. My concern in reducing the pressure was that in doing so I might change the relationship of the upper and lower thread where they meet and cause a loose stitch. I would like to have the right and left foot, but right now finances are snug.

I really enjoy using my Cowboy 3500. Before I bought my machine I had come to dread sewing holsters because of arthritic discomfort. Now of course sewing is a task to look forward to. Thanks again. Don

[Wizcrafts]

Using pre-lubricated thread on top makes it easier to pull up the knots, reducing the required foot pressure a bit. If you don't have this thread, but do have a lube pot, pour in some liquid silicon thread lube and run the thread through it. You may even be able to move down one size needle, further reducing the needed pressure. Experiment.

On some jobs I will reduce both tensions. This definitely makes it easier to pull the needle up without lifting the leather. You would have to find the best minimum tensions to balance the knots, without leaving loose stitches on top or bottom.

If you reduce the tensions on top and bottom and find that there is still too much upper tension with the top disk nut backed entirely off, change the thread path to straight through the top post instead of wrapping around it. You may also need to reduce the check spring tension to the minimum needed to return to the lower resting position.

If you can't reduce the foot pressure with the adjuster almost off (because the spring is taller than the channel it rides in), remove the threaded pressure adjuster and coil spring and cut off a couple of coils. This will give you more turns in the almost zero range.

Black bonded thread is usually double-dyed and is springier than most other colors. It automatically exerts more tension than other colors. White and beige thread is usually softer and easier to balance.

If your 3500 shipped with the blanket foot set (with teeth), you can get the teeth filled in with rubber, dipping compound, or epoxy and use them instead of the harness feet. The wider footprints spread out the top pressure, reducing foot tracks in the leather, while holding down the leather between stitches. Just a thought.

Finally, you can use a modeling spoon, teaspoon, or a rounded and beveled end of a bone folder to rub out foot tracks. I always keep a couple different nose shapes of bone folders.

[VanDutch]

guys. i have a similar problem but from my observations I think the culprit is the Center toe presser foot. On the bottom of the foot there is a ridge? and this causes marking of the leather especially changing direction on a corner etc. Not sure what the funtion/purpose of this ridge is?.. anyone know?.. can it be filed down smooth?

I think they call it the Groover foot type.

From the cobra site....The Center Foot is used with all 3 presser feet. It is also a groover foot, it will slightly groove the leather so the stitches will lie below the surface of the leather.

Edited June 20, 2014 by VanDutch

[Wizcrafts]

I always grind off that protrusion on the bottom of the center foot. Then I use Emory cloth on the edges, then buff to a high polish.

[Tallbald]

Again thanks for the input. More information that I can file and reference. Don

[Wizcrafts]

My first Union Lockstitch Machine had some presser feet with concave extensions, ending in points, like a semi round. The purpose was to create rounded stitches with well defined hole ends. Another foot had a short blade in the front, which cut a channel as I sewed. This buried the thread below the surface. Both types of feet were only useful on straight line sewing. As soon as I turned a corner, the rounder or blade cut outside the stitch line.

If you have a center foot for a 441 type machine, use it on straight stitch lines. Get and modify another center foot without the tab on the bottom for multi-directional sewing. Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines has smooth bottom center feet for their Cowboy 441 clone machines. I am certain that Cobra Steve or Techsew Ronnie will send a similar foot to their customers.

I just saw some awesome looking custom made presser feet at Nick-O-Sew, for standard walking foot machines. They are called leather sewing feet and closely resemble the harness feet supplied on Cowboy and Cobra 441 stitchers. They work with any machine that uses "Singer 111" presser feet.

[Tallbald]

Wanted to follow up with folks. I did reduce the pressure on the presser foot and the improved results are remarkable. Much fewer and shallower impressions. The stitches don't seem to suffer. I'm really unclear though on the topic of the foot underside. I cannot feel anything but a flat surface on mine. Don

[Wizcrafts]

Wanted to follow up with folks. I did reduce the pressure on the presser foot and the improved results are remarkable. Much fewer and shallower impressions. The stitches don't seem to suffer. I'm really unclear though on the topic of the foot underside. I cannot feel anything but a flat surface on mine. Don

The Cobra center foot has the tab on the bottom. Earlier Cowboy feet also had them, but don't any more.

[Tallbald]

I see. Mine is recent manufacture. I will admit though I had considered stoning and removing the sharp corners on the foot components. Thoughts good or bad? Don