What Machine Recomended For Holsters And Belts?

[SteelcityK9Cop]

If you are going "all in" then spend the money and get the 4500. You may not need "all of it" at first but you will be happy you did down the line and will kick yourself needing a new / different machine later. Holsters / Belts you will be good with anything that will sew 1/2" (most holsters and belts are a wee bigger than 1/4") and can work 277 sized thread. There are a bunch of machines that will do this. One day however, you may decide that you want to sew something close to an inch in thickness and will be crying that you didn't get the 4500!

Want to guess what I did??? lol

[Pounder]

Cleanview

You may want to reconsider your decision to hold off on a machine until productivity requires. There is a learning curve of just knowing how to thread and operate the machine correctly. Later comes getting the "feel" of the machine for example how and what does it do while sewing a corner. Practice is the key and the sooner you get one the sooner you can practice. Small gifts for family and friends is a great training tool with benefits and the receivers are more willing to overlook small mistakes. Just my two cents. Good luck.

[msdeluca]

Love my CB3200. I've been successful using down to 92 thread in two layers of sunbrella and up to 277 thread in 9/16" of Herman Oak. Haven't adjusted the bobbin case tension once, just the presser foot pressure and thread tension. It can be dialed in pretty quick. With its standard servo motor, I can sew one stitch at a time as slow and controllable as I'd ever need and t will also sew right down a belt plenty fast enough for leather.

Ryan, at Neel's Saddlery, set it up for me and I couldn't be happier with his communication and customer service. I don't think the guy ever sleeps.

I bought a dedicated bobbin winder which I modified and am currently working on switching the gas and presser foot pedals so the gas is on the right and the presser foot lift on the left (why retrain 45 years of muscle memory) . I'll be doing a blog post on that at some point... I've got a design going that incorporates a mini block and tackle which will make the presser foot lift effortless.... if it works.

[lws380]

Another vote for a Cobra 4. I have two of them and a Cobra 18 for thinner stuff. I make holsters and belts and the Cobra 4 handles both easily.

I know another local leather worker that bought a different brand. He could not get it to sew properly and the support he was getting from the seller could not solve his problems. He ultimately called Steve at Cobra, and with his help, got the machine to sew correctly. In addition to a good machine, Leather Machine Company will help you when you need it. I suggest you factor service and support into you decision process as well.

[cleanview]

Thank you all for the posts and tips therein.

It looks like the money is coming together and I believe the cb3200 is what I want to settle on. I think it will do everything I want and then some.

In the grand scheme of things it is not essential at this time but as some have mentioned, the opportunity to learn the machine will be nice and I would rather have it down ahead of time. I am one of those guys that plans ahead (to a fault some times) but I would rather be over prepared. Plus winter time is my lax time as far as work load goes as well.

[Blackey Cole]

I'm much in the same boat as the op. I'm looking for something to stitch my leather projects together since the hands have arthritis and are not able to stich like I could when I leaned leather work. When I retired from the usaf in O2 I quickly needed a hobby at the time doi pulled out what leather tools that I had still and bought way to many new tools some leather and more hardware. I made belts for me and my family plus some other gifts that first year, around the end of the year I got interested in sass and cowboy action shooting. I made my first belt and two holsters for it. It was a single buscadero belt I put a straight hang holster in the loop and made a cross draw holster that matched on the belt it had close to thirty loops for 44/45 s. It was stolen in 09 when my RV blew a tire and destroyed the RV thing went all over the road I grab the five most important things to me my meds, my guns, my dog, my cat but he got loose and wasn't seen again, and my laptop and camera. Everything else was perty much picked up by a front end loader and dumped on the bed of the trailer or back of the truck. They took the top turn it upside down and put stuff in it. Somehow my clothes were able to be barbed also, I made two trips iirc to the storage faciltaly to gather stuff I found most things and each time filled the vehicle and left the rest. Between me and the insurance rep there was angreement made to have the rest picked up and cleaned and boxed and shipped to me but that fell through when the storage fees were looked at and the insurance co could not get the people out in time to make it cost effective. So I was given cart blanch on my claim. That was nice but somanythings were not relieved until after the end date. You go to get something and realize it was in the Wreck. Then months later when I got home I find stuff that I thought were oin the RV and stuff I thought was on the RV that was in fact at home. Enough of that sorry. I've been looking at the boss I understan that the cast bosses are the one to get. I make cowboy and military gear usually. I'm never used a me chiral screwing machine because I'm not fond of the stick they use. With my hand stitching it will not unravel but the one stitch but with the machine stich the whole thing can be unraveled.

I guanteed my stitching when done by hand but I can't do that for machine stitching I wouldn't use the sewing awl because of the same reason.

I need something small easy to store and works or easy to understand. Being a full time RV I got to limit what I can carry with me. I do have a shop that once cleaned out and organized works for my shop for reloading and storage of other items. My computer is setup in the main room the network on the dresser in the bedroom. Storage of my photo gear in pelica hard cases in the closet, etc. as you can see space can be limited. I would like a pony to mount it to and use the other end for a stitching pony. I have one folging table in the shop it nreed to be swaped out with a good workbench or a tool box with many drawers that fits the area. Mt presses at least the Dillion 550 and RCBS ruck Chucker on one of the frankfort arsenal reloading station with a ton of ankle weibthgs wrapped around it. The rest get clamped to a stool in the kitchen.

Would a good used boss be my best way to got as I've got several projects from cowboy gun rigs with SG belt to saddlebags made to spec for the cavlery designs. Then there several small items made by the bakers dozen for use on each stage we shoot plus one for a spare OTr reshoot. Eventually I would love to have a full soldiers kit everything that he would have to go on patrol. Saddle and everything that attaches to it. Plus the items the solider wears. I have most of the later then go to the next version and built it. Every regulation change from the post civil war to the turn of the century. Not to mention an odd job here and there's. I'm not wanting a full time or even part time job. Maybe one or two small medium jobs a month max.

Should I get the boss or something else power isn't a factor since I have a generator.

[Modad2010]

I got a used Artisan Toro 3000 from Cobra Steve for a very reasonable price. Has worked out great for me doing concealment holsters and double thick belts. His mechanic goes through the machine to make sure it's working right and sets it up for your desired thickness and thread size. Great thing to start on and then keep around if you upgrade to a bigger machine later. Steve's customer service is fantastic too.

[dirtclod]

I would get a machine that will sew 3/4 inch because your going to be over the 3/8 inch limit pretty quick if you put a welt in your holster.

[cleanview]

It goes 1/2 inch. Might come a time i would do something that thick ....maybey a cowboy holster?????? I think it could be under that or just stitch the rare bird. And the 3200 aint going to break the bank

[cleanview]

Well ....ordered the 3200 yesterday from Bob at toledo...........I have never ordered a palatalized shipment before so no clue what to expect. He told me there were several machines ahead of me and yes the totally set everything up check tighten and oil the unit and test and set up each machine. Since I dont have a clue what I am doing and sense that there is a time of frustration coming to me as I learn this, it seems priceless to have the machine already set up. anyhow 7-10 days they will ship and 3-5 in shipping (thats amazing to me)

Now I dont want to build anything past the sewing stage