Campbell Bosworth V Cobra

[Red Cent]

Tomo, you are making a fast decision on the Cobra. Find out the set up. Needle and thread for one. Tension, oh the ubiquitous tension on the Cobra and the Cowboy 4500. Mine sews great (C4). Now I have never used anything else but it will sew up a holster that when folded is two layers of 8-9 and two layers of 5-6. Sometimes there will be an added welt of at least one 8-9. Broken needles are because it has been influenced on the way down and does not hit the hole. Allowed to go straight down, they will not break.

Your friend needs to a search here on the Cobra 4. I believe, with a little mechanical ability, he will get it doing what it was built to do. Sew through 7/8"s of leather without breaking a needle or skipping a stitch. Think little needle + big thread =s skipped stitches. Good luck.

[Tomo]

Thanks Red.

[tat2]

I have a Randall lock stitch and found it to be one of the easiest sewing machines ever made. Campbell Randall sell all the parts for it. I mostly sew 4 ply leather. Just needed the grind the feet down and the stitch plates to minimize the marking on the leather. Nylon thread is better, I also found the bonded nylon worked just as fine. You only need the adjust the tension more.. I found other machines like top walking foots offered huge marking with their wider feet, and made the finished product like awful... Back tacking is an issue, I was told to turn the hook needle slightly to the left, but you also have to adjust the thread bar to still pass by the hook to connect the thread. Wiz is right also hold the top and bottom thread as you are back tacking so the thread is not pulled by the hook needle.

I also use a horse stall matt to absorb the vibration as when you are sewing fast the Randall can be loud.

Best machine I ever used other than the Adler 205-64!

[Constabulary]

@ Wiz

I really like to read your posts and I´m impressed of your knowledge and experience and Its nice that you take the time to share it with other people! Not matter if one has the machines you are talking about or not - always worth reading your posts!!! Hats off!!!

Edited July 6, 2014 by Constabulary

[Wizcrafts]

@ Wiz

I really like to read your posts and I´m impressed of your knowledge and experience and Its nice that you take the time to share it with other people! Not matter if one has the machines you are talking about or not - always worth reading your posts!!! Hats off!!!

Aw shucks, thanks. :-)

[amuckart]

The No.6 is set up with a M10 thread which I think is about a 270(??). I find the Cobra too inconsistent and moody, I can't rely on it. My friend doesn't use it because of these problems too.

Another friend has a Cobra 4 and uses his extensively. He has very few problems apart from the odd broken needle.

Your No.6 will do pretty much anything in leather that a Cobra 4 will do unless you're running into the limits of the throat depth (in which case a Campbell Randall will be worse) or you need to sew right up at the edge of funny shaped things that can only be done on a cylinder arm machine.

I had a No.6 and I regret letting it go.

[Wizcrafts]

I kinda miss my Union Lockstitch machine. It had a specially made raised throat plate and narrow presser foot. I could sew very close to raised surfaces, as well as sewing huge, thick straps of all kinds. It had a 12" harp inside the body. I had modified it to sew 7/8 inch.

[Tomo]

Al, I do love the No.6 and have more experience with them than most. It irks me not being able to get a range of needles And yes you are right, the free arm has considerable advantages over the Pearson arm set up. I really like the way a Lock stitch machine sews and the way the stitches look top and bottom. I was wondering how functional or versatile the convex arm or bottom arm on a lockstitch machine is.

T.

[Singermania]

HI, I thought most needles were available for the Pearson no 6, I have most here though don't really sell them on, including roundpoint for repairs. I would think that Aaron Martin in Canada should have most sizes. Yes a long arm Pearson without the transverse shuttle setup like the Luberto would be nice too.