What Machine Recomended For Holsters And Belts?

[cleanview]

I ask here because machines can be for many levels of leather work.

I have read and read and watched videos and am just learning to the point of not being able to decide.

I am planning on what I want to do in five years from now, which is not full time but a steady suplimental income. By then it will require a machine so I am looking at getting one in the near future. I dont want one that will barely do the job and almost settled on the cowboy 4500 but cant help but wonder if one of the lesser models will do the job as well.

What do you use....recommend.....or wish you had bought and finally upgraded later.

Would really appreciate the input you could provide.

[Itch]

For holsters and belt,s we use an Artisan 3000 and a Sewpro which are both 441 clones... They both get used a lot and have worked well for us.

[Dwight]

I use a Tippmann Boss, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[cleanview]

the only machine sold locally is sewpro and i cant find any info on it. 3000.00

dwight.. I have considered the boss. Do you find it limited at all or ever get tired of pulling the lever?

[Dwight]

Well, . . . it definitely does have a learning curve, . . . but not insurmountable.

I bought it because I liked the "non power" feature, . . . not needing electric. I had planned on maybe hitting some horse shows or county fairs, . . . have not gotten there yet.

Some restrictions: the needle to right side throat is fairly small, . . . I sometimes have to seriously plan out my stitching route.

The back side of the stitches never seems to come out as pretty as the front, . . . which can be a liability in some circles.

There are times when a couple more hands would seriously help, . . . one is always occupied with the lever, . . . leaving only one to hold the thread at start, . . . and move the item as needed.

BUT, . . . it has never balked at any sewing job I've thrown its way, . . . belts and holsters to it are like unleaded gas to a Ford, . . . just hums along.

I also do my chap tops on it, . . . and that is a challenge, . . . but it is doable.

One of the best things for me, . . . I'm 2 hours from the factory, . . . and Ben has fixed it both times I've taken it there, . . . all he needs from me is a day's notice. I did actually call him one time, . . . said I needed it today if it was at all possible, . . . he told me to get started, . . . his desk would be cleared by the time I got there, . . . and he is a man of his word. A sleeve had come loose, . . . blew the timing all to smithereens, . . . he was seriously perplexed until he noticed it, . . . but when he saw it, . . . he knew right away what to do, . . . had it fixed in a NY minute.

For me, . . . shipping it up & back or driving is about the same $$$, . . . plus I enjoy the ride, . . . and I get the problem fixed that day, . . . shipping takes me down for 5 days.

Holsters usually sew up in about 5 minutes or so, . . . I did a belt yesterday for a fellow with a 41 inch waist, . . . took something in the neighborhood of 15 minutes, . . . not hurrying, . . . making sure the stitching is straight.

I'm very much pleased with mine, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[billybopp]

Attach a quarter slot, some spinning wheels and sound effects to that Boss, and it won't take long for somebody to come along 'n start pulling that handle for you, and paying for the privilege. Or at least that's how it seems to work every time I take the train over to Atlantic City. Heck, if you offer a cheap buffet you could staff an entire factory.

Bill

[BHPshooter]

I got a Cowboy CB3200 this summer, and it has increased my productivity by a lot. It has been more than adequate for the things I do (holsters and mag pouches, going to do belts soon).

I had absolutely no sewing machine experience prior to this, and it was difficult (and incredibly frustrating) for me to get everything adjusted. I seriously considered just going back to Stohlman-style hand stitching a time or two. Once I figured out some things -- like proper needle size, and the fact that white thread and black thread need different tension settings -- it has been a huge help to me.

It is a pretty big purchase, though, so I completely understand why it's hard to decide.

[cleanview]

Thank you and may I saw dwight....that you put so much time and effort into the details of so many your posts and I hope you know that I for one very much appreciate it.

[Eaglestroker]

I'll play devil's advocate to Dwight, but it is only based off of my experience.

When I first started leather working my grandfather loaned me his cast iron Boss. The machine runs well but requires constant attention to tension settings, and the softest breaking of wind would put mine in a world of hurt, heaven forbid you sneezed.

I ran that machine for 2 years and got to the point where it took no time to keep it running efficiently. My two main griefs with the Boss were how the feed dogs marked the back side of your project, and tension maintenance. This period for me was priceless as it taught me how to run a machine without having a powered deal to add another variable.

Fast forward to me buying a Cobra Class 4. I get cleaner stitching front and back, more production in the same amount of time, less maintenance, a wider throat for long holsters that require that feature, but the biggest incentive for me is the ability for both hands to be on the project. The only time my tension settings need to be adjusted is when there is a substantial change in thickness of leather and even then it is minimal tweaking.

At first the power intimidated me but that proved to be unnecessary. Even ammo loops were quick/easy to sew - belt sewing times were cut in half, holsters by a third, and ammo loops also in half.

Everyone is different and that is a key factor. The experience with the Tippmann allowed me to appreciate my Cobra that much more, and also gave me a great understanding of how a machine generally works. I wouldn't have skipped this step as the Boss didn't cost me anything other than maintenance. Buying a new machine something small than the Class 4 or equivalent wouldn't be on my radar.

Edited October 18, 2014 by Eaglestroker

[cleanview]

Thanks eaglestroker.

I know I would be upset if I bought a cb4500 and did not have the business to substantiate it, just as well as having a need for more productivity and knowing that more machine would have been better.

I am probably premature in my desire for a machine, I really am only getting started and am not in "need" of one as of yet. I think I will probably get a nicer unit than needed. My concerns are wondering if a Cb 2500 would do what i needed or the 3500 or the 4500. I really dont mind getting the 4500 but dont want to throw it more money at it than needed.