Leather Sewing Machine Decision

[vvickyvv]

Hi, thought i start a new post. I am new to the forum but, it looks to be great.

I am looking to get a cylinder machine, which will be a very $$ purchase. Since i am just a beginner i don't know too much about leather working, and my only knowledge is from taking a semester of leather bag making class at FIT and now continuing on to take further classes there; i need help. I am looking for machine that will last forever( or so i hope) and be easy to use. We used bunch of different machines in the class and its a bit hard to say which was better but i think i kind of like TechSew ( but again, research that i have done from this forum made me think of it as the one to get, i might be wrong).

From the research that i have done, do you think:

a. this brand is good quality

b. should i get 2700 OR should i invest a bit more and get the 5100( which is more heavy duty but they say it does it all).

I will be making bags, wallets, BUT i want to be a flexible, because what if i want to work with saddle leather for bags, then i need a much thicker resistance, that's why i was thinking of 5100. I will be including double layered leather with pellon and maybe bonded leather. I cant remember the model we used in school, so i cannot reference and the next class will not start until September.

The bottom line is, i just want a good machine ( like Bernina quality) that will last forever, and that i can use for any leather related project, light or heavy.

Thanks!

[baldspott]

If your a beginner, I would look up Nigel Armitage on YouTube and learn the saddle stitch by hand. Yes it takes longer but with the proper pricking irons your work will look great and it's an "old world" method which is cool.

[Andrew Chee]

You are asking probably the toughest question to answer in terms of leather sewing machine. The answer to the question is "it depends". Actually, the real answer is that there is no one machine that will do everything you want. Since you're taking classes at FIT then I am assuming that you are working more with "fashion" leather. By that I mean softer chrome tan leathers that are in the 2-4oz thickness range? If that's your primary medium then go with something like a techsew 2700 or even better, a pfaff 335.

If your primary sewing medium is more in the veg tan saddle leather 6oz+ range then go with a 5100 or any of the other 441 clones out there.

The heavy machine will sew heavy stuff well but won't sew light stuff well. The 2700 or 335 is more of a medium weight machine and will sew light to medium weight well but won't sew heavy stuff. By heavy here I mean 8+oz veg tan leathers.

If you want to cover all your bases then do what I did. Buy three machines. One for each weight level :D

Andrew

[Trevor]

Theres an Artisan Toro 4000 for sale in the posts below.

I have the 3000 Toro.

Fantastic machine. Very very good.

Trevor

Way Down Under

[silverwingit]

A couple of things I thought I'd mention.

Another aspect of these two very different machines is also significant in this discussion, and that is their respective feed mechanisms. 441 clones are triple-feed machines and as such can use a smooth feed dog. The 2700 does have a compound feed but it relies mostly on foot pressure and a serrated feed dog to transport the leather.

The practical impact of this comes into play if you are going to sew vegetable-tanned leather as well as the much softer and more pliable chrome-tanned common to purses, etc. The serrated foot will leave marks on the bottom side of veg-tanned samples. Depending on the location of the backside of your stitching this may not matter, but if it is exposed the marks can be nearly impossible to remove completely. Yes, a spoon or bone folder or even a cobbler's hammer can all help to minimize these foot marks, but they may be vey obstinate.

Just thought I'd mention this as I know what an outlay a new machine is and that as a result you will be living with your decision for a long time.

One other thing. Although as Andrew mentions, 441 clones have a reputation of having difficulties with thin leather, I sew 2 layers of 1.5 - 2.0 oz. thick chrome-tanned leather all the time with my Cobra Class 4 441 clone. And it has little difficult holding proper tension when I switch two to or more layers of 7-8 oz. veg-tan. It took Steve at Leather Machines (ads at top of page) to convince me that this would be the case before I made the plunge but now I am here to testify after owning my Class 4 for a year and a half now. Very much trouble-free sailing, too, with a wide range of thread thicknesses and types and thicknesses of leather. Not to say your experience would differ at Techsew. You can probably pick any of the sewing machine vendors that advertise here based n geographic location and hence shipping costs. AFAIK they all offer competitive prices and superlative service.

Good luck and please let us know what you decide and why.

Thanks,

Michelle

[rickybobby]

Hi, thought i start a new post. I am new to the forum but, it looks to be great.

I will be making bags, wallets, BUT i want to be a flexible, because what if i want to work with saddle leather for bags, then i need a much thicker resistance, that's why i was thinking of 5100. I will be including double layered leather with pellon and maybe bonded leather. I cant remember the model we used in school, so i cannot reference and the next class will not start until September.

The bottom line is, i just want a good machine ( like Bernina quality) that will last forever, and that i can use for any leather related project, light or heavy.

Thanks!

Hi,

Obviously you want to be able to do the best job on your projects. Think of it this way, "Would you use a 5 lb. hammer to do jewelry work?" or "a jeweler's hammer to build a bridge?"

I agree with Andrew on this one, You may need multiple sewing machines as you grow your skills and interests. Like Andrew, I have several machines because the items I make require it.

I sew some bags on my Flatbed Cowboy machine, All wallets are sewn on that machine too, as well as chaps. It was the first machine I bought because it was the one I would use the most for the majority of the work I was doing (Chaps, Wallets, ect.).

As my business increased to saddle making and repair I bought a used Artisan 3000 from Steve at Cobra.

I acquired a "patcher" Singer 29-4, used it for a while then no longer needed it so I sold it.

The thing about sewing machines is that you have something of value that can get the majority of the money back you put out if you no longer need it.

If I were you, look to buy the machine for what you will be making the most for a while.

[JLSleather]

Putting in perspective, more than one machine seems expensive, until you get the bill for building the addition onto you shop!

Jus' thinkin' out loud here ...

[Cobra Steve]

Thanks, Michelle!

[silverwingit]

Just the facts, Steve, just the facts.

[vvickyvv]

This is great! Thanks south for all of your feedback! Very very helpful.

Yeah, I will be making "fashion" bags so I think I will start with light/medium machine for now.

Thanks again everyone!

[Techsew Ron]

Hi, thought i start a new post. I am new to the forum but, it looks to be great.

I am looking to get a cylinder machine, which will be a very $$ purchase. Since i am just a beginner i don't know too much about leather working, and my only knowledge is from taking a semester of leather bag making class at FIT and now continuing on to take further classes there; i need help. I am looking for machine that will last forever( or so i hope) and be easy to use. We used bunch of different machines in the class and its a bit hard to say which was better but i think i kind of like TechSew ( but again, research that i have done from this forum made me think of it as the one to get, i might be wrong).

From the research that i have done, do you think:

a. this brand is good quality

b. should i get 2700 OR should i invest a bit more and get the 5100( which is more heavy duty but they say it does it all).

I will be making bags, wallets, BUT i want to be a flexible, because what if i want to work with saddle leather for bags, then i need a much thicker resistance, that's why i was thinking of 5100. I will be including double layered leather with pellon and maybe bonded leather. I cant remember the model we used in school, so i cannot reference and the next class will not start until September.

The bottom line is, i just want a good machine ( like Bernina quality) that will last forever, and that i can use for any leather related project, light or heavy.

Thanks!

Hi vvickyvv, the Techsew 2700 is our most popular machine for sewing leather bags and belts and would be great for your projects.

If you want to keep your options open and have a machine that can also sew much thicker leather (for saddles, holsters etc) then you should consider the Techsew 4100 or 5100.

The quality of all our machines is great and no matter your decision you'll be extremely happy.

Feel free to give our office a call and speak with Mike (I'm currently on vacation for 2 weeks), he'll be happy to answer any other questions you may have.

Thanks!

Ron

Edited July 30, 2014 by Techsew Ron